THE WISE KNOWS HE LACKS WISDOM

THE WISE KNOWS HE LACKS WISDOM
Wisdom may not guarantee long life but it guarantees victory. James 1

SOPHIA - PHRONESIS
SOPHIA- Nature of things. Wisdom helps to understand why a problem is a problem.
PHRONESIS- Modes of Action (choices in terms of what should be done) with projected results. Phronesis helps us to understand what action must be taken, what its projected results would be. HOW DO YOU SWAT THE FLY?

James 1: 2 Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. 4 And let endurance have its perfect result, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

5 But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all men generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him. 6 But let him ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea driven and tossed by the wind.

11 For the sun rises with a scorching wind, and withers the grass; and its flower falls off, and the beauty of its appearance is destroyed; so too the rich man in the midst of his pursuits will fade away.

7 For let not that man expect that he will receive anything from the Lord, 8 being a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. 9 But let the brother of humble circumstances glory in his high position; 10 and let the rich man glory in his humiliation, because like flowering grass he will pass away.

The argument in James 1
Without wisdom, one gets defeated by his trials
With wisdom, one benefits from trials

The Value of Sophia and Phronesis
Wisdom requires understanding its value and understanding how to acquire and use it. Wisdom helps us in 3 specific ways:

1. WISDOM HELPS US TO:
A. Understand the reasons, meaning and value of our trials. James 1:2 Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. 4 And let endurance have its perfect result, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. NO TRIAL IS WITHOUT A REASON FOR OUR BENEFIT.

B. As a consequence, wisdom helps us gain joy out of our trials. James 1:2 Consider it all joy

2. WISDOM HELPS US TO:
Understand the mysteries of life:
The “high” position of the poor believer. James 1:9 But let the brother of humble circumstances glory in his high position; James is describing the poor’s discovery that once he becomes a Christian, he gets position in the kingdom of God that is equal with everyone, including the rich. This is something that he really had not hope of achieving by himself and by his own efforts.

The “humiliation” of the rich believer. James 1:10 and let the rich man glory in his humiliation, because like flowering grass he will pass away. 11 For the sun rises with a scorching wind, and withers the grass; and its flower falls off, and the beauty of its appearance is destroyed; so too the rich man in the midst of his pursuits will fade away.”
The rich man here was someone who had always believed as culture for hundreds of years made him believe, that the glory of a man is in his riches. Once he becomes a Christian, he realizes that the rich and poor are the same in terms of the shortness of life and all the problems that come with being alive. He now knows that his wealth is not the ultimate reason for his confidence in life. In this sense, he has been humiliated.


3. WISDOM HELPS US TO:
Acquire the characteristics of the Victor:
 Quick to hear- We listen to learn and we are listeners first of all before we are speakers.
 Slow To speak- in the context it means not responding to a provocation right away but giving it time for processing.
 Slow to anger- emotions can get in the way of our reaction to an issue. Don’t be. Control the emotions.
James 1:19 This you know, my beloved brethren. But let everyone be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger; 20 for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God

The Right Attitude Towards Sophia And Phronesis
Acquire- Ask it from God.

Apply- Use in making decisions everyday and planning for your future.

Assess the use of wisdom in your life. Find out if your decisions are palpak or pangpalakpak.