The Bible clearly states that there are two contrary perceptions of Wisdom. The Book of James draws the distinctions: First, there is wisdom as defined by God—godly wisdom. “Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom. . . . the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace. (James 3:13, 17-18)”
So, godly wisdom might be described as wisdom that is evidenced by good works performed in a meek spirit, purity (free from carnality); it is peaceable (facilitates peace), gentle (equitable, fair, mild), easy to be intreated (approachable), full of mercy and good works, without partiality (the same all the time and to all), without hypocrisy (sincere and undisguised). The presence of biblical, godly wisdom will be confirmed by a harvest of righteousness in a climate of peace. …Sound like anybody you know?
The other kind of wisdom is defined by the world—worldly wisdom. James tells us, “But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. (Jas 3:14-16)”
Worldly wisdom is really just earthly cleverness, or proud selfish intellectualism. It produces: bitter envy (resentful attitudes), strife (self-promotion, electioneering). It is earthly (based upon temporal knowledge, rather than knowledge of the eternal), sensual (inseparably linked to the appetites of the flesh), and devilish (endorsed and taught by Satan and the forces of evil) Wherever wisdom is defined by the world, there will be: confusion (disharmony, disorder, and instability), and every evil work (every evil imaginable). Sound like anybody you know?
“When pride cometh, then cometh shame: but with the lowly is wisdom. (Proverbs 11:2)”