TRUE WISDOM
James 3:13-18
INTRODUCTION: Four people who were the only people on board one of those small planes. There was the pilot, a pastor, a Boy Scout, and the smartest man in the world. All of a sudden, the pilot came back to the cabin and informed everybody that the plane was going down. Then he let them know that there were only three parachutes on board. He said, “I’ve got a wife and three kids at home.” So he grabbed a parachute and jumped out. The rest of them looked at each other until the genius stood up and grabbed one. He said, “I’m the smartest man in the world. Everybody needs my awesome brain power.” Then before they could say anything, he jumped out. Then the pastor smiled at the boy and said, “Son, you’re young and I’m prepared to meet the Lord. You take the last parachute and I’ll go down with the plane.” The Boy Scout just laughed and said, “Chill out, preacher. The smartest man in the world just jumped out of the plane with my backpack on.” There’s a difference between being smart and being wise. I can have an abundance of knowledge but have not wisdom. “A lot of book smarts but no common sense”. In Today’s passage, James highlights the difference between worldly wisdom and godly wisdom.
1) True wisdom shows itself (Vs. 13): “Who is wise? Let him show it by good deeds”. The evidence for wisdom, like faith, is seen not just in what I know, but in what I do. True wisdom is not just intellectual; it’s behavioral. Heavenly wisdom always brings forth fruit when it is applied. Regarding the bible, I can have an abundance of bible knowledge but it only translates to wisdom when I apply it. Spurgeon said, “Wisdom is the right use of knowledge.” Adam Clarke’s commentary reads, “We may learn from this that genuine wisdom is ever accompanied with meekness and gentleness. Those proud, overbearing, and disdainful men, who pass for great scholars and eminent critics, may have learning, but they have not wisdom.” Humility-‘On one occasion Abraham Lincoln, to please a certain politician, issued a command to transfer certain regiments. When Sec. of War Edwin Stanton received the order, he refused to carry it out, saying the President was a fool. When Lincoln was told of this, he replied, “If Stanton said I’m a fool, then I must be, for he is nearly always right. I’ll see for myself.” As the two men talked, the President quickly realized that his decision was a serious mistake, and without hesitation he withdrew it.’ Lincoln proved his wisdom by his humble actions. Wisdom is an action word.
2) False wisdom is selfish (Vs. 14). Just as James said that blessing and cursing don’t mix; neither does bitterness and envy mix with wisdom. If you think yourself to be wise yet you are envious or are harboring bitterness towards others you are deceived. Boasting about this “wisdom” that you claim to have is not good, but evil. Being prideful in this “wisdom” is keeping you in denial about the truth. Prov. 16:25, “There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.” Too many people think they are wise but because of their stubborn refusal to listen to wise counsel they continue to go their own way, denying the truth and end up dead. The zeal of knowledge (worldly wisdom) is pursued in bitterness and selfish ambition and with boasting about attainments achieved through that knowledge. 1st Cor. 8:1, “Knowledge puffs up but love builds up.” Wisdom does not seek to profit itself but others. It isn’t sought through whatever means possible regardless of who is hurt in the process. Wisdom can debate and discuss without it turning into a screaming match. Worldly wisdom is willing to accomplish itself through unethical means. Worldly wisdom is determined to establish itself by force and will not tolerate an opposite viewpoint. Worldly wisdom is not open to input and correction. Barclay’s commentary, “It regards his opponents as enemies to be annihilated rather than as friends to be persuaded. In its selfish ambitions, its focus is to display self rather than to display truth and is interested more in the victory of its own opinion than in the victory of the truth. In its arrogance, worldly wisdom’s attitude is pride in its knowledge rather than humility in its ignorance. The real scholar will be far more aware of what he does not know then of what he does know.” One might be led to think that envy and selfish ambition could be good things (boasting). Why? They show passion, a desire for something better. ‘This guy is focused; he knows what he wants and is going after it; what a great quality. This person is going places; he’s going to be a great success’. Not that it’s wrong to be focused and determined and opportunistic but when envy and selfish ambition are the driving forces behind it then it’s not divine wisdom. Since worldly wisdom is selfish it will deal with people according to what they can get from them. Worldly wisdom is manipulative deceptive and coercive. It seeks dishonest gain. There are many criminals who are very smart at what they do. They might be intelligent but they aren’t wise.
