BOOK OF JAMES

STUDY PART 15 - James 3:13-18 Wisdom Contrasted

James 3:13-18- (13) “Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. (14) But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. (15) Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil. (16) For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice. (17) But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial, and sincere. (18) Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness.  

Intro: The last time we met, James gave us some very sound advice on the use of the tongue. As God’s children, our tongue is to be controlled and should bring glory to God. James now in this lesson asks us another question “Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge?” Surely the man who has failed to master his tongue under the direction of the Holy Spirit is not wise. The speech of some Christians betrays the fact that they are neither wise or very spiritual. James very carefully under the direction of the Holy Spirit sets before us the ear marks of the truly wise man.

I.          The proof of wisdom is to be found in the manner of living (vs. 13) (13) “Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom- We are to show outwardly  by the way we live the wisdom of God within referenced in this verse. (Eph. 2:10 and Titus 3:8). With humility or with meekness of wisdom in the KJ. Christ said in Matt. 11:29 “Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart.” The life of Christ was a demonstration of his truth ( I Peter 2:23). But, He was not weak when it came to the cause of His Father.(John 2:13-17- chased out the money changers and Matt. 23:13-36 in dealing with the Pharisees and Scribes). Therefore, we are to demonstrate by our life the principle of Scripture here set forth.

II.          Wisdom from below (Vs. 14-16) (14) But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. (15) Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil. (16) For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.—Hear marks of ungodly wisdom in vs. 14. 1) Bitter envying or bitter zeal. Zeal for Christ can be a wonderful thing. Bitter zeal can be terrible. Look at the bitter zeal in the past done in the name of the church. Look at the bitter zeal in our day in the name of Christ (EX-protesting with hate against the person who commits abortion rather than hating the sin and loving the sinner). 2) Selfish ambition, strife or rivalry or factions-Abraham a man of God wanted no strife between himself and Lot (Gen 13:8). Abraham demonstrated true meekness and was blessed by God for it. 3) Boast not when these things take place. The work of God is held back when God’s people show forth these things. When standing for the right, if we show these things, bitter envy, selfish ambition, we are lying against the truth. We should remember the spirit with which one takes a stand is just as important as the stand itself. Look at vs. 15, wisdom which is not from God. When a person who calls himself a Christian shows forth these things let it be remembered that this doesn’t come from God. Here again is the three fold enemy of the Christian: 1) THE WORLD- I John 2:15-17. 2) THE FLESH- Rom. 8:5, II Corith. 7:1, Galations 5:16 and 3) SATAN- and all his hosts (I Peter 5:8)(Mark 7:20-23).

The earmarks of evil work are given in vs. 16. As in vs. 13 and Chapter 3:1-4, the church and us in it must be careful what we teach. The mark of carnality of confusion in the individual or the church is where evil work abounds. God is not the author of confusion so what is confusion must come from below (I Corith. 14:33). The Holy Spirit speaking through James gives us the ear marks of evil work-envy and selfish ambition. Let us be aware of these things and on guard against such things (Proverbs 6:16-19). Some Christians get caught in the net and need to be freed from a life which contains some of these very things.

III.         Wisdom From Above (Vs. 17-18) (17) But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial, and sincere. (18) Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness. –The first thing we must recognize about wisdom from above is that it is pure.(Matt. 5:8) It is pure in all its actions and motives. The pure motive is “not my will but Thine be done.” Purity of mind and soul  leads to purity of work and action (Luke 21:15). Purity is needed as never before (I Tim 5:22). It seems to be a tool that Satan is using very effectively today, make purity or doing what is right according to scripture, optional or up to the individual to decide what is or is not absolute truth or purity.  May God find in us purity in both motives and actions that we may serve Him in honesty (I John 3:3). Wisdom from above is peaceable and gentle. The quarrelsome and factous man does not demonstrate wisdom from above. Peaceable is the command of God as long as it is possible (Matt. 5:9)(Rom 12:18). Christ surely reveals the gentle character we should possess. How gentle He was with Nicodemus and with the woman at the well. Christ reached out to men and freed those who responded. Easy to be submissive and full of mercy- This is the quality that allows one to forgive quickly  (Eph. 4:32). It also is ready to admit wrong when we are wrong. Mercy is tender as described in James 1:27. Here one is willing to reach out to the less fortunate  (II Tim. 2:24). Good fruits, impartial and sincere (or in KJ without partiality and hypocrisy). Our Lord and Savior went about doing what is good (Acts 10:38). Good fruit reminds us of the fruit of the Spirit in Gal. 5:22,23. Here is the one who is impartial and has pure motives. He will not favor the rich over the poor or the wise above the ignorant nor even the good above the bad (Acts 10:34). An impartial man is one with fixed principles. Hypocrisy reminds us that God would have us not pretend we are something we are not.

Finally in vs. 18, here righteousness and peace are brought together. Righteousness demands that wickedness be punished and peace demands that they be pardoned. On the cross, they were brought together as well (Ps. 85:10)(Rom 5:1). The one who sows peace will reap righteousness and peace (Gal. 6:7)(Ps. 126:5)

CONCLUSION: Is your life being run after that which comes from God or that which governs this world? May God help all of us to turn to Him that our lives may be run from Heaven.