MONDAY January 13, 2020
Good Christian Conduct
Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom.
James 3:13
James asked believers a probing question, “Who is wise and understanding among you?” If they were indeed wise and understanding, then their good conduct and works would be evident. How are our good works to be accomplished? Good works are to be done in humility, never by drawing attention to ourselves. This is when you know someone is truly wise. However, if there is evidence of bitter envy and self-seeking, there is a problem, and it needs to be dealt with.
Who was the wisest king on earth? Solomon! God honored Solomon’s request for wisdom to lead and govern over the people of Israel (1 Kings 7-13). What was the condition for Solomon to remain blessed? God told him: So if you walk in My ways, to keep My statutes and My commandments, as your father David walked, then I will lengthen your days (1 Kings 3:14). When Solomon wholly followed after the Lord, he prospered: So King Solomon surpassed all the kings of the earth in riches and wisdom (1 Kings 10:23).Yet what a fool he became!
Solomon chose to disobey the Word of God and married foreign wives. They turned his heart away from following the Lord (1 Kings 11:1-6). His sinful conduct affected not only his life, but the lives of God’s people. After his reign ended, the kingdom would fall and be divided (1 Kings 11:9-13).
Jesus gave a parable to teach who is truly a wise person in Matthew 7:24-27. The wise person “hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock” (Matthew 7:24-25).
A person only becomes wise when they apply the knowledge given.
“…blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it!”
~Luke 11:28~
For more from Raul Ries, please visit SomebodyLovesYou.com!
