True Wisdom

True Wisdom

Bible Reading: James 3:17-18

We continued to take personal inventory, and when we were wrong, promptly admitted it.

Many of us in recovery are learning to think and act in new ways. So we may find it hard to recognize true wisdom, even when it’s staring us in the face. We may need some guidelines to help us identify wisdom in our thoughts and choices of action.

According to the Bible, there are two aspects of wisdom: the spiritual and the practical. Spiritual wisdom gives insight into the true nature of things. It includes things like, “ask God to give you complete knowledge of his will and to give you spiritual wisdom and understanding. . . . Learn to know God better and better” (Colossians 1:9-10). Special wisdom is also sometimes given “that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can understand the confident hope he has given to those he called” (Ephesians 1:18).

Wisdom can be evaluated by its qualities. The Bible tells us that God’s wisdom is “first of all pure. It is also peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others. It is full of mercy and good deeds. It shows no favoritism and is always sincere” (James 3:17).

On the practical level, our wisdom can be judged by whether our actions conform to God’s instructions or not. God’s instructions were given to us because they naturally lead to healthy living. Using them, we can find the wisdom we need to walk progressively toward wholeness. This can be one of the standards we use in our continuing daily inventory.

True wisdom will always lead those who follow it toward peace and wholeness.