The Wisdom From Above - The Letter of James - James 3:13-18

James 3:13-18

We often think of ourselves as wise! We may not say it, but we consider our actions as right decisions.

• In our day there are many who say they are wise:

◦ The fact that we have the "social media influencer" tells us that all of us think we are wise. They present themselves as knowing what they are talking about.

◦ We have the "experts", those who have done the learning and research and are accredited by universities as knowing everything about parenting, marriage and life.

◦ Or In the church we might have those as well,

⁃ Either those who may present themselves as "spiritual guru's" that know life, and have experiences. They speak with certainty.

⁃ Or those who have studied long and hard and are telling others how to live. Because they are the "educated"

James is pretty clear on the fact that those who teach in any form often think of themselves as wise. So he goes along to question their wisdom. Because there are two different kind of wisdom in the world: wisdom from God and wisdom from man. One is leading to life and the other leads to destruction and chaos.

We will make four observations from the text:

1. Importance of wisdom (13a)

2. Man's Wisdom (14-16)

3. God's Wisdom (13b, 17-18)

~~~

He begins the topic with a question "Who among you is wise and understanding?"

I. Importance of Wisdom (v.13a)

This question presupposes that we understand the importance of wisdom for our life.

• Wisdom is what gives us the ability to navigate through life correctly.

• When wisdom is acquired it lead to a successful life.

• God's wisdom is woven in the fabric of our world, because God created this world in wisdom. And people may see it and gleam wisdom from it.

• The Bible speak a lot of about the importance of wisdom as Aleksey read in Proverbs 3:.

◦ Happy is a man who finds wisdom and who acquires understanding, for she is more profitable than silver, and her revenue is better than gold. She is more precious than jewels; nothing you desire can equal her. Long life is in her right hand; in her left, riches and honor. Her ways are pleasant, and all her paths, peaceful. She is a tree of life to those who embrace her, and those who hold on to her are happy. (Proverbs 3:13-18)

Wisdom is essential to a life of happiness and satisfaction!

• The Bible says "The beginning of wisdom is the fear of the Lord"

◦ Have you ever wondered why?

◦ Because our Lord created this universe, and he is the central figure to everything,

◦ God created this world to run a certain way.

⁃ He gave it laws, and order. He told it how to function.

⁃ When God created mankind, He created a path of blessing for them. If only they would follow it, they will be blessed.

◦ He gave us responsibility and direction in life.

◦ Now wisdom is acknowledging God as the ruler of the universe and learning from Him, submitting to Him and seeking his ways of life.

But the problem is, we have our own way of living that is apart from God in our hearts.

II. Man's Wisdom v. 14-16

• As humanity we rebelled against God. We chose our own life. Because we thought we knew better.

◦ WE became fools.

◦ We exchanged the path of life and the path of blessing to a path of thorns and death.

◦ The path of foolishness which leads to brokenness.

⁃ Now we experience pain and suffering and chaos.

• We created our own ways of living in this dark world, and it is motivated by our own selves. Which is worldly wisdom

⁃ We became blind to the reality that it should not be so.

⁃ That there is true satisfaction and joy.

• In our world there are many voices that tell us how to live and what to think.

Where is thinking and wisdom coming from?

• That foundational drive is called: "Man's wisdom"

This wisdom is not from God, it is man made wisdom. James calls it three things:

• Earthly wisdom - that means it is not from above from heaven.

◦ This means it is not in connection to God, it is apart from God.

• Also he calls it "unspiritual" or "worldly" wisdom - meaning it is devoid of the Spirit of God.

◦ The Spirit is the one that imparts wisdom unto us. But this wisdom is not from God.

◦ This wisdom is not centered on God at all, but on fleshly things.

• He also calls it demonic wisdom 

◦ This does not mean you're demon possession but for his purposes and his plans..

◦ He is illuminating that this wisdom has satanic interests.

◦ EX: Jesus rebukes Peter and says get away from me "Satan", (Matt. 16:16-23) - Jesus is saying to Peter that that wisdom and thinking is Satanic, contrary to the interests of God.

The heart of this wisdom is: Envy and selfish ambition.

• He says it twice: v. 14 "But is you have bitter envy and selfish ambition" and then in v. 16 "where there is envy and selfish ambition"

• Envy - one dictionary says "Envy is the resentful and even hateful dislike of the good fortune or blessing of another.”

◦ At the heart of envy is yourself!!!

◦ notice not simply envy, but "bitter envy", self possessed desires that dislike anything that is not meant to praise you

◦ Does that not say anything about our deep heart desires?????

• Selfish ambition

◦ Motivated about something because it is for yourself.

◦ One dictionary says it well  "it is a strong drive for personal success without moral inhibitions"

◦ Anything works if it is only for you, no matter what that is, no matter how wrong it may be, it is good because it is for me.

◦ Notice selfish ambition may have good works. Meaning the person may be motivated to be a missionary or support the needy or go to seminary. But all that is motivated by selfishness.

⁃ The person may do "good works" but they are destructive to their family, and to people that know them.

• This wisdom leads to To disorder and every evil practice

• In other words it leads to chaos and hurt!

• No matter how smart someone may appear and their life put together, if there is sin glorified and praised, there will be chaos and brokenness.

