There are two kinds of wisdom in life: wisdom from above, and wisdom of this world. The writer of the book of James describes this stark contrast: “Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom. But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.” (James 3:13-18)

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This earthly wisdom is a direct result of the rebellion and resulting punishment of the first couple in the Garden of Eden. Prior to their terrible choice to disobey God, there was only “wisdom from above.” But alas, we now live in a broken and sin-filled world, where temptation to disobey God continues, deception is as common as salt, the truth is distorted and twisted, and people seem to mostly fend for themselves.

 

Whatever happened to people making good or even wise decisions? Undoubtedly some do; but the majority do not. Personal (and collective) debt is out of control, obesity is on a rapid incline, stress contributes to excessive alcohol or drug abuse, and respectable relationships are nearly impossible to maintain. What about wise decisions for after this life? Regrettably, those are just as uncommon. We know this because Jesus Himself said: “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.” (Matthew 7:13-14). This “many” and “few” is a disturbing ratio which Jesus spoke of repeatedly, and as long as humanity lacks wisdom from above, good decisions will remain few and far in between.

 

In the Old Testament, King Solomon asked God for wisdom and understanding to rule over the nation of Israel as best as humanly possible. God granted his request, and also gave him riches, honor and a long life. Sadly however, Solomon’s heart was later turned from God, and his life and kingdom were destroyed. While much of Solomon’s wisdom was preserved in the writings of Proverbs, the legacy which God gave him seemed lost, as Israel was soon permanently divided and ultimately led away into captivity. Did wisdom also die along with Solomon?

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Approximately 900 years later, a very special child was born – One Who would change the world; One who would be the embodiment of all heavenly wisdom. As He grew: “...Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man.” (Luke 2:52)

 

Also: “But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption,” (1 Corinthians 1:27-30)

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During His earthly ministry, Christ Jesus demonstrated profound wisdom in various ways, through His teachings, actions, and responses to people. His wisdom was not just intellectual but also deeply spiritual and practical, rooted in His understanding of God’s will and His compassion for people. Here are multiple ways Jesus displayed wisdom:

• He responded to temptation with precise answers from Scripture to each temptation, resulting in victory rather than defeat.

• He discerned the hearts of people during every engagement, so that He could respond to them properly and as needed.

• He taught the truths of His mission and Kingdom using various approaches, including relatable stories, metaphors, Old Testament writings, and even plain language. When necessary, He explained His teachings repeatedly until some degree of understanding by His listeners was achieved.

• He spoke of the importance of His Father’s will in His own and His follower’s lives, and demonstrated the importance of prayer in finding it and doing it.

• His actions confirmed that He possessed the authority to command nature, perform miracles, and speak for His Father. His insight provided Him with the ability to discern the real issues, rather than being misled or misdirected by certain audiences.

• His compassion was always apparent, and His actions and words were aligned with the needs of many who He encountered.

• He validated His ability to choose and lead His disciples from near total ignorance (spiritually speaking), to skilled ministers for the Kingdom of Heaven.

• His ability to apply wisdom (which is seeing and responding to any situation from God’s perspective) in everyday situations was obvious as He interacted with the rich or poor, the healthy or sick, the hypocrites or the humble.

       

Jesus’ wisdom was multifaceted, blending deep theological insight, compassion, practical knowledge, and divine authority. His life and teachings continue to inspire and challenge people, demonstrating that true wisdom comes from aligning one’s life with God’s will and love. His wisdom was always rooted in His intimate relationship with the Father, and His mission to introduce the Kingdom of Heaven and bring salvation to the world.

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I hope that as you read this book, you will realize the significance of how Jesus applied “wisdom from above” in every aspect of His life. If wisdom is truly seeing life from God’s perspective, rather than seeing life as we believe it is, we can begin to understand why God has allowed this situation, or that person, or this difficulty in our lives.

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May our Lord Jesus Christ be praised and honored and glorified by all that we say, all that we think, and all that we do.

H.K. Holevinsky