3) False wisdom is worldly (Vs. 15-16).Notice the quotation marks around wisdom. This says that James isn’t really recognizing worldly wisdom as wisdom because there’s only one true wisdom and it doesn’t come from anything this world has to offer. The world’s wisdom can appear as genuine but is in fact only superficial. There can be books upon books read and you can walk away smarter, gaining intelligence and knowledge, but not wisdom. “Such wisdom does not come down from heaven”. 1st Cor. 3:18-20. Paul, like James, doesn’t want anyone to be deceived into thinking worldly wisdom is a good thing. 1st Cor. 1:18-20. Worldly wisdom is dangerous because it draws us away from God because in our pride we think we’re so smart we don’t need God. But Godly wisdom recognizes our dependence on God. “There you find disorder”. Worldly wisdom drives people apart. In Titus 3:9, Paul warned us to “avoid foolish controversies and arguments and quarrels”. Arguments cause division and my pride keeps me from reconciliation. Godly wisdom, however, promotes unity and peace.
4) True wisdom is heavenly (Vs. 17). There is no true wisdom apart from heavenly wisdom. There is no such thing as worthwhile wisdom that comes from this world. ‘The wisdom from above is first of all pure’. The first thing that heavenly wisdom is or the most important thing heavenly wisdom is is that it is pure ie: undefiled by human reasoning, rational or justifications. Peaceable; not argumentative. Doing everything without arguing includes speaking the truth. “Considerate, submissive” Albert Barnes’ commentary reads, “The sense is, that he who is under the influence of the wisdom which is from above, is not a stiff, stern, obstinate, unyielding man. He does not take a position, and then hold it whether right or wrong; he is not a man on whom no arguments or persuasions can have any influence. He is not one who cannot be affected by any appeals which may be made to him on the grounds of patriotism, justice, or benevolence; but is one who is ready to yield when truth requires him to do it, and who is willing to sacrifice his own convenience for the good of others.” Godly wisdom is peaceable, considerate, willing to yield, full of mercy. True wisdom focuses on group accomplishments rather than just personal accomplishment. It considers what will bring about the greatest good for the whole, not just me. Worldly wisdom is rebellious to God while Godly wisdom is submissive to God. 1st Cor. 9:22-23. In becoming all things to all men Paul didn’t compromise his convictions, but he acted wisely in not making an issue out of minor differences. He met people where they were at. He agreed to disagree. He didn’t sweat the small stuff in order to be at peace with everybody. He saw the greater purpose (I do all this for the sake of the gospel). Paul reflected godly wisdom. “Impartial”-James 2:1-4. “Sincere”-honesty and integrity; not deception and manipulation like worldly wisdom.
5) True wisdom is productive (Vs. 18). There will be success when you act according to true wisdom. Prov. 11:18, 30. Worldly wisdom measures itself by worldly terms. The world’s idea of success is wealth, fame, status, awards and accolades. These are the goals to attain. Heavenly wisdom’s idea of success is seen in knowing I’ve pleased God and have helped his cause as well as caused someone else to know him more. In this idea of success there are the better rewards-heavenly treasures. How does being a peacemaker produce a harvest of righteousness? Instead of there being fighting and discord which does not produce righteousness, being at peace produces righteous behavior. If I can bring peace to people, I help them to be prepared for works of righteousness. Especially if in being a peacemaker it is between man and God in leading someone to Christ or helping them with a problem they’re having with God and are angry with him and not at peace with him. And if you’re angry with God you won’t be living righteously so therefore, if I can help bring peace between you and God I help you to be able to produce a harvest of righteousness. Worldly wisdom acts in frustration but godly wisdom acts in peace. Albert Barnes’ commentary: “From that, the mind naturally turned to the effect of religion in general; and he states that in the ministry and out of it; in the heart of the individual and on society at large; here and hereafter, the effect of religion is to produce peace. Its nature is peaceful as it exists in the heart, and as it is developed in the world; and wherever and however it is manifested, it is like seed sown, not amid the storms of war and the contentions of battle, but in the fields of quiet husbandry, producing in rich abundance a harvest of peace. In its origin, and in all its results, it is productive only of contentment, sincerity, goodness, and peace. Happy is he who has this religion in his heart; happy is he who with liberal hand scatters its blessings broadcast over the world!” True wisdom’s efforts are rewarded in raising a harvest of righteousness.
CONCLUSION: We can be deceived into thinking that just because we are smart we have it all. There are a whole lot of smart people who are on their way to hell. And there are a lot of simple people on their way to heaven. Intelligence doesn’t produce wisdom. A humble heart seeking God produces wisdom. Being smart and intelligent has its advantages and there’s nothing wrong with gaining knowledge. However, if in doing so you lack godly wisdom you really haven’t gained anything. Let’s go from here and pursue true, godly wisdom.
