07/08/2026
Who is wise and understanding among you?
by Mark Ostrom
In recent days it has seemed to me that the Holy Spirit has been highlighting wisdom. He has been contrasting true wisdom with the wisdom of this world.
I have been seeing this contrast of “wisdom” in two “women”.
One is immoral, a seductress, and is linked to idolatry and death. The other is pure, holy, walks in true wisdom and leads to life.
I have been seeing these “women” or types of wisdom mainly in the book of Revelation and Proverbs.
In Revelation she is Babylon and Jezebel who is contrasted with the new Jerusalem and the Bride of Christ. In Proverbs she is the virtuous women and true wisdom who are contrasted with the immoral women and seductress.
It also seems as if the Holy Spirit has emphasized the importance of coming out of the world and being separate.
Revelation 18:4
4 And I heard another voice from heaven saying, “Come out of her, my people, lest you share in her sins, and lest you receive of her plagues.
(NKJV)
And
2 Corinthians 6:17
17 Therefore
“Come out from among them
And be separate, says the Lord.
Do not touch what is unclean,
And I will receive you.”
(NKJV)
These exhortations to “come out” of the world and “be separate” rings true no matter what generation we live in.
This morning the Holy Spirit added to these contrasts by quoting these words from James inside me…
“Who is wise and understanding among you?”
I found these words in James chapter 3.
James 3:13-18
13 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom. 14 But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. 15 This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. 16 For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. 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. 18 Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.
(NKJV)
I found verse 3:17 extremely helpful in distinguishing true wisdom from false.
James 3:17
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.
(NKJV)
The wisdom that is from above… this is true wisdom, wisdom from God. What are the characteristics of true wisdom or teachings that come from God.
First, it is pure.
Do the teachings and ‘wisdom’ you listen to today lead you toward greater purity—or toward justifying sin?
Is the “spirit” you are following causing you to become more peaceful or divisive?
Are you more willing to yield or must things be your way?
Is it filling you with mercy and good fruit?
And lastly does the wisdom you follow, judge impartially and simply let truth be true or must it twist truth to fit your narrative? In the end, is it causing you to become a hypocrite?
God’s wisdom is pure, peaceable and full of good fruit, it is gentle and willing to yield.
Let us value the wisdom that comes from above. Let us all be like the wise virgins, keeping extra oil in our lamps as we await the return of our King!
