Meekness of wisdom

Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom. But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. - James 3.13-15

How do we know the wise man amongst us? Is it the guy who has a whole alphabet of letters after his name? Is it the guy who always has an answer – whether you ask for it or not? Is it the guy who stands behind the pulpit every week and shares God’s word? 

Maybe, we can’t rule them out. But God has an answer here about how we know the wise and understanding man. 

We know him by his good conduct

His good conduct is done in the ‘meekness of wisdom’ 

In other words we know the wise man because he lives right. That makes sense. I get that. 

It is the next part that I have a hard time with in my life. The man’s works are done in the ‘meekness of wisdom.’ That seems to equate wisdom and meekness. The wise man is a meek man because true wisdom leads us to a realisation that we can’t do this ourselves. 

Depending on ourselves leads to bitter envying and strife and boasting and arrogance and self-seeking. It is earthly and devilish because that kind of proud false wisdom seeks to replace God with me. 

The meekness of wisdom means I quietly lead my life in such a way that I totally depend on Him day by day as I seek to live godly in this present world. 

O for the meekness of wisdom in my own life.