Being Wise
James 3:13-18
July 9, 2023
A 1916 ad that said it was healthy to give Blatz beer to infants. The ad said
A case of Blatz beer in your home means much to the young mother and obviously baby participates in its benefits. The malt in the beer supplies nourishing qualities that are essential at this time and the hops act as an appetizing stimulating tonic.
This is an ad from 1885 advertising cocaine tooth drops for children. Really? You may not know this but cocaine wasn’t made illegal until 1914.
The next ad is from the late 1800’s and encourages people to manage their weight by eating sanitized tape worms. We have some in the lobby that have been sanitized and blessed!! How do you sanitize a tape worm without killing it?
The last is from the 1950’s and advertises a new kind of Ketchup bottle top. The ad says, “You mean a WOMAN can open it?!” In the small print it says, “Easily – without a knife blade, a bottle opener, or even a husband. All it takes is a dainty grasp.” Imagine that one today?
This was the wisdom of the day. We laugh at it today and I wonder in 100 years, what wisdom from today will be laughed at as well. Wisdom seems to shift and change. We change our minds all the time about wisdom. Yet, what is wisdom?
There’s a difference from the tone of these ads than from what we really need in life. And that’s the point of what we’re going to be getting into today.
These ads are about making life easier. None of us are against that. We would all like to find ways to make life easier. And there’s nothing wrong with that.
We’re drawn to ads. They tell us - - - use their product and we’ll be happier and healthier.
I didn’t say we want more KNOWLEDGE. Without striving after it, we still have more knowledge than we know what to do with. We’re the most knowledgeable people - - - and whether we want it or not, we gain more knowledge by the day.
BUT - - - - KNOWLEDGE is not the same and doesn’t equal WISDOM.
Knowledge is just information that can lead us from the SIMPLE to the COMPLEX. For example, I asked Zachary about jet engines, he gave me a 1 hour talk about how a jet engine works. In the end, I just wanted to know that my plane was going to take off and land. Knowledge can help us solve complex problems and at times make life more convenient.
BUT - - - - Wisdom is designed to be PRACTICAL - - - - and just as importantly, wisdom is timeless! Godly wisdom is eternal. It’s never ending.
Knowledge changes over time, but wisdom, God’s wisdom is eternal.
Wisdom should also lead us from the COMPLEX to the SIMPLE. We want wisdom that helps us with the complexities of life. Yet often times, we want the cliff notes version of wisdom. Just give me an app that will make life easier so I don’t have to think it through and so I don’t have to change.
James is the “ultimate-how-to manual” for the Christian life. It’s full of wisdom on various aspects of the Christian walk and James even includes wisdom — about wisdom! And that’s what we’re looking at today.
We all hunger to know how to DO life better — but the sad thing is most of us look for wisdom in the WRONG place. Instead of consulting God’s Word for guidance in life — we embrace the world’s way of thinking.
More and more of us live our lives according to our culture’s definition of wisdom. We tend to believe the wisest way to live is to pattern our decisions after the principles of this world ... principles as silly as the ones found in these old ads.
Well, the Christians in James’ day were making similar mistakes because in our text for this morning James addresses this issue by comparing the wisdom of the world to the wisdom of God. Let’s look at what James says - - - -
13 Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom.
14 But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth.
15 This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic.
16 For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice.
17 But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere.
18 And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace. - James 3:13-18
Have you ever met people who were absolute geniuses? They know everything. If they were on Jeopardy or Who Wants to Be A Millionaire, they walk away winners. But have you ever noticed that many geniuses, don’t seem to know how to boil water or make a piece of toast, although they could tell you all the properties of boiling water and how a toaster works. I’m so thankful I’m not a genius!! Aren’t you?!
For example, last week we talked about our words and how they can be destructive. I gave an acronym at the end of the message - - - -
THINK
What I did was pass on some knowledge, which if you’re willing can be used as wisdom, if you would use it. But if you don’t use it, then it’s for naught. And that’s often the problem, we have lots of knowledge that doesn’t get converted into wisdom and we end up doing the wrong things at the wrong times.
James focuses on some of the negatives of wisdom. Then he talks about the good, when we show Godly wisdom. So, I want to spend a little time talking about the negative side and end with the positives of Godly wisdom.
Verses 14-16 are the negatives. They’re bookended by the positives of wisdom. James tells us - - -
14 But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. - James 3:14
It’s one thing to simply be a little jealous. And we casually throw that word around, not really meaning jealous, but more of a feeling of wow, that’s great what you have I wished I had that too . . . but no big deal. I won’t lose sleep over it.
