Wisdom for Life's Decisions

Chris Risley
James 4:13-17

James criticizes a group of believers for making major plans for the future without taking God's will into consideration. James points out that we cannot know the future and it is foolish to make big life decisions without consulting the Lord. Some practical ways to bring God into big decisions are to consult the Bible, pray, seek mature counsel, and be willing to follow His will.

During the Intermission

Chris Hearty
James 5:7-12

Like today, Christians in James' day were living in an in-between period, a sort of intermission between the first and second comings of Jesus. James counsels his readers how to live during this time, being faithfully determined to follow God and waiting expectantly for Christ's return, with an eye to God's promised future.

Trusting God with our Big Decisions

James Rochford
James 4:13-17

James criticizes a group of believers for making major plans for the future without taking God's will into consideration. James points out that we cannot know the future and it is foolish to make big life decisions without consulting the Lord. Some practical ways to bring God into big decisions are to consult the Bible, pray, seek mature counsel, and be willing to follow His will.

Consulting the Master Planner

Chris Hearty
James 4:13-17

James criticizes some of his readers for making plans for their life without consulting God or considering His will. While the Bible is clear that it is wise and good to prepare for the future and make plans, we must take into account our limited knowledge of the future and be sure that we are aligning our plans with God's, always considering what is eternally important.

Two Types of Wisdom

Conrad Hilario
James 3:13-4:3

James writes that there are two kinds of wisdom: worldly and Godly. He describes worldly wisdom as selfish ambition, while he says that Godly wisdom is pure, peaceable, gentle, without hypocrisy, and the like. Concerned that his readers are still operating under the world's wisdom, he urges them to instead embrace God's wisdom, which will manifest in the way they live their lives. Such wisdom comes from God and can only come from a heart changed by a relationship with Jesus Christ.

The Wisdom From Above

Scott Risley
James 3:13-18

James writes that there are two kinds of wisdom: worldly and Godly. He describes worldly wisdom as selfish ambition, while he says that Godly wisdom is pure, peaceable, gentle, without hypocrisy, and the like. Concerned that his readers are still operating under the world's wisdom, he urges them to instead embrace God's wisdom, which will manifest in the way they live their lives. Such wisdom comes from God and can only come from a heart changed by a relationship with Jesus Christ.

Two Kinds of Wisdom

James Rochford
James 3:13-18

James argues that true wisdom can be seen by a person's deeds. Wisdom is more than just intelligence, information, or integrity, and there are two kinds of wisdom: worldly and Godly. James describes worldly wisdom as selfish ambition, while he says that Godly wisdom is pure, peaceable, gentle, without hypocrisy, and the like. Such wisdom comes from God and can only come from a heart changed by a relationship with Jesus Christ.

A Fork in the Road to Wisdom

Chris Hearty
James 1:5-8

James is presenting the believer with a fork in the road toward two types of wisdom. The believer must choose between the path that leads to worldly wisdom resulting in bitterness, jealousy or the path leading to heavenly wisdom that results in good behavior and gentle deeds. The unwise choose the worldly wisdom that leads to disorder and every evil. Whereas the wise choose the heavenly wisdom that leads to righteousness and peace. Biblical wisdom is the ability to view life from God's perspective. True wisdom will be shown by how one lives their life.

Spiritual Growth under Trial

Dennis McCallum
James 1:1-8

Spiritual growth under trial takes a believer from the point of having begun a relationship with God to the level of a mature, strong follower who God can use in advancing His plan in the world. A believer who lives out James' teaching will be able to actively practice gratitude in the midst of trials, gradually become incredibly stable, be shaped by brokenness so God can use him more, and become wise.