Two Kinds of Wise 1.13.25

January 13th, 2026

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT

We live in a world that never runs out of opinions. Everywhere we turn, someone is speaking louder, posting faster, and claiming to know better. But James reminds us that real wisdom has nothing to do with how confidently we talk — it’s revealed in how consistently we live.

James tells us there are only two kinds of wisdom shaping our lives:
earthly wisdom and Heavenly wisdom.

Earthly wisdom is fueled by self. It looks polished and convincing on the outside, but its fruit gives it away. It produces jealousy, comparison, selfish ambition, frustration, and chaos. It pushes us to fight for recognition, to react instead of reflect, and to prioritize being right over being Christlike. We may “win,” but we don’t experience peace.

Heavenly wisdom looks different because it flows from God’s heart, not ours. It is pure. Peace-loving. Gentle. Patient. Full of mercy. Willing to yield. Honest. This wisdom doesn’t just avoid conflict — it works toward healing it. It shows up when we hold our tongue instead of lashing out… when we listen instead of interrupting… when we give grace instead of demanding our way. And the incredible promise? God offers this wisdom freely to anyone who asks Him.

Every day we are choosing which wisdom will guide our thoughts, words, reactions, parenting, relationships, and decisions. And eventually, the fruit of our lives will reveal which one we’re living by.

REFLECT |

When you look at your recent choices and reactions, what kind of wisdom do they reflect?
Where do you see signs of earthly wisdom creeping in (envy, comparison, striving, pride)?
What situation in your life right now needs heavenly wisdom and godly peace?

BIBLE VERSES

Key Verses are denoted with an *

DAILY DEVOTIONAL

DAY 1 | THE WISDOM TEST

We live in a world where everyone seems to have an opinion about everything. Social media feeds are filled with people declaring their expertise on topics they've barely studied. But here's what's fascinating: James doesn't ask who thinks they're wise. Instead, he asks a much more challenging question. Real wisdom isn't about winning arguments or being the loudest voice in the room. It's not about having all the answers or impressing others with our knowledge. True wisdom is demonstrated through how we live our lives, not just what we say. Think about the wisest people you know. Are they the ones constantly posting their opinions online or dominating every conversation? Probably not. The truly wise people in our lives often speak less but live more authentically. They demonstrate their understanding through their actions, their character, and their relationships. Wisdom is like love or faith - it's invisible until it's not. You can't fake it for long because it will eventually show up in how you treat others, how you handle conflict, and how you respond to life's challenges. The question isn't whether you think you're wise, but whether your life demonstrates the kind of wisdom that comes from above. Today, let's shift our focus from trying to sound wise to actually living wisely. Let's allow our actions to speak louder than our words.

BIBLE VERSE |
'Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.' - James 3:13

REFLECTION QUESTION |
When you think about the wisest people in your life, what specific actions or character traits do they demonstrate that reveal their wisdom?

QUOTE |
"James, he doesn't start off by asking, who thinks that they're wise. He doesn't say that. I thought about that for a moment. He asked instead, who is wise and understanding among you."

PRAYER |
God, help me to be more concerned with living wisely than appearing wise. Show me how to demonstrate Your wisdom through my actions, my words, and my relationships. Let my life be a reflection of Your truth rather than my own opinions.

DAY 2 | STRENGTH UNDER CONTROL

There's a beautiful misunderstanding in our culture about what true strength looks like. We often mistake loudness for leadership, aggression for assertiveness, and pride for confidence. But real wisdom operates differently. Meekness is often confused with weakness, but it's actually the opposite. Meekness is strength under control. It's having the power to retaliate but choosing restraint. It's being confident enough to stay quiet when others are shouting. It's being strong enough to be gentle when the situation calls for it. Some of the most spiritually mature people you'll ever meet aren't the ones with titles or platforms. They're not the ones making the most noise or demanding the most attention. Instead, they live quiet, faithful lives that speak volumes about their character. They've learned that true wisdom doesn't need to announce itself. This kind of wisdom shows up in everyday moments: when someone cuts you off in traffic and you choose not to honk; when a coworker takes credit for your idea and you don't make a scene; when someone disagrees with you and you listen instead of preparing your rebuttal. The world tells us to fight for our rights, demand respect, and make sure everyone knows how smart we are. But heavenly wisdom whispers a different message: be confident enough to be quiet, strong enough to be gentle, and wise enough to let your life do the talking.

