We live in a time when information is everywhere. With a few taps, we can find advice on parenting, health, money, relationships, politics, faith, and almost anything else. AI has only intensified this, providing impressive information on any topic in seconds. But more information has not necessarily made us wiser. In fact, the louder the world gets, the harder it can be to recognize what is actually true.
James 3 gives us a helpful lens: there is earthly wisdom and heavenly wisdom. Earthly wisdom is marked by jealousy, selfish ambition, pride, and chaos. It centers the self, seeks attention, and often leaves division in its wake. It may sound impressive, but its fruit reveals its source.
Heavenly wisdom looks very different. James says it is “pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere.” That kind of wisdom does not need to shout. It is humble, steady, and fruitful. It produces peace—not shallow peace that avoids hard conversations, but true peace that brings healing, wholeness, and righteousness.
The challenge is that both kinds of wisdom are calling out to us every day. Social media, partisan news, entertainment, podcasts, influencers, and conversations all shape us. The question is not whether we are being formed, but how.
If we want to grow in heavenly wisdom, we need to pay attention to what we allow into our minds and hearts. Scripture, godly community, and even creation can help tune our ears to the wisdom of God. Most of all, we look to Jesus, who is wisdom embodied.
In a noisy world, wisdom is not just about knowing more. It is about becoming more like Christ.
Action Steps:
1. Curate your inputs: Identify one source of content that stirs up pride, outrage, or fear, and turn it down or off this week.
2. Seek heavenly wisdom: Spend time in James 3 this week and ask God to make you humble, peaceable, gentle, and open to reason.
This article used generative AI via Pulpit AI to transform one of Chris' sermons into this article. The content is original to CDM, with some help from Pulpit AI adapting it into article form.
