When we are young, we are afraid of getting old. When we get older, we’re afraid of getting older but not getting any wiser. Life comes and pushes and pulls and we have decisions to make, and we wonder if we are gaining any wisdom, if our choices are any wiser than when we were young. James is concerned primarily with a faith that saves us, that changes and redeems our hearts, and that proves itself in our good works. He challenges us to evaluate ourselves especially in the way we treat others. Do we lead people to holiness, to peace, to life, or does our “wisdom” lead to strife and conflict? The good news is that even in our foolish lack of faith, God is ready and able to give wisdom to us as we seek it and ask him for it. And that wisdom from above is one of the signs that our faith is genuine.