The Wisdom Of Humility
“Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom.” James 3:13 NKJV
So often people express their frustration that they just don’t feel as though they are hearing from God and they feel disappointed to not have His direct wisdom and understanding concerning the events of their lives. To be honest we have all likely been at a place where we felt that way. You know, the times in life when you are just not sure what to do or what the Lord would direct you to do. You feel lost because you don’t trust your judgment but you are not able to hear from Him so you can confidently walk in His wisdom and understanding.
During the times that we feel this way, the issue could be a reflection of the condition of our heart at that moment. One of the easiest ways to falter is to give ourselves over to selfishness thoughts, to consider things only from the perspective of how things are affecting us. When we are struggling in an area of life it is easy to only see our own problems and lose sight of what is going on in the lives of others. It is so easy to get lost in self and that can and will lead to an inability to hear and know His wisdom and understanding in our lives.
If I am having a hard time discerning His wisdom and understanding, that should be an alarm bell for me to stop and consider my thinking. Is there humbleness that leads me to be more concerned for others before caring for my needs, or rather is there a lack of humility that finds me lost in my own problems to the point of being ignorant to the needs of those around me? Perhaps the verse above is clearer in its meaning when we read it the Amplified Bible:
“Who is there among you who is wise and intelligent? Then let him by his noble living show forth his [good] works with the [unobtrusive] humility [which is the proper attribute] of true wisdom.” James 3:13 Amplified
If I want to be walking in His wisdom, understanding, and intelligence in my life, then I am instructed to live a noble life. It is noble to consider others before myself. If I show the good work of humility which is the attitude that is expected from me as His child, then I position myself to be able to receive His wisdom and understanding in all matters that concern me.
The heart that is truly humble or that is meek in the way the Bible speaks of meekness, is the heart that considers others and cares for their needs before ever giving thought to their own situations or needs. If you feel as though His wisdom has been absent from your thoughts recently then do a heart check and consider who have you been thinking about, yourself or others? His wisdom flows as we flow in His meekness and humility. His wisdom and understanding are available to you. Put yourself in the position to receive it.
J Todd Hostetler