Who among you is wise and understanding?.............(James 3:13)

This question is being asked as it relates to our spiritual condition. Upon close examination it becomes a most interesting and intriguing question. As we travel through this life we do so with high hopes, great expectations and a marvelous dream that after just a few more weary days we will fly away to rest in a land where our joys shall never end. I submit to you that if our high hopes are to become reality, we must be wise people with a good understanding of God's word.

Now, who would you say is a wise person? Someone might answer that a wise person is one who builds his faith and hope on Jesus (Acts 4:12; John 2:5). Someone else might reply that a wise person is one who loves the Lord with all their heart, soul, mind and strength (Mark 12:30). Then someone else might say that the wise person is one who fears God (Eccl. 12:13). And of course all would be good responses to the question. Let me suggest one that Peter speaks of when he says, "But as he which hath called you is holy; so be ye holy in all manner of life" (1 Peter 1:15). The word "holy" sets apart for God's service, a life that is devoted to the service of God.

A wise person lives a manner of life that is devoted to God by giving himself up in a total commitment to God. This devotion is evidenced by the height of spiritual ambition seen in a person, by the depth of their conviction, the length of their love, the breadth of their service and the size of their influence (Matt. 21:21; 1 Pet. 2:2; Rom. 12:1-2; Mark 12:30-31; Col. 3:1-2; 1 Cor. 16:13-14; Matt. 6:33; Gal. 5:13; 1 Cor. 15:58; 1 Tim. 4:12; Matt. 5:13).

A life of committed devotion is the foundation upon which our response to God is built and is truly one of the great marks of a wise person. Each day we live is nothing more than a line of our life, each week is a paragraph and each year is a chapter. One day that final line, paragraph or chapter will be written. Because we know not the day nor the hour when that will occur. we should live each day as if it were to be the last day--it might be. I urge all of us to live every day of our lives as wise people so that when that final entry is made, we will gain the greatest victory imaginable (1 Cor. 15:50-57; 1 John 5:3-5).

Charles Hicks