Whenever we think of being wise, we think of people who are particularly skilled or knowledgeable. But James wasn’t all that concerned about how much knowledge a person possessed. What he wanted people to think about was their actions: the things they did to and for others, meaning the works that indicated they honored God. There were a lot of people in James’ time who knew the full law by heart. They could quote passages and would stick their noses in the air at those who didn’t have it all memorized. James knew they could show off, but he wanted them to show up with acts of service that blessed others. Mom used to say actions speak louder than words. When it comes to Christianity, that’s certainly true. Does my conduct support the things I say I believe? If not, I need to self-evaluate and make changes.
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