Tonight’s passage is a detailed instruction about wisdom—what it is and how we are to use it. Many are guilty of twisting and adjusting wisdom to mean what they want. One of the greatest temptations that ever confronts us is the temptation to twist true wisdom. This is what this passage addresses.
READ v. 13. Have you ever known someone that is smart but tries to make you feel inferior because of how smart they are? I’ve known a few. But I don’t let it bother me because they may be intelligent, but they have no smarts, if you know what I mean. I had a college professor in Chemistry who was very intelligent when it came to Chemistry. He was a good man. He wasn’t overpowering with his knowledge. But he had no smarts. I used to work as a butcher for Lone Oak grocery and it amazed my professor that I knew how to cut up a chicken. He was brain smart, but not too bright in the common sense area.
Within our church, who are the wise teachers and leaders? What teacher among us wants to be unwise and ignorant? Of course, there aren’t any. The point being stressed in this verse is this: “Do you want to be a wise teacher? Then here is how. You must do some things.
Some of the teachers to whom James was writing didn’t understand the meaning of true wisdom. Some of them were acting as empty headed as a person can act, yet they thought they were wise. That’s the purpose of this passage; to stir ministers and teachers to think about how wise they really are. He says, “A wise teacher will demonstrate two traits:
1. There is the trait of good behavior and conduct. Wisdom has to do with how a person behaves and conducts himself. A wise person should apply what they know to life. This is true in any field or profession, but it’s especially true in the field of Biblical teaching. So, a Biblical teacher must live what he teaches and preaches. The wise teacher knows that they can’t teach one thing and do something else.
So, in the eyes of Scripture, the truly wise teacher is not a person who has all kinds of facts and theories. Rather, he is a teacher who is a good person—a moral and just person, a loving and caring person, a person who lives what he knows and teaches—who shows a good behavior in all his works.
2. The second trait is the trait of humility. The truly wise teacher will show humility. “But Lord, it’s hard to be humble, when you’re perfect in every way.” That’s how some act. Humility is a state of mind. It doesn’t mean a person is weak. It means the teacher loves people and walks humbly among others regardless of their status in life.
Someone said that there is a church in Palestine where the door is so low that one must stoop to enter. This was to prevent medieval raiders from riding their horses into the church to disrupt the service. The door is called, “The Humility Gate.” The way into God’s presence is often through the Humility Gate. We must be humble to really be wise.
Being humble doesn’t mean that you’re weak. A humble person forgets and lives for others because of what Christ has done for him.
READ vv. 14-16. What is this passage saying to you right now? Read it again.
Envy = Jealousy. Is there ever jealousy in a church? Is there any jealousy in this church? In the career world, people are ambitious—always trying to get a promotion or higher pay. Sometimes it doesn’t matter who they step on as they try to climb the corporate ladder. Is that a problem in churches? Where does that attitude come from? (v.15)
This is the false wisdom of the world. But it shows us that there are teachers, ministers, and laymen alike, who follow the false wisdom of the world. Yes, there are sometimes those in churches who are jealous of others and their position, their preaching and teaching ability, their leadership, the recognition that someone might get. They are hungry for attention. Sometimes the teachers, ministers and leaders of the church might even be compared to a former person.
When I was called as pastor here at SEBC, I was often compared to some of the former pastors. Someone once told me, “The former pastor used to cut all the grass here at church.” I said, “I know that. But I called him and he doesn’t want to do it anymore.” (Just kidding)
But in the 23 years I have been here, I have had more than one instance of witnessing jealousy among members, teachers, etc. James is telling us that this has no place in the family of God. No preacher or teacher should ever envy another person’s ability. This contradicts what true wisdom is.
Too many in churches today want to be put forward, recognized, acknowledged and honored as being wise and knowledgeable, to be seen as THE teacher, THE preacher, THE leader. To be THE builder, THE creator, THE founder, THE originator of a new idea or movement. Note how restless the soul is in all of this. READ verse 16 again.
When this happens in a church, that’s where you’ll find cliques forming. Private clubs, if you will, that are not for the cause of Christ, even if it means opposing the minister of God.
False wisdom and teaching arouse a spirit of boasting. Boasting doesn’t necessarily mean that a person boasts out loud. It has more to do with what a person feels within their heart. If a person follows after false wisdom and false teaching, he focuses upon himself and not much else. His thoughts are on things like:
? Preaching a good sermon instead of reaching people for Christ.
? Being recognized, not building people up.
? Securing a position, not ministering to needs.
He has allowed false wisdom and wrong teaching to arouse a prideful spirit within him.
