The passage from the Letter of James presents us with two kinds of wisdom - one from above and the other of earth. Those with wisdom from above are pure, peaceful, kind, considerate, compassionate, involved in good works, impartial and sincere (v 17). In contrast, those with earth's wisdom have "at heart .... the bitterness of jealousy.... a self-seeking ambition", are boastful and "cover up the truth with lies" (v 14). St James highlights that those with this earthly wisdom promote "disharmony.... and wicked things of every kind" (v 16); whereas those with "the wisdom that comes down from above" progress on to become "peacemakers", working for peace and sowing seeds "which will bear fruit in holiness" (v 18).

Perhaps today, we can take this passage and use it as an aid for self-examination by asking ourselves the following questions:-

Verse 13: Am I wise or unwise? Am I living a godly life, with humility and wisdom in my actions?

Verse 14: Do I have the bitterness of jealousy or a self-seeking ambition? Do I hide the truth with lies?

Verse 16: Do I promote disharmony?

Verse 17: Do I relentlessly pursue that which is pure? Do I come across as peace-loving, kind, considerate? Verse 18: What sort of seeds am I sowing that "will bear fruit in holiness"?