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13 Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom. 14 But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. 15 This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. 16 For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. 17 But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. 18 And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.
James 3:13-18 ESV
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Wisdom from above…….
++ “first pure”
++Our “inner courts” ( _hearts_ ) must be a pure sanctuary so that our “outer courts” ( _actions_) are in perfect alignment with God.
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Wisdom from above…….
++”Peaceable”
++Peace is not the absence of conflict but the promotion of goodness that produces _right relationship_.
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Wisdom from above…….
++”Gentle”
++Gentle is the respect & consideration of others and making allowances for other’s weaknesses, feelings, and needs.
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“Sweet reasonableness”
Matthew Arnold
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“Gentleness is equity to pardon human failings to look to the lawgiver and not to the law, to the spirit and not to the letter, to the intention and not to the action, to the whole and not to the part, to the character of the person in the long run, and not to the present moment, to remember the good and not the evil.”
Aristotle
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2 to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people.
Titus 3:2 ESV
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Gentleness is a characteristic of a _servant_.
++29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
Matthew 11:29-30 ESV
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“Soft approachableness” P.F.
++24 and the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, 25 correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, 26 and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will.
2 Timothy 2:24-26
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“Open to reason”
++God’s wisdom produces a reasonable spirit that is willing to take instructions and cooperate when better ways are known.
++”True wisdom is not rigid but is willing to listen and skilled in knowing to _wisely yield_.”
Barclay
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Compromise has its purpose when _relationship_ is at stake.
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Compromise is never acceptable when _God’s word _is at stake.
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Full of mercy and good fruits.
++God’s wisdom is demonstrated by our behavior:
an attitude of compassion for what is _needed_ rather than that what is _deserved_.
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7 Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity,
Titus 2:7 ESV
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24 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works,
Hebrews 10:24 ESV
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Impartial
“to divide, division, discord”
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Sincere
“Upo-kistos” = _hypocritical_
++”Wisdom from above” always produces a life that is _genuine_, real, authentic, and transparent.
++Romans 12:9 “Let love be genuine”
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18 And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.
James 3:18 ESV
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2 My goal is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, 3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
Colossians 2:2-3 NIV