wisdom from heaven

James 3:13-18: “Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their 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, demonic. 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 reap a harvest of righteousness.”

As we move further into the Advent season it seems as if peace on earth is farther away than at this time last year, and last year was pretty bad. Republicans and Democrats, men and women, Christians and humanists, Americans and North Koreans – we are divided in so many ways. We’re to the point where we fight over whether it’s OK to watch NFL football, or certain networks. Rather than celebrate diversity, our differences are now almost universally points of disdain, if not open conflict.

That’s another reason I’m so thankful for Christmas this year. Without Jesus, as James points out, I’m an envious, selfish, ambitious person, and bitter because of it. That’s the way we are without a savior. Until we know Jesus, the best wisdom we have is the kind James puts in quotes, earthly wisdom that tells us to keeping competing with each other. We’ll think that if we want to win in life, someone else has to lose.

But Jesus showed us how to be considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. And most of all, peace-loving. That’s the wisdom he brought from heaven and taught to us.

This new wisdom is exactly what the world needs, and Jesus made sure his church is equipped to change the world with it. Another reason Christmas is a big deal.