Gentleness of Wisdom
James 3:13 Who among you is wise and understanding? Let him show by his good behavior his deeds in the gentleness of wisdom. 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 peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy. 18 And the seed whose fruit is righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.
I’m learning that the sword of the spirit, (Ephesians 6), is not an attack weapon but a defensive weapon. Holy Spirit is working on each of us, using our life experiences to open our eyes to spiritual truths. Having a spiritual insight does not give me license to bludgeon others into submission to that insight. The wise response, the gentle response to sharing my newfound, life changing truth is understand who the source of that truth is.
No matter how spiritually enlightening my new found truth is; no matter how much it changes my life; it is still up to Holy Spirit to drive that truth home into the hearts of others. It is loving and wise for me to share that truth. It is arrogant of me to think that others must immediately fall in line with whatever edict it is that has been placed upon my heart. I am not a judge. I am a fellow sojourner finding my way through a world darkened by the deceiver.
My “gentleness of wisdom” is my act of faith. Just as God teaches me, He is also at work teaching others. My duty is to love and support, not to force submission to a word that seems particularly special to me.
Father, we seek Your truth and we want to share it. Give us the faith of farmers who spread seed but don’t condemn the soil for not receiving it.