Natural Wisdom / Supernatural Wisdom
9:25 AM
2 Consider it all joy, my brothers and sisters, when you encounter various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces cendurance. 4 And let aendurance have its perfect result, so that you may be bperfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
New American Standard Bible (La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 2020), Jas 1:2–4. Always a banger line.
11:26 PM
5 But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him. 6 But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For that person ought not to expect that he will receive anything from the Lord, 8 being a 1double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.
New American Standard Bible (La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 2020), Jas 1:5–8.
This, I'm kind of like, isn't this just human nature? I think what it's trying to say is, you know, work against human nature. Don't fall for its temptations. The Israelites and all of humanity.
The passage addresses a specific problem beyond general human nature: the instability that comes from asking God for wisdom while simultaneously doubting He'll provide it.
8 If, however, you are fulfilling the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well. 9 But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the Law as violators. 10 For whoever keeps the whole Law, yet stumbles in one point, has become guilty of all.
New American Standard Bible (La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 2020), Jas 2:8–10.
Very harsh but true statement. For one, I mentioned this before, how I have heard that most love we express is not true love but discrimination. Where we only love someone we actually love and not what Jesus has called us to do, but love everyone. For two, it's a harsh reminder that we are constantly living in sin and that the bar is very high. And even though it feels very hard, we do have to strive for this Aibabar to set ourselves apart, not only for God, but for the world.
If anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to drein in the whole body as well.
New American Standard Bible (La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 2020), Jas 3:2.
Do what you say! I heard at once that you must be righteous in everything you say. Such as if you say you're going to be somewhere at a specific time, You must be righteous with what you say. That thing that is said must be perfect, which means you must show up there at that exact time. You must do exactly what you say.
14 But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, do not be arrogant and so lie against the truth. 15 This wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but is earthly, natural, demonic. 16 For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every evil thing. 17 But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peace-loving, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, fimpartial, free of hypocrisy.
New American Standard Bible (La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 2020), Jas 3:14–17.
Interesting that with this translation, they categorize jealousy and selfish ambition as earthly and natural. He can always be living with it. And then he characterizes it as demonic meaning, although it's natural. I don't- It doesn't mean it's good, it just means it's an option. Kind of like when God made Leviathan. It was made for earth and was a natural creation. But it wasn't a good thing for humans. Like they shouldn't go up to it and try to poke and prod it or else they'll probably die. Which is silly. Like why even try and mess with a creature like that?
But the wisdom that we seek is supernatural and from heaven. Pure, untainted, and pretty much just a whole bunch of reasons to believe that love comes from an originator. We love because God loves. And the more we love, the more we choose Him. Which again is really the The whole point of existence, continually choosing Him.