Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Wisdom – James 3:13 – Show It – Growing As Disciples
Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. James 3:13 (NIV)
Success?
I want to be wise and understanding. I want my life to demonstrate that I am both wise and understanding. Why do you want to be wise and understanding? What do you mean by asking me that? What is wise? What is understanding? How are you defining those terms? Why is it your desire and goal to be wise and understanding? I’m still not fully understanding where you are headed with your questions. Let’s take a step back. I will ask you another question. Go ahead, I’m listening. What possible reasons could a person have for wanting to be wise and understanding? A person might want to be wise and understanding so that they can be successful in life. I suppose you will now ask me what a successful life would look like. You are right about that. What would a successful life look like to you? What would a successful look like to someone else? Now, I’m starting to understand where you are headed with your questions. Someone might evaluate their success in life by how much they have acquired. They would think that their life is successful if they have acquired possessions, power and prestige in an abundance. They might think that their life has been successful if they have lived a life filled with comfort and pleasure. Their desire for wisdom and understanding would simply be tools on that path to their idea of success. That’s right. Is this how you view success? Is this why you want wisdom and understanding? No, it is not.
How do you define success? My life will be successful if I have come to know and do your will. My life will be successful if I have born an abundance of fruit for your kingdom and brought glory to your name. That is a very different definition of success. Yes, it is. Only my followers would ever hold on to that definition of success. That’s right. Loving, following and serving you is my desire and goal in life. So, it should be easy for you to now tell me why you want to have wisdom and understanding. I want to have wisdom and understanding so that I will be able to know and do your will. Wisdom and understanding from you, will guide me on the proper path in life. My life will succeed in bearing fruit for your kingdom and bringing glory to your name if I have your wisdom and understanding. Yes, it will. Without your wisdom and understanding I will be unable to know and do your will. That’s right. It is my prayer that I will have your wisdom and understanding so that I can live my life fully for you. That is a prayer that I will hear and answer.
Lord, I want to be wise and understanding. I want my life to be filled with your wisdom and understanding. Help me to do humble deeds that display wisdom as I follow and serve you. Use my life to bear fruit for your kingdom and bring glory to your name. Amen
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Wisdom – James 3-13 – Show It – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide
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