by Marilynn Chadwick

"Blessed are those who find wisdom, those who gain understanding." Proverbs 3:13 NIV

People talk a lot about profitable investments and especially the ROI, or "return on investment." According to Proverbs, there are very few investments in life as profitable as the gaining of wisdom. Threaded throughout Proverbs are admonitions to seek wisdom. The gain from wisdom is "better than gain from silver, and her profit better than gold. She is more precious than jewels, and nothing you desire can compare with her" (Proverbs 3:14,15 ESV).

Do you want to be wise? King Solomon sure did. And God blessed him mightily for his prayer (1 Kings 3:5-15). If we lack wisdom, we, too, should ask God. It's a prayer he loves to answer (James 1:5).

But James warns us about the dangers of mere "earthly wisdom." He calls this kind of wisdom "unspiritual and demonic" (James 3:15 NIV). He contrasts earthly wisdom with heavenly wisdom: "But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere" (James 3:17,18).

Earthly wisdom has a swagger about it. It is power-hungry. Commanding. In control. "For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice" (James 3:16). Eve found earthly wisdom irresistible. And tragically sometimes, so do we.

James reminds us that true wisdom from heaven produces humility: "Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom" (James 3:13). But make no mistake. This wisdom is anything but weak. It comes with its own reward.

The Greek word "praus," translated as "humility," implies bridled power. Praus is the very same word Jesus used when he said, "I am gentle and humble in heart" (Matthew 11:29). It's the only instance in the New Testament where he described himself.

Think about it. Jesus, the all-powerful king of the universe, described himself as humble. In his presence, the sick were healed. The dead were raised. Demons trembled. Jesus was true wisdom from God in human form. That's the most powerful and the most profitable kind of wisdom on earth—the wisdom that comes from above.