There is a familiar picture of a man at the base of a lighthouse, standing in an open door. A giant wave smashing against the lighthouse, but the man seems oblivious to the danger around him. The picture is called“Lighthouse in the Storm” and was taken by French photographer Jean Guichard on December 20, 1989.
The picture shows a stark CONTRAST. There is a secure man in the middle of a raging sea.
Our study of James brings us to another contrast in James 3:13-18. It is the contrast of the peace that comes from following God’s wisdom, and the chaos that comes from following earthly wisdom.
James is telling us how to identify counterfeit earthly wisdom and enjoy the inner peace that comes from heavenly wisdom.
“Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom. But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.” (James 3:13–18, ESV)
How to Identify Counterfeit Wisdom.
The context for James 3 is concerning teachers. James 3:1 “not many of you should become teachers....”
James has informed us that False teachers are identified in two different ways. First, by their WORDS (James 3:2-12), and second by their ATTITUDES (James 3:13-18).
We need to know how to identify false teachers because they are trying to influence us!
Trying to get us to approve of their ideas
Trying to get us to change our behavior
Trying to get us to compromise our convictions
In the comparison that James gives on earthly wisdom and heavenly wisdom, he will show us three things about each type of wisdom.
1 - there is a description of earthly wisdom and heavenly wisdom
2- James tells us the origin of each.
3- James tells us the results in our lives when we pursue earthly wisdom and when we pursue heavenly wisdom.
First, James will inform us about earthly wisdom,
The Description of Earthly Wisdom (James 3:14)
Earthly wisdom is described as Bitter Jealousy. This term consists of two adjectives in the original text. The first (bitter) means “great hostility or animosity.” The word jealousy comes from a Greek word meaning “a greedy of prideful longing for something that belongs to another; even something intangible, such as a skill” (Bible Sense Lexicon).
Those who promote earthly wisdom can be identified because their motives are for their own gain and not others.
The second part of the description of earthly wisdom is Selfish Ambition. “A strong drive for personal success without moral inhibitions” (Bible Sense Lexicon).
When you see a teacher or leader with selfish ambition, know that he or she is being led by worldly wisdom.
TV Evangelist TD Jakes preaches a prosperity gospel. We object to the prosperity gospel on the basis of its content. But there is another reason to object to Jakes message. All you need to know about whether TD Jakes is promoting earthly wisdom or heavenly wisdom can be found in the fact that Jakes seeks honorarium fees in excess of $100,000 for telling people the good news! He expects private executive jet transportation, luxury hotel, limousine service, and exotic foods and luxury furniture in his own private “green room” prior to every preaching event. (See the article in World magazine http://www.worldmag.com/2014/04/management_mania)
Does this mean that TD Jakes is unsaved? NO. I don’t know that about Jakes or anyone else. But I do know that there is sufficient evidence in the selfish ambition of Jakes for me to say that he is operating out of a foundation of earthly wisdom and not heavenly wisdom.
James is writing to Christians to exhort them to Keep the Faith. A Christian, functioning in the flesh is an actually promoting Satan’s agenda. That is why James is warning Christians to recognize earthly wisdom.
It is entirely possible for a Christian to fulfill Satan’s agenda if they are operating in the flesh, or as James puts it, practicing earthly wisdom. Here are two examples from the NT from Christians whose actions in the flesh actually serve to fulfill Satan’s agenda.
EXAMPLE 1 - Peter ““Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.”” (Matthew 16:23, ESV)
EXAMPLE 2 - Sinning Christians “and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will.” (2 Timothy 2:26, ESV)
If you see Bitter Jealousy and Selfish Ambition, you know that this is not God’s wisdom.
Where does Earthly Wisdom come from?
The Source of Earthly Wisdom. James 3:15
“This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic.” (James 3:15, ESV)
It is Earthly
It is Unspiritual
It is Demonic
The Results of Earthly Wisdom. “For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice.” (James 3:16, ESV)
James repeats the description again. “Jealousy and selfish ambition” (same words used in 3:14).
Result #1 = Disorder. The Greek word is ἀκαταστασία, the word sounds like “Catastrophe” In fact, this is where we derive the English word for catastrophe!
The Word is used to describe insurrection, violence, upheaval, chaos.
It is related to the word translated “unstable” in 1:8 and “restless” in 3:8
“he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.” (James 1:8, ESV)
“but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.” (James 3:8, ESV)
Result #2 = “Every evil practice”
Look at their life. Is there PEACE and TRANQUILITY, or is there DISORDER and CHAOS? There is a Peanuts cartoon with Lucy saying to Charlie Brown, "I hate everything. I hate everybody. I hate the whole wide world!" Charlie says, "But I thought you had inner peace." Lucy replies, "I do have inner peace. But I still have outer obnoxiousness."
We can’t have inner peace if or lives are filled with outer obnoxiousness!
There is a CONTRAST. It is found in the person who possesses heavenly wisdom and the peace that accompanies it.
The Description of Heavenly Wisdom. James 3:17
Heavenly wisdom is PURE - This is a moral characterization. “Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.” (James 1:27, ESV)
Heavenly wisdom is Peaceable
Heavenly wisdom is Gentle
Heavenly wisdom is Open to Reason. “A willingness to yield.”
Heavenly wisdom is Full of mercy
Heavenly wisdom is Full of good fruits
Heavenly wisdom is Impartial
Heavenly wisdom is Sincere
The Source of Heavenly Wisdom. James 3:17 “Wisdom from Above”
The Results of Heavenly Wisdom. James 3:18. “And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.” (James 3:18, ESV)
a Harvest of righteousness is “sown in peace”
This is an Agricultural term. We sow but only God can make peace grow. Peace is much better than chaos for everyone
Note the Comparison of the two
APPLICATION. Is your life at peace? Do you see peace reflected in the lives of others? We can be at PEACE even in the middle of a storm. A Submarine is in danger on the surface if the waves get too big. But when the storms come, a submarine can dive down below the surface of the water. The water is always calm below the surface. All that the submarine has to do is DIVE DEEP. To find peace, we can DIVE DEEP.
The REST of the story behind the photo(Lighthouse in the Storm).
The lighthouse off the northern coast of France has been operating since 1911. It has been unmanned and fully automated since 1991.
On the night of December 20, 1989 a storm had smashed windows and flooded the lower floor of the lighthouse, washing away furniture and appliances. The keeper took refuge in the lantern room at the top, awaiting rescue. The next day they heard the sound of Jean Guichard's helicopter, who was on a photoshoot. Thinking it was a rescue helicopter, the keeper, Théodore Malgorne, opened the door to see. He realized it was not the rescue helicopter, and noticed the giant wave just in time to turn back inside and shut the door. That huge wave broke against the back side of the lighthouse and engulfed it. All this time, Jean Guichard was in his helicopter taking pictures as fast as possible. Théodore Malgorne survived, and was later rescued. Sources :http://voices.yahoo.com/jean-guichard-photojournalist-stormy-lighthouse-photographer-2695100.html
He was safe in the lighthouse. He was unaware of the coming waves, but the lighthouse stood and is still standing! He didn’t feel at peace but his safety was not in how he felt, but rather in the strength of the lighthouse.
Our peace does not come from our sense of inner peace, but from God’s ability to protect us from all danger. This PEACE comes from him and is the mark of those whose strength and wisdom come from God.
Jean Guichard Photographe, 2005, Jean Guichard.com, July 18, 2008 < http://www.jean-guichard.com/boutique/index.php?main_page=jean_guichard&rub=ACCUEIL >
La Jument Story, 1995/2005, Alphapix, July 18, 2008 < http://www.alphapix.com/jument.shtml >
