“But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere.” – James 3:17
Here’s an incredibly valuable tool for our age of outrage and information overload. If the ”wisdom” you’re reading, hearing, speaking, tweeting, re-posting, liking, or sharing isn’t all these things, it isn’t from God. Period.
Ask yourself before letting opinion and interpretation soak into your soul or come out of your mouth/fingertips:
- Is this pure (meaning holy)?
- Is it peace-loving or does it stoke conflict and division?
- Is it gentle or harsh?
- Is it open to reason or so pridefully confident that no disagreement will be tolerated?
- Is it full of mercy or lacing compassion?
- Is it bringing about good fruit or poisonous fruit?
- Is it impartial or prejudiced?
- Is it sincerely believed or merely said to get attention and further an earthly agenda?
If what you’re reading, watching, or hearing isn’t ALL those things, it isn’t from heaven above. It doesn’t matter who‘s saying it or their purported credentials, don’t let it sink in and don’t pass it along!