TLIC FAMILY. DAY 172. JUNE 21: WISDOM FROM ABOVE.

THINK TOGETHER

Who is the wisest person you know? What makes them wise?

READ TOGETHER

God wants us to be wise. But what does it mean to be wise. Sometimes we get knowledge and wisdom mixed up. To have knowledge simply means that you know a lot of information about a lot of topics. But wisdom means that you know how to live life. You can have a lot of knowledge and not be wise. And you can be very wise and not have a lot of knowledge.

In the Bible having wisdom is always about having character. Do you know what it means to have character? To have integrity? Someone with character and integrity lives a life that is true, and real, and honest, and full of kindness. Listen to how James, the brother of Jesus, describes wisdom in his letter:

James 3:17-18. ¹⁷ But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. ¹⁸ And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

Are you wise?

• Are you peaceable – or do you get angry a lot?
• Are you gentle – or do you pick on others?
• Are you reasonable – or do you complain when things don’t go your way?
• Are you merciful – or are you mean?
• Are you full of good fruit – or do you disobey?
• Are you impartial – or do you only hang out with certain people?
• Are you sincere – or do you tell lies?
• Are you righteous – or are you selfish?

How do we become wise? By trusting Jesus more and more, knowing that he loves us no matter what. By knowing that Jesus gives us everything we need, so we never have to be selfish. Instead we can be peaceable, gentle, reasonable, merciful, full of good fruit, impartial, sincere, and righteous. Instead we can be wise.

Because of Jesus we know what real wisdom is – it is him!

With Jesus we can be wise like him.

DO SOMETHING TOGETHER

Make signs with the wisdom words from James 3 on them. Post them around the house so that you are reminded to be wise in Jesus.

PRAY TOGETHER

Jesus, you are the wisest person ever! Help me to be wise like you. Amen.