DYNAMIS!
A publication of St. George Orthodox Christian Cathedral
Wichita, KS
James 3:11-4:6 (01/18 or 01/31) Wednesday of the
Thirty-second Week after Pentecost
Also
(01/25 or 02/07)
Wednesday of the Thirty-third Week after Pentecost
Wisdom From Above: James 3:11-4:6, especially vs. 17: “But the wisdom that is from above is first pure,
then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits,
without partiality and without hypocrisy.” The
Apostle James, like the Apostle Paul, distinguishes “...earthly, sensual,
demonic” wisdom from the true “...wisdom that is from above”
(vss. 15,17).
Saint Paul differentiates the two as “...the wisdom of this
world” and “...the wisdom of God...” (1 Cor. 1:20,21). Saint
James urges us to follow faithfully and enter into “...the meekness of
wisdom” that is “...from above” (Jas. 3:13,15). Notice that he speaks of this higher
wisdom as a dwelling place for our hearts where we may situate ourselves. The difference between the two is most
evident when the Apostle describes the wisdom of this world as a residence:
“...where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing
are...” (vs. 16). It is tempting to stray into such a
place, to live there in its bitterness, and to miss the joys of living with the
wisdom from above.
To help us enter into “...the wisdom that is from
above” (vs. 17), Saint James lists a set of obediences
that are key: draw near to God, cleanse your hands, purify your hearts, lament,
mourn, weep - in short “...humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord,
and He will lift you up” (vss. 8-10). By speaking of wisdom-as-location, the
Apostle strengthens his point that the two types of wisdom are contradictory - antipathetical.
A spring will only send forth one kind of water, not fresh and bitter
from the same opening (vs. 11).
Trees only bear that fruit that it is their nature to produce. Thus, if we choose to live in envy,
self-seeking, confusion and every evil, we should expect only earthly, sensual,
demonic wisdom to prevail (vss. 16,15). Learn from Saint James how we may humble
ourselves in the sight of the Lord, open our hearts to Him as the Apostle
describes, that the Spirit may enter and provide the “...wisdom from
above” (vs. 17).
The first two keys for drawing near to God are prayer and
the receiving of the Holy Gifts.
Tito Colliander affirms this: “Prayer is
one wing, faith the other, that lifts us
heavenward. With only one wing no
one can fly: prayer without faith is as meaningless as faith without
prayer.” So we must
affirm with the Psalmist: “...it is good for me to cleave unto God”
(Ps. 72:26), and to cry out as does Saint Augustine, “Let me know Thee,
Thou that knowest me....O Thou strength of my soul,
enter into it and prepare it for Thy self...without spot or wrinkle.”
The next key is moral purification - we must cleanse our
hands (Jas. 4:8). Listen to Saint
John of Kronstadt: “Observe temperance and
simplicity in food and drink; preserve chastity; do not foolishly squander the
balsam of your life; do not seek after riches or luxury.”
Foremost, our cleansing must purify the heart. Even good thoughts during prayer are
diversions that open the way for the devil to slip in. His entry ultimately results in the
adultery of our spirit. For this
reason, the Apostle challenges us as “adulterers and adulteresses,”
because “...friendship with the world is enmity with God” (Jam.
4:4). Pray, beg the Lord,
“Help me to keep my thoughts on Thee, that I may
hear Thee speaking in my heart.”
Cleansing is achieved supremely by persistent
repentance. “Lament, mourn
and weep” (vs. 9). Saint
Peter of Damascus also encourages this: “And if you fall again, then rise
again, without despairing at all of your salvation, no matter what
happens. So long as you do not
surrender yourself willingly to the enemy, your patient endurance...will
suffice for your salvation.”
Metropolitan Hierotheos Vlachos gives us the
following prayer for true wisdom:
May the Lord keep your soul and body from every evil and from
every adversity caused by the devil and from every imagination causing
disturbance; may the Lord be your light, your protection, your way, your
strength, the crown of your joy and eternal help. Be watchful!
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