Sermon Central
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Good Wisdom Series
Contributed by Brady Boyd on Jun 11, 2020 (message contributor)
Summary: If we plant envy, we’ll reap death. If we plant peace, we’ll reap a harvest of righteousness!
James – Chapter 3
Good Wisdom
June 21, 2020
James 3:16-18 NIV
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 reap a harvest of righteousness.
Talk about contrasts!
Envy and selfish ambition – disorder and every evil practice - death
Wisdom from heaven – pure, peace-loving considerate, full of mercy – life
If we plant envy, we’ll reap death.
If we plant peace, we’ll reap a harvest of righteousness!
We probably should choose the path of wisdom!
Why do we make bad decisions?
1. Immaturity
2. Fatigue
3. DUI - Decision Under the Influence
4. Pride
• Pride says I do not need to ask for anyone’s help and no one can tell me “No”
What is wisdom?
Wisdom is the art of living skillfully in whatever conditions we find ourselves.
How do we find wisdom?
Pay attention to wise people.
Proverbs 13:20 NIV
“He who walks with the wise grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm.”
Proverbs 15:22 NIV
Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed.
• Show me your friends and I will know your advisers.
1 Kings 12:6-11 NIV
“Then King Rehoboam consulted the elders who had served his father Solomon during his lifetime. "How would you advise me to answer these people?" he asked. 7 They replied, "If today you will be a servant to these people and serve them and give them a favorable answer, they will always be your servants." 8 But Rehoboam rejected the advice the elders gave him and consulted the young men who had grown up with him and were serving him. 9 He asked them, "What is your advice? How should we answer these people who say to me, 'Lighten the yoke your father put on us'?" 10 The young men who had grown up with him replied, "Tell these people who have said to you, 'Your father put a heavy yoke on us, but make our yoke lighter'-tell them, 'My little finger is thicker than my father's waist. 11 My father laid on you a heavy yoke; I will make it even heavier. My father scourged you with whips; I will scourge you with scorpions.'
• Because he listened to unwise counsel, the nation of Israel was fractured into two parts.
Ask God for wisdom.
James 1:5 NIV
"If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you."
• This should be a constant prayer during our day.
The Table:
Isaiah 11:2 NIV
The Spirit of the LORD will rest on him — the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of might, the Spirit of the knowledge and fear of the LORD.”
