True wisdom

https://odb.org/2023/09/11/which-wisdom-2

In James 3:13, it is written, “Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.” In other words, wisdom is doing good deeds and leading a good life out of humility. Usually, when you are smart and clever, you are proud, but instead, it is wise to be smart and yet humble. As a believer, the wise move is always to do what Christ teaches and not conform to the pattern of the world. That’s the path of righteousness.

The story of a policeman who offered himself in exchange as a hostage on Easter 2018 was both sad and inspirational. He was later shot and died an innocent man in exchange for the life of another. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends (John 15:14). In the context of Jesus’s teaching, friends there include strangers because the point is the sacrifice and not the who. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/mar/23/french-police-called-to-trebes-supermarket-amid-hostage-reports-shootings

This Easter 2018 story reminds me of the story of believers on board the Titanic at the turn of the century, having given up their places in the lifeboats to others as they already had their salvation assured. The reasoning was that non-believers among them should be given a chance to live so that they may later discover the truth of the Gospel and Christ.

We do not know whether the French gendarme who died in exchange as a hostage to the terrorist was a believer. But we do know that the Titanic passengers who gave up their places to the life boats were. The point is that when the situation requires, we need to do what is right as taught by Christ and as written in the Scriptures. The law is now written in our hearts. It was fulfilled by Christ. It had never been superseded or revoked. Sometimes, we may need to tell the truth of our incompetence and not hide behind excuses. Own up and face the situation as it is. Do what is right, in the eyes of God. He sees, and He knows.