Wisdom is Impartial

We now look at the sixth trait of wisdom listed in James 3:17: impartiality. 

Wisdom is impartial. 

The New American Standard Bible translates the word as “unwavering.” 

The dictionary defines impartial as being not biased; fair and just.

It defines unwavering as “steady or resolute.”

So to be wise, one is unwaveringly fair and just. 

One does not jump to conclusions, act first and ask question later, or hit the ground running with hastily-made impressions of people and situations. 

One acts fairly to all people, in all situations, at all times. 

One is steady in dealing with those of other opinions and viewpoints, recognizing the justness of allowing them to see things differently. 

Thus, a truly wise politician will cooperate fairly and justly with all other politicians, working with them as peers and colleagues—not as enemies.

A truly wise teacher will impartially and objectively relay the material to be taught, free from being tainted by a personal agenda, political motivation or moral worldview.

A truly wise parent will treat all of their children with equal respect, love and discipline, never playing favorites. 

A truly wise friend or spouse, although experiencing a unique closeness with their friend or spouse, will nonetheless remain impartial when it comes to speaking the truth in love and putting fairness and justness above the relationship. 

“Many a man proclaims his own loyalty,

But who can find a trustworthy man?

A righteous man who walks in his integrity—

How blessed are his sons after him.” Proverbs 20:6-7

“He who pursues righteousness and loyalty

Finds life, righteousness and honor.” Proverbs 21:21

“to show partiality in judgment is not good.” Proverbs 24:23b

“Oil and perfume make the heart glad,

So a man’s counsel is sweet to his friend.” Proverbs 27:9

“Iron sharpens iron,

So one man sharpens another.” Proverbs 27:17

To be impartial in today’s world is exceedingly rare. 

As Christians, it is God’s clear call:

“My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not show favoritism.” James 2:1

“If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself,’ you are doing right. But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers.”James 2:8-9.

To be impartial does not mean we throw discernment out the window. It means we base all discernment on first being impartial. We do not let personal presuppositions fog up the window of reality.

How many of us have automatically written someone off because they wrote for a liberal newspaper? How many of us have unflinchingly despised someone based solely on the expensive car they drive, or the prestigious university they attended? How many of us have snickered at people who shop at low-budget stores and have no college degree? 

It is so acceptable nowadays to compartmentalize everything under a banner of personal self-righteousness and superiority. 

It has become downright caustic out there—people refusing to let go of their tightly wound positions, platitudes, assumptions and entitlements, which only turns them increasingly into being partial to one person: themselves.

And when we become overwhelmingly partial to our way—to ME—we make it impossible to be unwaveringly fair and just to anyone else. This is bound to result in a rather bitter, ornery existence.

For Christians to make an impact in this world, impartiality must appear—and quickly—on the scene. It must be woven into daily interactions, relied upon in order to love our neighbor, and sought after so that self promotion no longer reigns. 

It is out of the baseline of impartiality that respect, kindness and the practice of listening emerge. It is the antidote to the poison of “my rights, my political party, my being offended.” 

And it is the necessary segue to the next, and final, component of wisdom in our verse: sincerity. 

Copyright Barb Harwood