Count it all Joy! (James 3:13-18)

13 Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom. 14 But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. 15 This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. 16 For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. 17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure , then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. 18 And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.

OBSERVATION QUESTIONS:
1) How do the “wise and understanding” demonstrate wisdom (v.13)? 
2) What are believers not to boast about or deny (v.14)?
3) What is earthly or demonic wisdom (v.14-16)?
4) What are the qualities of divine wisdom (v.17)?
5) What does one sow to reap righteousness (v.18)?

APPLICATION QUESTIONS:
1) Within the last 24 hours, were most of your decisions made in divine or demonic wisdom? 
2) What were the results of most of the decisions you made within the last 24 hours (i.e., confusion or peace, self-serving or merciful)?
3) Within the last 24 hours, how willing were you to do whatever it took to maintain peaceful relations with family, friends and/or co-workers? 

LIFE LESSONS:
1) The wise and understanding are peace loving people.
2) Those who are righteous seek and demonstrate divine wisdom in their relations with others.
3) Believers with divine wisdom are not self-seeking, boastful, envious, rude or proud.