Go! And Walk In Godly Wisdom - James 3:13–18 Series

Go! And Walk in Godly Wisdom - James 3:13–18

(A Sermon in the “Go! And…” Series)

Introduction

Good morning, Church. Today I want to begin with a quote from Dr Charles Stanley. He once said:

“Earthly wisdom is doing what comes naturally. Godly wisdom is doing what the Holy Spirit compels us to do.”

That statement pierces straight to the heart of our daily choices. Because if we’re honest, so much of what comes “naturally” to us is shaped by sin, self, and the culture around us. But what the Holy Spirit compels us to do—that is divine wisdom at work.

This morning’s message is titled: “Go! And Walk in Godly Wisdom.” And we will anchor our thoughts in James 3:13–18 (NLT):

“If you are wise and understand God’s ways, prove it by living an honourable life, doing good works with the humility that comes from wisdom. But if you are bitterly jealous and there is selfish ambition in your heart, don’t cover up the truth with boasting and lying. For jealousy and selfishness are not God’s kind of wisdom. Such things are earthly, unspiritual, and demonic. For wherever there is jealousy and selfish ambition, there you will find disorder and evil of every kind.

But the wisdom from above is first of all pure. It is also peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others. It is full of mercy and the fruit of good deeds. It shows no favouritism and is always sincere. And those who are peacemakers will plant seeds of peace and reap a harvest of righteousness.”

1. The Contrast Between Earthly and Godly Wisdom

James draws a stark contrast: earthly wisdom is driven by jealousy, selfish ambition, and pride. Godly wisdom is pure, peace-loving, humble, and merciful.

The Greek word James uses for “wisdom” is sophia. In secular Greek culture, sophia was linked to cleverness or skill in life. But James redefines sophia through the lens of Christ. Godly sophia is not about clever arguments—it is about character, humility, and obedience to God.

Earthly wisdom says, “Look out for number one.” Godly wisdom says, “Humble yourself under God’s mighty hand.”

John Piper once said: “Wisdom is the practical knowledge of how to attain true and lasting happiness.” He was pointing to the truth that real joy is only found in Christ. Earthly wisdom promises pleasure, but it is fleeting. Godly wisdom leads to righteousness, peace, and eternal joy in Jesus.

Application:

In 21st Century Britain, earthly wisdom often comes packaged in self-help books, motivational quotes on Instagram, or career strategies that say, “Do whatever it takes to get ahead.” But James reminds us: godly wisdom isn’t about climbing ladders—it’s about kneeling in surrender to Jesus.

2. Godly Wisdom Is Rooted in the Fear of the Lord

Proverbs 9:10 (NLT) says: “Fear of the Lord is the foundation of wisdom. Knowledge of the Holy One results in good judgment.”

The Hebrew word for “fear” here is yirah, meaning reverence, awe, and deep respect. Wisdom begins not with human reasoning, but with acknowledging God as holy, sovereign, and Lord of all.

Tim Keller once said: “The fear of the Lord is not cringing terror but joyful awe and wonder before the greatness of God.” That’s the soil where wisdom grows.

Think of a sailor navigating by the stars. Without fixed reference points, he is lost at sea. Without the fear of the Lord as our fixed point, we drift on the waves of culture. Godly wisdom is aligning our compass to God’s Word and walking by His Spirit.

If wisdom begins with fearing the Lord, then our daily prayer must be, “Lord, align my thoughts, decisions, and desires to Your will.”

3. The Spirit and the Word: Our Teachers of Wisdom

Paul reminds us in 1 Corinthians 2:12–13 (NLT):

“And we have received God’s Spirit (not the world’s spirit), so we can know the wonderful things God has freely given us. When we tell you these things, we do not use words that come from human wisdom. Instead, we speak words given to us by the Spirit, using the Spirit’s words to explain spiritual truths.”

Godly wisdom is Spirit-taught. The Holy Spirit opens our eyes to see what natural minds cannot.

Charles Stanley explained: “The Holy Spirit’s role is to reveal God’s truth, to remind us of His Word, and to give us the power to obey.”

A man once bought a violin at a flea market, thinking it was worthless. But upon closer inspection by an expert, it turned out to be a priceless Stradivarius. In the same way, the world sees God’s Word as outdated, but the Spirit reveals its priceless wisdom to those who believe.

As modern believers, we must be Spirit-filled and Word-saturated if we are to walk in wisdom. Without the Spirit, we fall into earthly reasoning. Without the Word, we are left to our own opinions. But with both—we walk in God’s wisdom.