Two Kinds of Wisdom

Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by
deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. But if you harbor
bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny
the truth. Such "wisdom" does not come down from heaven but is earthly,
unspiritual, of the devil. For where you have envy and selfish ambition,
there you find disorder and every evil practice.
But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.
Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness.

What a great passage!

There are two types of wisdom. That's right - only two.

First - there is true wisdom. It seeks peace. It is impartial and sincere. There are no personal favorites or "politics" at play. It is full of mercy and good fruit. That fruit is love, joy, peace - you know them.

And, it is promised that whoever sows in peace reaps a harvest of righteousness.

So - what does false wisdom look like? Well - look above - it does not seek peace, it stirs up anger. It results in strife. Ever been to a meeting where someone has tried to set a trap for you? Tried to get you to trip up? Came loaded up with ammo to shoot at you? Yet they profess to be wise? Obviously they are not. They are not there to make peace, but rather to attack and beset others.

How can we detect when something is not wise? When there is disorder. Chaos. Strife. Tension. When they are out to get someone.

What is the root cause of this type of situation? Envy and self-ambition.

And what do they reap? They reap strife, unrest. They miss out on a harvest of righteousness. They - thinking to be acting in good - are actually dispensing wisdom that is evil (of the devil).

Let's be peacemakers and sow the seads of righteousness. Not in word only. In action. Anyone can say it. It is much harder to act it. That means we're kind, honorable, wise God's way, longsuffering, tenderhearted, joyful, peaceful, loving, merciful, faithful. If we aren't that way when we interact with others we are not being wise and are tools of evil - even with "good" intentions.