BIBLE VERSE |
'But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.' - James 3:17

REFLECTION QUESTION |
In what areas of your life do you find it most challenging to demonstrate 'strength under control,' and what would it look like to respond with meekness instead?

QUOTE |
"Meekness is confused as weakness. And it's not. It's not. It's not meekness. It's strength that's under control. Strength under control."

PRAYER |
Lord, teach me the difference between weakness and meekness. Help me to be strong enough to be gentle and confident enough to be quiet. Show me how to control my strength and use it in ways that honor You and bless others.

DAY 3 | THE FRUIT REVEALS THE ROOT

Have you ever noticed how you can tell what kind of tree you're looking at by examining its fruit? An apple tree produces apples, not oranges. A peach tree gives peaches, not pears. The same principle applies to the wisdom operating in our lives - it will always produce recognizable fruit. Earthly wisdom might look impressive on the surface, but its fruit tells a different story. It produces bitter envy that can't celebrate when others succeed. It creates selfish ambition that's more concerned with personal recognition than genuine service. It generates confusion and disorder because it's rooted in self-centeredness rather than truth. We see this everywhere: people with incredible success but no peace, individuals with everything they thought they wanted but still feeling empty inside. Even Solomon, who had wealth, power, intelligence, and pleasure beyond measure, concluded that it was all meaningless without the right foundation. But heavenly wisdom produces entirely different fruit. It creates peace where there was conflict. It brings clarity where there was confusion. It generates mercy where there was judgment. This wisdom shows up when we pause before reacting, when we listen instead of interrupting, when we choose forgiveness over keeping score. The beautiful truth is that we get to choose which kind of wisdom shapes our lives. And that choice will be evident in the fruit we produce - not just in our successes, but in our character, our relationships, and our impact on others.

BIBLE VERSE |
'For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.' - James 3:16

REFLECTION QUESTION |
Looking at the 'fruit' currently being produced in your life - your relationships, reactions, and responses to challenges - what kind of wisdom does it reveal is at work?

QUOTE |
"People with everything. People with everything but no peace. We see it in people with success, but yet there's still a hole in their heart and there's no satisfaction that they're tasting."

PRAYER |
Father, help me to honestly examine the fruit being produced in my life. Where I see the bitter fruit of earthly wisdom, please uproot it and plant Your heavenly wisdom instead. Let my life produce fruit that brings glory to You.

DAY 4 | THE PEACEMAKER'S PATH

In a world full of conflict, division, and heated arguments, there's something revolutionary about choosing the path of peace. But heavenly wisdom doesn't just avoid conflict - it actively creates peace when conflict is already present. This isn't about being passive or avoiding difficult conversations. It's about approaching disagreements with a different spirit. It's about being the person who brings calm to chaos, understanding to confusion, and healing to hurt. This kind of wisdom shows up in practical ways that anyone can practice. It appears when you pause before reacting to that frustrating text message. It's present when you choose to listen - really listen - instead of just waiting for your turn to speak. It emerges when you decide to extend mercy instead of keeping a mental scorecard of wrongs. Peacemaking is an active choice that requires wisdom, courage, and often sacrifice. It means being willing to be misunderstood, to absorb some pain, and to prioritize relationships over being right. It's choosing to build bridges instead of walls, even when walls would be easier to construct. The promise is beautiful: those who make peace will be blessed. Not those who win arguments, not those who prove their point, but those who create peace where there was none. In a world desperate for peace, we have the opportunity to be agents of heavenly wisdom that transforms conflict into connection.

