Read Exodus 12:22-51, Job 30, James 3.
This devotional is about James 3.
James 3 begins by talking about teachers in the church and how we who teach will be held to greater accountability before the Lord (v. 1). Because teaching requires talking, James wrote next about how easy it is to sin in what we say (vv. 2-12).
Starting in verse 13, James moves to the topic of wisdom. I think that James is still addressing teachers in the church, the topic he began with in verse 1. But now he is addressing the personal credibility of a teacher. In other words, after telling us that teachers in the church must have tamed tongues (vv. 2-12), James now tells us that teachers must show that they have something to say, namely that they have wisdom to share with the church for the church’s spiritual growth.
Anyone who serves as an elder in the church or who serves in another teaching role in the church is tacitly claiming to be a wise Christian. And, there are plenty of people who will tell you that they are wise Christians. The test of wisdom, according to this text, is not whether someone claims to be wise or even if that person can say wise-sounding things. No, if you want to know if someone is wise or not, according to verse 13b that person must show his wisdom “…by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.” This indicates that a truly wise person, spiritually speaking, does good things. He obeys what he has learned in God’s word, rather than just filling his mind with biblical principles or facts but without a changed life.
Like a math teacher who says, “show your work,” God tells us that a mature Christian, who is capable of spiritual leadership and ready to teach Gods’ word will show maturity in things he does with this life. This phrase, “good life” in verse 13 means a consistent pattern of doing good things over time. And these things are done “in humility” according to verse 13, so they are not done to get praise from others but because the wise Christian leader knows what God has done for him and wants to serve God in love.
If you find yourself growing in biblical knowledge, do you also see yourself living a better life morally? Are you treating people with more love and less favoritism, like James described in James 2:1-13? Do you give generously when you see someone who is poor and in need as James described in James 2:14-17? Growing wise in your faith means becoming more Christlike in your actions and life. Is that happening? Ask God in humility to show you where you need to become more wise in Christlike living. And, look for teachers and leaders who are living out biblical wisdom in their lives as well.