Who Is Wise?

August 11th, 2026
by Lance Waldie

James 3:13 Who among you is wise and understanding? Let him show by his good behavior his deeds in the gentleness of wisdom.

James begins this section by asking his readers to discern who is wise and understanding among them. Although he may have had teachers in view (3:1), he was no doubt asking the question for everyone to consider. True also today, those considered wise in James’ day were those who were innately smart, formally educated, wealthy, even famous. Whereas the Greeks used the term “wise” (Gr. sophos) as a term for knowledge, theory, or philosophy, the Jews used it to refer to the vigilant application of knowledge in daily living. In other words, wisdom to the Jews not only entailed possessing factual data, it included the application of truth to daily living. Fools were those who acted contrary to what they knew to be true (cf. Ps. 14:1), for they had knowledge without the application of it. Therefore, we conclude that there are two kinds of wisdom: the wisdom of man and the wisdom of God. Notably, to the Apostle Paul, the highest wisdom of mankind is still foolishness to God (1 Cor. 1:18-31).

In the Book of Ecclesiastes, the Teacher set out to experience all things under the sun. What he discovered was that man’s wisdom is foolish, and no matter how hard he played or how hard he studied, he found no answers to life’s most basic questions. He therefore concluded that all the sensual and physical pleasures man seeks not only fail to bring him happiness, they fail to keep him alive, for he will die just like everyone and everything else. Attaining wisdom, though helpful in life, still did not answer all the “why?” questions of life. Notwithstanding, the Teacher found that wisdom and its application of fearing God is life’s ultimate goal, for in wisdom we not only recognize there is a God—the beginning of wisdom (Ps. 111:10)—we are able to enjoy the life and gifts of life that God has given us to enjoy during our brief and futile time on earth.

God’s desire for Israel was wisdom so that they might discern what the future held for them if they disobeyed Him (Deut. 32:29). God thus wanted Israel to love wisdom and pursue it more than gold or silver (Prov. 3:19; 16:16). He even gave great wisdom to men like Solomon and Daniel (Dan. 1:17; 5:14) to display its benefits to His chosen people. Truly, wisdom is excellent in its appeal (Prov. 8:1-3), in its truth (8:4-12), of what it loves and hates (8:13-16), and of its benefits to those who possess it (8:17-21). After all, the source of wisdom is God (8:22ff.).

James’ use of the term “wisdom” is in keeping with what God says about it. In the OT, the phrase “fear of the Lord” was parallel to “trusting in the Lord.” Those who did are listed in Hebrews 11 as men and women who had saving faith. Moses not only told Israel to keep God’s commandments, to walk in His ways and fear Him, but also to love Him and serve Him with their whole lives (Deut. 8:6; 10:12; 14:23; 17:19; cf. Rom. 12:1-2). It is therefore no surprise that in the NT those Gentiles who trusted Christ for salvation were called “God-fearers” (cf. Acts 10:22; 17:17). After all, Christ is “the power of God and the wisdom of God…who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption” (1 Cor. 1:24, 30). In Christ “are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” (Col. 2:3; cf. Rom. 11:33). No wonder the early servants of the Church, like Stephen, were selected according to their “good reputation, full of the Spirit and of wisdom” (Acts 6:3). In fact, those who argued with Stephen “were unable to cope with the wisdom and the Spirit with which he was speaking” (6:10).

We conclude that the wisdom James speaks of in 3:13 is synonymous with salvation. This is illustrated in Matthew 25:1-13 in the parable of the ten virgins. Five vindicated their faith, or wisdom, by their works, for they were ready when Christ arrived. The other five had knowledge of Christ, but they had no wisdom and were thus not ready when He arrived. Such is the usage of wisdom in James’ context. Those who are truly saved have true wisdom, vindicated in works.

Food For Thought
Who among us is wise and understanding? Those who fear the Lord God Almighty, for fear of God is the beginning of wisdom (Ps. 111:10). They not only fear God, they are in “in Christ who to us the wisdom of God” (1 Cor. 1:30). These Christians behave like Christ, vindicating their faith by their actions (Jas. 2:14-26). They read Scripture daily, taking it in like food. They would no more miss a day of reading Scripture than they would miss a meal. Being wise and understanding, they pray—not primarily for their own benefit but for the glory of God. Pray for the Church of Jesus Christ, pray for wisdom for your leaders; pray for wisdom when life is difficult. Finally, the wise and understanding give—they give financially from their earnings as a form of worship. Giving is a sacrifice of praise. So, don’t just pray for wisdom, get busy being wise.