BIBLE VERSE |
'Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.' - James 3:18

REFLECTION QUESTION |
Think of a current conflict or tension in your life - how could you apply heavenly wisdom to create peace rather than simply avoiding the situation or trying to win?

QUOTE |
"This kind of wisdom, it doesn't just avoid conflict. What it does is it says it creates peace when conflict is present."

PRAYER |
God, make me a peacemaker in my family, workplace, and community. Give me the wisdom to know when to speak and when to listen, when to stand firm and when to yield. Help me to sow peace wherever I go.

DAY 5 | ASK AND RECEIVE

Here's the most encouraging news you'll hear today: if you feel like you lack heavenly wisdom, you're not stuck. You're not doomed to repeat the same patterns or make the same mistakes. There's a direct line to the source of all wisdom, and it's always open. The God who created the universe, who keeps the planets in perfect orbit, who designed you for this exact moment in history - this same God says that if you lack wisdom, you can simply ask for it. No prerequisites, no waiting period, no complicated application process. Just ask. This isn't about asking for more knowledge or information. The internet has given us access to more facts than any generation in history, yet we're not necessarily wiser. This is about asking for the kind of wisdom that transforms how we live, how we love, and how we respond to life's challenges. Real wisdom isn't proven by how much you know - it's demonstrated by how much of your life you're willing to submit to God. It's about recognizing that the Creator of everything might have better insights than we do about how to navigate relationships, handle conflict, and find true satisfaction. The invitation is simple and the promise is sure: ask for heavenly wisdom, and it will be given to you. Not because you deserve it, but because God is generous and wants to give good gifts to His children. Today is a perfect day to take Him up on this incredible offer.

BIBLE VERSE |
'If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.' - James 1:5

REFLECTION QUESTION |
What specific area of your life do you most need God's wisdom right now, and what would it look like to genuinely surrender that area to His guidance?

QUOTE |
"If you lack this kind of heavenly wisdom, this is good news for you. If you lack it, ask for it and it will be given."

PRAYER |
Heavenly Father, I admit that I need Your wisdom more than I need to be right. I ask You to give me the kind of wisdom that comes from above - wisdom that creates peace, shows mercy, and bears good fruit. Help me to submit my life to Your guidance.

ACTION STEP

This week, before making any significant decisions or responding to challenging situations, pause and ask God for His heavenly wisdom. Practice the discipline of seeking God's perspective first rather than relying on your own understanding or the world's advice. Choose one specific area where you've been operating in worldly wisdom and intentionally submit that area to God's lordship.

PRAYER

Heavenly Father, thank You for Your Word today and for the reminder that You freely give wisdom to those who ask. We confess that too often we try to rely on our own understanding or the world's wisdom instead of seeking Your perspective first. Help us to be people marked by heavenly wisdom - pure, peace-loving, gentle, and submissive to Your will. Transform our hearts and minds so that the fruit of our lives reflects Your character. Give us the humility to ask for Your wisdom daily and the courage to follow it even when it's difficult. May we be peacemakers who sow peace and reap righteousness in our relationships and communities. We submit our lives to Your lordship and ask that You would shape us according to Your perfect wisdom. In Jesus' name, Amen.

BIBLE APP PLANS

Gaining Godly Wisdom
5 Days – YouVersion
Many of us see wisdom as something more experienced people have. But, we really can have it no matter how long we’ve lived. This 5-day Plan will give you insight into what godly wisdom actually is and how to gain it.

Spiritual Wisdom
3 Days – The Urban Alternative
Our travels through life can often feel like a narrow, treacherous road. Spiritual wisdom is God’s way of handling the twists and turns of navigating the journeys of life. This three-day plan by Dr. Tony Evans will tell you steps to accessing that spiritual wisdom.

God Can Give You Wisdom
5 Days – Life.Church

Making good choices. Patience. Moderation. You know what these three things have in common? God says they’re full of wisdom. But can God give wisdom to a pre-teen? Don’t you have to be old and gray to be wise? Nah. This five-day Bible Plan will show you that God can give you wisdom, no matter how old or young you are!