July 25, 2013 — by David H. Roper Wisdom is the beauty of holiness. James says wisdom is reasonable; flexible; forgiving; peaceful; caring; given to friendly visits, small acts of courtesy, and kind words. It is humble, transparent, simple, gentle, and gracious to the core (James 3:17). Where can wisdom be found? It comes from heaven (1:5). “Wisdom,” wrote Charles Spurgeon, “is a beauty of life that can only be produced by God’s workmanship in us.” It’s good to ask from time to time: “Am I growing in wisdom?” After all, life is relentlessly dynamic. We’re either growing sweeter and wiser as the days go by, or we’re growing into foolish or even sour-faced curmudgeons. Into what are we growing? It’s never too late to begin growing in wisdom. God loves us with an ardent, intense affection that can deliver us from our foolishness if we yield ourselves to Him. His love can make the most difficult nature into a miracle of astonishing beauty. It may hurt a little and it may take a while, but God relentlessly seeks our transformation. When we ask, His wisdom will begin to rise in us and pour itself out to others. We have this promise: “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to [you]” (1:5). 智慧是圣洁之美。雅各说，智慧是通情达理、灵活、宽容、和平、有爱心；是友好的拜访，是微小的礼貌举止，以及仁慈的话语。智慧也是谦卑、坦荡、单纯、温柔，以及满有怜悯（雅各书3章17节）。
何处能寻得智慧呢？智慧是从上头来的（1章5节）。司布真曾这么写道：「智慧乃是一种生命的美，惟有藉着上帝在我们里面的工才能彰显出来。」
我们最好经常审查自己：「我有没有变得更有智慧？」毕竟，生命是一段持续的变动过程。随着日子一天天过去，我们不是变得更和蔼、更有智慧，就是变得愚昧、甚或成了摆着臭脸的倔老头。我们想往哪个方向改变呢？
想增长智慧，永不嫌迟。上帝对我们的爱既热切又强烈，只要我们降服于祂，就能将我们从愚昧中释放出来。祂的爱能将最困难的天性变为美得惊人的奇迹。虽然这转变的过程可能会有一点痛苦，也会需要一点时间，但上帝不断地要我们转变。只要我们向祂祈求，上帝的智慧就会从我们里面涌流出来，浇灌在周遭的人身上。
上帝应许：「你们中间若有缺少智慧的，应当求那厚赐与众人、也不斥责人的上帝，主就必赐给（你）。」（雅各书1章5节）
If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God. —James 1:5
turn our hearts toward the wisdom that comes
only from You. We ask You now to take our
lives and transform them into Your likeness.
赐我心中有智慧；
求祢让我的生命，
活出基督的光辉。