◦ Sin does not make sense, it is a distortion of something beautiful, orderly and praiseworthy.

The heart is the problem, and the world celebrates that, and makes it normal. But it is not.

• Everyone realizes that there is craziness all over, but no one is willing to admit that they are that problem.

Yet there is wisdom that is from God that lead to life and blessing

But it is only found in God,

_________________________

III. God's Wisdom v. 13, 17-18

• God out of his great love for us, sent his Son Jesus Christ to die for our sins.

◦ He lived a perfect life in totally obedience to God, he was truly wise.

◦ He was the spotless lamb of God who took all of our sins and paid the price with his own blood.

◦ But he was not dead for long, because on the third day he rose again.

• Now he extends his hands to all who believe and receive him by trusting his work on the cross, will be saved.

Notice that Godly wisdom:

This wisdom is seen through good conduct, not simply speech.

Wisdom is not simply imparting knowledge to those around you.

And not only does this wisdom show up in works, but these works are done in "gentleness" other translations translated as "meekness" or "humility"

God is fully wise and is the ultimately the one that gives his wisdom

• His wisdom is there for building up, strengthening and giving direction and purpose.

• James 1:5 "Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God- who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly - and it will be given to him"

• Wisdom of God is from the heart that seeks God. It is in submission to him.

◦ “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. (Proverbs 9:10)

"The divine wisdom is like a fountain of goodness, depicting a dynamic development of virtues. When heavenly wisdom is operative in the believer’s life, one virtue is linked wonderfully to another." - Richardson, K. A.

Notice that these virtues to wisdom is in a chain link.

Purity

Notice that the first and key characteristic of God's wisdom is "PURITY"

• Purity in this context is synonymous with "holiness"

◦ God is holy, and this wisdom comes from him.

◦ It is compared to a LIGHT that has no darkness in it at all. It illuminates all things.

• If a person is living in sin, he cannot have God's wisdom, for it is pure.

• By definition, sin is to do things against, yet God's wisdom is in line with God's ways. Each is apposed to one another.

Peace-loving - is a person that does not seek war. This means even in his own heart, this person is able to control his temper when things get hard, because he knows that it will not help.

Gentle - some translate this as "considerate", or "non-combative". Wisdom is able to gather information without taking sides. It is fair and reasonable when making conclusions.

• Proverbs 15:1 "A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.

• Ecclesiastes 7:21-22 " Don’t pay attention to everything people say, or you may hear your servant cursing you, for in your heart you know that many times you yourself have cursed others."

Compliant - some translate it as "submissive". in other words wisdom is open to receive suggestions and is able to take correction and admonition.

• Proverbs 19:20 "Listen to counsel and receive instruction so that you may be wise later in life."

Full of mercy and good fruits

• MERCY:

◦ Mercy is to show care for those who don't deserve it.

⁃ God is merciful, he forgave our debt by paying for it himself.

◦ Wisdom is able "full of mercy", able to have this heart that is pouring out care and compassion on people who don't deserve.

• Good fruits - this is an action to other people. In connection to mercy, good fruits are like providing grace to people.

◦ The fruits are good to those around them, weather they deserved it or not.

Unwavering, without pretense.

• Unwavering - is often translated as "Impartial", is not swayed by the appearance of the person or what his person is able to give him. But rather able to see the person neutral as they are.

◦ Proverbs 18:17 "The first to state his case seems right until another comes and cross-examines him.

◦ There is carefulness to this person that seeks to understand a situation or people.

• Without pretense - as some translate it as "sincere", is not pretend to help you, but actually is listening to you and look for ways to help you.

Notice how he ends God's wisdom with: "And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who cultivate peace"

• A commentator Simon Kistenmaker reformulates it well by saying "righteousness cannot be produced in the climate of bitterness and self-seeking. Righteousness will grow only in a climate of peace.”

• Wise people are peacemakers. They are like farmers who sows the seed of peace. These are peaceable deeds that then grow into righteousness.

◦ As man's wisdom leads to chaos, God's wisdom leads to fruit and blessing!

• "A church that is rich in reconciling activities, that is, evangelism, the defense of the poor, counseling the troubled, offering hospitality to the stranger, providing shelter for the battered, sending gospel missionaries throughout the world, and many more, certainly reaps a rich harvest of righteousness" (Richardson)

In conclusion:

"Who among you is wise and understanding? - Prove it by your good works in gentleness

• We are born into man made wisdom that leads ultimately to chaos and all kinds of evil.

◦ If you are not saved from that, you can today, just come to Jesus, he came to save you from your sins and to give you an abundant life.

• If you are saved Jesus broke our proud stubborn hearts so that we can submit to God.

◦ We need to grow in our submission to God.

◦ Seek Him, and his will, because it is best for us

◦ Fight sin for it clouds our eyes of wisdom.

• Know that true wisdom is not flamboyant, loud, and arrogant, knowing what to say to any argument.

◦ But rather God's wisdom is kind and loving and gentle. It is to seek others best interest.

• Wisdom is not gained in some forest meditating for hours, but in God.

Amen!