Third Reading September 20 2009

James 3:13-4:3, 7-8a• In this passage James lifts up the gift of wisdom. This is the gift that Solomon asks for when he becomes king. Wisdom is a gift of the Spirit in the New Testament.

• What is wisdom? Do you know any wise people? If so, what does their wisdom look like?

• Can you learn to be wise? Can you cultivate wisdom? Or is wisdom a gift that some people possess and others do not?
• Wisdom is defined in a variety of ways. Here are some definitions I found on the internet
 Wisdom is “the ability to make decisions and give guidance that is according to God's will.”
 Wisdom is having a high EQ (Emotion Quotient) score.
 Wisdom is accumulated knowledge or erudition or enlightenment
 the trait of utilizing knowledge and experience with common sense and insight
 the quality of being prudent and sensible
 The ability to discern or judge what is true, right, or lasting; insight.
 Common sense; good judgment: "It is a characteristic of wisdom not to do desperate things" (Henry David Thoreau).

• James prizes wisdom that "is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without a trace of partiality or hypocrisy." That's a particular definition of wisdom. Using James' definition, is there anyone else you think of as wise? Are you a person of wisdom?