James warns us about being too narrow-minded, too short-focused, that we lose sight of the coming return of Christ, and instead value our own self-confidence and self-reliance over God’s sovereignty. He warns us against arrogance in our relationships, our planning, and our finances.

James is reminding us that at the end of the day, or at the end of times on judgment day, the wealth and material possessions that we have gathered will amount to nothing. But what will remain are the treasures that have been stored in heaven, as Matthew 6:19-21 describes.

The good we ought to do is about helping those within enough proximity of us to assist, in a timely manner. If we see a neighbor in need and have the power to act, that is our faith being put into action. Caring for the vulnerable in society, such as a child without guardians, is a sign of true religion. Faith is forged through action.

As people that are just a mist, are we placing faith in our own self-confidence and personal willpower, or are we placing our faith in God’s plan and sovereignty? It requires humility to recognize that ultimately it is God’s plans that will come to fruition, and not our own.

As we read and study this portion of James, it may feel most natural to start with an outward perspective. You may hear a verse that reminds you of someone else or seems to tell you something about society at large. It’s easy to view these scriptures through the lens of how it relates to others. Let’s challenge ourselves to instead start with an inward perspective.

James is encouraging his reader or hearer to humble themselves in repentance. To turn back and find their way back to God – a God who forgives. In humility, wisdom from above finds a true resting place in the lives of those willing to choose the kingdom of God over their own empire.

Today’s deep dive can help us process through the things we do that we place at a higher importance than God and the Imago Dei. What overwhelms our minds during the day? Where do we spend our money? What algorithms show up in our social media feeds? So let’s think through that today, and reset to what God is asking of us. And we can do that because every day is a new day!

Today, let’s ask God how we can resolve the disputes and conflicts in our lives and begin to ask for the things that come from His true wisdom.

What counts is the godly life reflected in action resulting from genuine faith and wisdom. This kind of wisdom is not proud, self-serving, and contentious, but instead, pure, generous, peaceable, humble, and sincere. So today, let’s tap into the true wisdom that God has given us access to. Let’s be the people of peace.

James’ “wisdom from above” is not about how to “get ahead” in life or how to achieve worldly success. It’s about how we reflect the life of Christ, the one who identified himself as meek and lowly. Anything that generates jealousy or selfish ambition is a denial of the teaching of Jesus. James is saying that every ostensibly “good” thing that earthly wisdom produces is at best morally worthless.