Article October 22, 1938 Issue

Wisdom from Above

GEORGE ALBERT BOYES

In the epistle of James we find strikingly contrasted two kinds of wisdom—"the wisdom that is from above" and the wisdom that is from beneath. "The wisdom that is from above," we are told in the third chapter, "is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy." The wisdom that is from beneath is described as "earthly, sensual, devilish," and is characterized by envy and strife, resulting in confusion and every evil work. Thus we have presented for our consideration and choice the true, heavenly wisdom, which, when utilized, blesses one and all, and the false material sense of wisdom, which is often but another name for human expediency.

In the allegory of the garden of Eden the serpent, corporeal sense, argued that to partake of the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil would make one wise; but, considering the suffering and misery which this selfish indulgence seems to have brought into the world, shall we not, looking to divine Mind, choose to know and to be guided by the true, heavenly wisdom?

The Bible is commonly and rightfully regarded as mankind's great moral and spiritual guide and monitor. In Proverbs we read, "Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding." Thus we are not only advised of the great value of wisdom and the necessity for acquiring it, but also informed that wisdom is closely allied to spiritual understanding. In fact, from the frequency of their association in the Bible we have come to regard wisdom and understanding as somewhat synonymous. Without an understanding of the true nature of God and man, and of man's relationship to God, it is impossible for men to acquire true wisdom, to be wisely directed, or to distinguish between the "wisdom of this world," which the Bible tells us "is foolishness with God," and "the wisdom that is from above," which this same authority states is full of good fruits.

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