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What Wisdom Shows

Writer's picture: DeborahDeborah


James


James 3:13 NKJV

Matthew 5:5 NKJV


James Series


Have you ever met a Godly wise person?


I think I’ve met a few in my lifetime. Two of them were Professors I studied under. It’s somewhat a coincidence that both people who had wisdom were highly educated. That’s because someone can have wisdom without being educated. One professor I met was in college, and one in Seminary. Both were a huge blessing to me!


As I think about who is wise and what wisdom looks like, I realized that wisdom is not very revered in our culture. What is revered is humor, quick wit, clever sounding words, and quick answers. I get frustrated when people expect a quick answer from me.


Here’s the reason why…


Sometimes when I’m asked a question, I stop and I consider all the possibilities. I take time to think. The person who asked the question may ask (pretty quickly), “Did you hear me?” Or they ask, “Are you listening?”


At that point, their question can become a shaming question. The other person could be intent on shaming me because I didn’t answer quickly. We need to understand (remember) that it is not okay to shame someone we are speaking with. It’s also not okay to let someone shame you.


Why is that?


It’s because if someone is intentionally (or sometimes even unintentionally) disagreeing with your conversational choices, they could be doing it to elevate themselves by making you look bad. Anytime we try to quietly put someone else down, we are not loving them as Christ would have us do.


The reverse is true as well. If we allow someone else to shame us, we are not loving ourselves as Christ would have us do.


The truth is, good conversation…really deep and good, isn’t always quick and witty.


In James 3:13, he wrote, “Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom.”


A wise man or woman considers the possibilities.


I majored in Speech Communication in college. Once, in class as a listening exercise we had to think about what it meant to listen well. After all, the art of communication not only means speaking well, it means we need to listen well.


During the exercise we were told to listen to the words being said.


We were also told we were NOT to think about what we were going to answer while the other person was speaking. We could only answer back after listening, pausing, thinking, and answering.


The exercise was very difficult AND telling. I hadn’t realized how often I jump in and think what I’m going to say next while the person is still speaking. I have to admit, even though I have practiced active listening, it’s still difficult sometimes.


Plus, as I said before our culture reveres ‘quick’ witty answers. In general we do not like it when people take time to think about what they are saying. We shy away from the word meek.


However, Christ tells us, “blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the earth” (Matthew 5.5).


When we first meet someone we seldom wonder if they are wise.


We would do well to seek out Godly wisdom. That’s because Godly wisdom is a great gift from God. Of the two wise men who I mentioned, both considered their answers before speaking. Both listened carefully when others spoke. Both were Godly men.


We might expect those attributes from a wise person.


Here’s another thing…they were both sometimes painfully honest.


They both looked me in the eyes and looked at my soul.


They both changed me. They moved me and made me want to be more intentional when I spoke. They both taught me to reject quick answers AND shaming.


They made me want to speak more like Jesus spoke and respond to the inner person. Instead of trying to appear to be clever, they made me realize what really mattered was forming a deep bond when we speak with another person.


I can’t say I’m there yet, but I can say now that I’ve seen the real deal, that’s my standard.


Today’s Spiritual Practice is: BE the Real Deal


Think about conversations you have today and try to listen and respond to the inner person.


In God, Deborah

acrazyjourney.com

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About Me

I am a child of God. I can’t remember when God wasn’t part of my life. I served in a church setting for 30+ years and now I seek to help others see and find their sacred space. Daily when we turn to God we begin to recognize where God is at work in our lives.

 

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