My God and My Country

Word of God

Man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth from the mouth of God

Matthew 4:4

The Epistle of James 3:13

(Study notes by Matthew Henry Edited/Prefaced by Doktor Riktor Von Zhades)

13 Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? Let him show by good conversation his works in meekness of wisdom.

Brethren:

As Paul also wrote in his Epistle to the Galatians chapter six verse four; “let each one examine his own work, and then he will have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another.” If my friends we are to say anything let it be about good works. Speaking not in vanity, or in useless words that edify nothing. Nor let our speech be in the form of self-inflating egos. But do strive to let it be in the humbleness of the spirit, wherein we can take joy in the knowledge that we have done our Christian duties to others, as prescribed by our Creator. - Dr. R.V.Z

A truly wise man is a very knowing man: he will not set up for the reputation of being wise without laying in a good stock of knowledge; and he will not value himself merely upon knowing things, if he has not wisdom to make a right application and use of that knowledge. These two things must be put together to make up the account of true wisdom: who is wise, and endued with knowledge? Now where this is the happy case of any there will be these following things; that is to say a good conversation. If we are wiser than others, this should be evidenced by the goodness of our conversation, not by the roughness or vanity of it. Words that inform, and heal, and do good, are the marks of wisdom; not those that look great, and do mischief, and are the occasions of evil, either in ourselves or others.

True wisdom may be known by its works. The conversation here does not refer only to words, but to the whole of men’s practice; therefore it is said, Let him show out of a good conversation his works. True wisdom does not lie in good notions or speculations so much as in good and useful actions. Not he who thinks well, or he who talks well, is in the sense of the scripture allowed to be wise, if he do not live and act well. True wisdom may be known by the meekness of the spirit and temper: Let him show with meekness, etc. It is a great instance of wisdom prudently to bridle our own anger, and patiently to bear the anger of others. And as wisdom will evidence itself in meekness, so meekness will be a great friend to wisdom; for nothing hinders the regular apprehension, the solid judgment, and impartiality of thought, necessary to our acting wisely, so much as passion. When we are mild and calm, we are best able to hear reason, and best able to speak it. Wisdom produces meekness, and meekness increases wisdom.