False wisdom is a lie against the truth. That means an inconsistency with the Word of God. They’re not living and teaching the truth. I saw this a number of years ago in our church family. So, I gave it to God and asked Him if there are any false teachers in our church for Him to handle it. Within a couple of weeks,, 2 of our Sunday school teachers left. Within a month, 4 more left. A false teacher is not getting anything past God. What’s the source of false wisdom and teaching? The devil. Now, the point is NOT that the great ideas of the earth and its leaders are all wrong. The point IS that heavenly wisdom, the wisdom of God and His Word are the basis of true wisdom. So, any wisdom that neglects heavenly wisdom has a serious flaw and shortcoming.
The effects of false wisdom and wrong teaching can cause confusion and evil in the church. People become disturbed, divided, form cliques, and begin gossiping. It causes confusion and evil within families. The false teacher causes the weak to return to the world and to forsake God. These effects should cause every believer to wake up and examine their life, their beliefs, and their ministry.
We need humility before God and His Word today. Why? Because there is so much false wisdom and wrong teaching being followed. One of the teachers we had here years ago would teach God’s love, and forgiveness, etc. But this same person literally hated, despised, and was jealous of others within the church. That’s why God caused that person to move on and removed that person from teaching.
We need to get away from worshipping ourselves, from following our own selfish ambitions. We need to get away from seeking position, and recognition. And the first step is to straighten out ourselves first. How? By humbly bowing before God in repentance and confession of our selfish ambition and lack of discipline.
READ vv. 17-18. So, James tells us that the source of true wisdom is God. It comes from seeking God and His wisdom and knowledge. What is the wisdom of God? Scripture says that the wisdom of God is eight things and James lists all eight in these two verses.
1. True wisdom is pure. The word means to be pure from fault, to be completely separated from impurity and wrong doing and set apart unto God. That means a pure body, keeping relationships pure and keeping himself pure. A wise teacher or preacher is one who lives a pure life and teachers that men must be pure before God.
2. True wisdom is peace. It means that a wise teacher is joined together with himself, with God, and with his fellow man. He does all he can to keep the peace and to make peace where it has been broken. How can you be a peacemaker in the church? Let me give you an example.
Mr. Smith and Mr. Jones, were "on the outs" over a very trivial matter. This deeply concerned Deacon Brown, so he prayed that he might be a peacemaker.
He called on Smith and asked, "What do you think of Jones?"
"He's the meanest crank in the neighborhood!"
"But, you have to admit that he's very kind to his family."
The next day Brown went to Jones and inquired, "Do you know what Smith said about you?" "No, but I can imagine how that scamp would lie about me!"
"This may surprise you, but he said you're very kind to your family."
"What! Did Smith say that?" "Yes, he did."
"Well, if you hadn't told me, I wouldn't believe it."
"What do you think of Smith?" asked Deacon Brown.
"Truthfully, I believe he's a lowdown scalawag, but you have to admit that he's very honest in business."
"Yes, there's no getting around that; in business he's a man you can trust."
The next day Brother Brown called on Smith again. "You know what Jones said about you? He claims you're a fellow that really can be trusted in business, and that you're scrupulously honest." "You mean it?" "Yes, I do," said Brown.
"Well of all things," replied Smith with a happy smile.
The next Sunday the former "enemies" nodded to each other. Brown continued his "meddling" until the next annual business meeting of the church when Smith and Jones shook hands and finally voted on the same side!
3. True wisdom is considerate. The wise teacher is to be considerate in dealing with other people. Too many are harsh, critical, neglectful, withdrawn, so wrapped up in a cloak of religion that they have nothing to do with reaching out to the lost.
4. True wisdom is submissive. That’s willing to listen to reason and willing to change when you’re wrong.
5. True wisdom is full of mercy. Compassionate, feelings of pity, affection, kindness all come to mind. This means reaching out to help those in need no matter how low they are or how far they have fallen.
6. True wisdom is full of good fruits. The wise teacher reaches out and helps those in trouble. He helps to meet needs, helps the suffering, the shut-in, the prisoner, the widow and widower, the orphan, the grieving, the poor, the destitute, the homeless, the hungry, the sinner, the backslidden, the lost and the wicked.
7. True wisdom is impartial—not showing partiality or favoritism. The wise teacher knows God’s truths and won’t entertain false ideas or teachings.
8. True wisdom is sincere. The wise teacher doesn’t try to fake people out. He doesn’t teach one thing and do another. Again, he practices was he preaches.
The outcome and effect of all this true wisdom is a harvest of righteousness and that righteousness is brought about by peace (v.18). The greatest need that we have is for peace—peace with each other and peace with God.
Just think what kind of world we would live in if we all practiced what James is teaching us. We would live in a community and a world of righteousness. All things would be right like they should be.
How can we ever have such a world? Only by teachers of God becoming teachers of true wisdom, teachers who make peace and who lead people to make peace with God and with each other, for our good and for God’s GLORY.
