James is saying, “Who knows the mind of God?” Who among you has no will of his own? C.H. Spurgeon, “The right use of knowledge.” Wisdom is seeing all things from God’s point of view. Proverbs 1:7, 10:27.
The message of the Bible is, “There are two ways you and I can use our days. We can spend them on things that really don’t count waist them. We can invest them. In God’s eyes today, we are either wise or foolish. There is no middle ground, no halfway.
God says these were foolish, Matthew 7:24-27, 25:1-10; Luke 12:16-20. The real question today is, are you wise or are you foolish?
I. We See the Purpose of Wisdom
1. James 3:13
2. The word conversation means “way of life.” the purpose of wisdom is simply to live our life God’s way.
3. James 1:5
4. Bob Jones said, “Wisdom is the ability to use knowledge so as to successfully meet the emergencies of life. 1 Kings 3:5, 9-12.
5. Wisdom is not an end in itself.
6. Some have great knowledge, but of no value. Wisdom was intended to be used in everyday life.
7. Meekness of wisdom is soft answers to rough questions.
8. Wisdom speaks softly and persuasively instead of impelling and forcing.
9. Meekness of wisdom is that temper of spirit which accepts God’s dealing with us as good.
10. Meekness of wisdom is when everything goes wrong and troubles come, the Christian can still go on.
11. What is the purpose of wisdom?
a. Keeping your life together.
b. Knowing the outside circumstances, you still stay focused on God.
12. Where does most of your life fall apart?
a. Home, wisdom can deep it together. God knows the best way.
b. Job, at work.
c. Social life, falling apart, listen to God, he will tell you what to do.
d. Spiritually, things not right, listen to God.
II. Product of Wisdom
1. James 3:14
2. Shows two types of fruit.
a. Wisdom of the word.
b. Wisdom of the world.
c. False wisdom
d. True wisdom
3. The origin of the world’s wisdom. Three ways.
a. Earthly wisdom, 1 Corinthians 1:17-2:4
1) Man using the world’s wisdom destroy life.
2) It adds to the pressures of life.
3) Romans 1:21-22
4) Colossians 2:8
5) Tower of Babel.
b. Sensual wisdom, 1 Corinthians 2:14
1) Wisdom of the world.
2) Natural wisdom as opposed to spiritual.
c. Satanic wisdom
4. The operation of the world’s wisdom. There are 4 marks of the world’s wisdom.
a. Bitter envying
1) The wisdom of the world exalts man and tries to glorify him.
2) The worlds’ wisdom is always promoting self.
3) The word “bitter” means to cut. The wisdom of the world says to cut others down so you can be great.
4) In your life’s problem if you’re using the world’s wisdom trying to cut down you will lose.
5) God says you are foolish wasting your days.
b. Strife
1) Word means manipulate.
2) We manipulate to get our way.
c. Glory not
1) It is a warming against arrogance and bragging
2) Pride loves to boast.
3) Pride does not build but destroys and is foolish.
4) 2 Corinthians 10:12
d. Lie not against the truth.
5. The outcome of the world’s wisdom. It is twofold.
a. James 3:16
b. Confusion
1) James 1:8, unstable is the same word is confusion.
2) James 3:8, unruly is the same word as confusion.
c. Every evil work
1) It means worthless or good-for-nothing.
2) The wisdom of the world comes to nothing.
6. Wisdom from above
a. James 3:17
b. The source of heavenly wisdom
1) The idea is their wisdom is steady.
2) The idea is their wisdom flows from the mind of God.
c. The sequence of heavenly wisdom. There are seven characteristics of God’s wisdom.
1) God’s wisdom is Pure.
a) No hidden motives in God’s wisdom.
b) Nothing under the surface.
c) If the heart is not pure, there can be no pure actions.
2) God’s wisdom is Peaceable.
a) Purity always brings peace.
b) Hebrews 12:14, Isaiah 26:3, Psalm 119:164
3) God’s wisdom is Gentle.
a) Word gentle means: to know how and when to relax the law.
b) This wisdom is needed in homes, churches, marriages.
4) God’s wisdom is easy to be entreated.
a) This is a military term meaning to be willing to take instruction form the commander in chief.
b) It is a wise man who is willing to take instructions.
5) God’s wisdom is full of mercy and Good works.
a) Our lives must back up our testimonies.
b) It is full of good works.
c) 2 Corinthians 9:8, Colossians 1:10; 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17
d) Titus 2:7, 14; 3:1, 8; 1 Timothy 5:9-10, 6:17-18
e) 2 Timothy 3:16-17; Hebrews 10:24
6) God’s wisdom is without partiality.
a) Trust everyone some.
b) James 2:9, to have respect of persons is the opposite of impartiality.
7) God’s wisdom is without hypocrisy.
a) The term shows someone who is not real.
b) A phony, Romans 12:9
III. The Path of Wisdom
1. James 3:18
2. If you want to be wise, start doing what is right.
a. Wisdom is the fruit of righteousness.
b. Wisdom is the fruit of just doing right.
3. Wisdom is being a peace maker.
4. Ture wisdom is found in Jesus.
a. Trusting in Jesus
b. Walking with Jesus
c. Allowing Jesus to be real to you.
