Who among you endures trials with unwavering faith? Who seeks the Lord—not just in moments of need, but in every breath? Who runs to the Father when temptation whispers? Who carries a heart for the forgotten—the ones the world overlooks, the ones who have no voice? Who refuses to show favoritism, choosing instead to pursue the poor, the broken, the ones who have nothing to offer in return? Who truly lives by the royal law—to love God and love people? Who is known by their mercy? Where is the one who does good, not for praise, but out of love for the One who first loved them? Who among you guards their lips, knowing words hold the power to bring life or destruction? Who surrenders to the hard but beautiful work of a transformed heart and renewed mind?
Do you hear the echo of this letter? James is asking a question with all these themes running beneath the surface.
“Who is wise and understanding among you?” (James 3:13)
He’s not asking for names. He’s not asking us to point fingers. He’s asking—could this be you?
And if it is, then let it show—not in pride, not in boasting, but in meekness.
Blessed are the meek.
We do not pursue righteousness to be seen. We do not seek wisdom so that others will marvel at us. If our hearts crave the approval of people—to feel relevant, noticed, admired—James warns us: Stop. Repent.
Because jealousy and self-seeking pursuits are, as he says, earthly, unspiritual, demonic. We don’t need the world’s approval.
We need Jesus.
He is the One who emptied Himself for us.
“Though he was in the form of God, he did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death—even death on a cross.” (Philippians 2:6-8)
Jesus—the Creator of all things, the One who spoke the stars into existence—emptied Himself. He came to serve. He never sought the approval of men. He walked among us, rejected, abused, forsaken. By His wounds, we are healed.
The One worthy of worship.
Let go of the need for praise.
Instead, let’s draw near to God—not for what He can give us, but simply for Him. He is our prize. He is our pursuit.
Like a child watching their father, imitating His every move, we—children of God—long to reflect the heart of our Father. We long to be like Him because we long to be with Him.
And what does His heart look like?
What does the Wisdom from above look like?
Pure. Peaceable. Gentle. Open to reason. Full of mercy. Bearing good fruit. Impartial. Sincere.
What if this described you? What if this were true of me?
How would our lives be different? Our marriages? Our families? Our friendships? Our churches? Our cities?
It would be a harvest of peace. Not the temporary, shallow peace the world offers, but the deep, unshakable peace of Jesus.
Let that be said of us.
Not for applause. Not for recognition.
But so the world would know who we love.
Jesus. Only Jesus.
Who among you?
For our good. For His glory.
“Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom. But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.” James 3:13-18
ESV Study Bible. (2010). Crossway Books.
From Talk Scripture: Who Among You | James 3:13-18
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/who-among-you-james-3-13-18/id1786264764?i=1000694298039
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