It’s saying things like - - - WOW! Look at that car, I wish I had that. Did you see that dress, that’s beautiful. Oh, you’re going on a 3 week European cruise. Ugh! I’m so jealous!
We wish we had what they have, but we’re not obsessing about it. Now, the Bible says jealousy is wrong, but I think we often use the word jealous when we’re really not jealous.
James uses a strong descriptor for jealousy. They’re not just bitter or jealous, but they have BITTER JEALOUSY.
In this verse, James uses 5 words that are meant to be negative. These are the 5 words and their literal meanings from the Greek - - -
bitter — sharp, pungent, malignant
jealousy — boiling over, burning anger
selfish ambition — mercenary self-seeking
boast — with a sense of superiority
false / lie — willfully misrepresent
To start with, James is telling us the person has a bitter attitude because of a burning jealousy, they are self seeking, feel superior and misrepresent themselves.
There’s no wisdom acting like this. This is all about self gain. And when we think about it, that’s what the world calls for. Seek to gain for yourself, lie to get ahead, steal and cheat; hopefully nobody notices and be sure to promote yourself.
In the next verse James wrote - - -
15 This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. - James 3:15
This wisdom that we just talked about is not from God. That’s kind of obvious. But James lets us know, if it’s not from God, then it’s from this world and it’s unspiritual and demonic. That’s a pretty bold statement.
The word unspiritual is better translated as natural, animalistic, sensual or from your own mind. In other words, the point is, it’s not from God. The final word, demonic, pictures something which comes from an evil spirit, that’s devilish.
Verses 14-15 demonstrate the spirit of what you’re doing when you don’t practice Godly wisdom. It’s never good. It might be benign, but the potential for damage is great.
Let me give a little disclaimer too . . . we are to learn and gain knowledge, but we are to turn that knowledge, education into wisdom. We are to see the practical application. A med student gains great knowledge, and they turn it into practice to do good, not for their self gain.
In the same way, spiritual gifts are that way . . . we’re to understand our gifts, and after we know them, we use them not for our gain, but for the purpose of growing the kingdom of God. That’s how we become difference makers.
The last of the negative verses tells us the results of earthly wisdom - - -
16 For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. - James 3:16
James refers back to verse 14 in highlighting jealousy and selfish ambition and the result is disorder and every vile practice. So, what’s he getting at?
The word for disorder literally means - - - can not stand; it refers to something being unsettled, unstable and being out of control.
And vile means - - - worthless, evil or wicked.
When we’re filled with earthly wisdom, acting on selfish interests and bitter jealousy, it leads to the world being in disorder, being out of control and unstable, which has its origin rooted in evil.
Does that not seem like the world we’re living in? It seems that the only wisdom that’s exhibited is not from above, but is from below, which is authored by satan, who wants us to think his wisdom is good and beneficial, when it’s real purpose is to tear down and destroy.
In place of that, James helps us to know what we can do for the good when it comes to wisdom. Our goal is to better understand what Godly wisdom is. And as we strive to be more authentic Christians, James teaches us where the true source of wisdom is — from heaven, and where not to look for wisdom.
It may seem that James is stretching his point by saying the wisdom you display is a reflection of your faith or lack of faith in Jesus Christ. But as James has been trying to point out throughout the entire book, our actions will ultimately tell the world who Jesus Christ is in our lives.
So, let’s look at the final verses and gain some practical wisdom, going back to verse 13, James told us - - - -
13 Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom.
It’s a strange statement by James, show your works in the meekness of wisdom! That’s a strange statement.
Godly wisdom is evidenced by our humility or our meekness. We generally view meekness as a sign of weakness, however, that isn’t correct. The word meekness in Greek comes from a prefix which shows it’s origin is from God. So, to be meek means we have an inner strength which comes from God, to be powerful, but not to display it, unless necessary.
Meekness is an attitude of mind and heart which demonstrates gentleness, through a persons strength of character.
So, when we show meekness of wisdom, in essence we’re not being egotistical with our wisdom, we humbly display it without needing public recognition for our great wisdom. It’s knowing, believing and even proclaiming our wisdom and all we have comes from God. That’s crucial and central.
James then adds - - -
17 But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere.
18 And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace. - James 3:13-18
James tells us wisdom that comes from heaven, is first of all, pure. It means Godly wisdom is uncontaminated and free from impurities. If God is going to give you His wisdom, then you will know that this wisdom is perfect. Do the end results always end up perfect? Unfortunately not. Because God has placed His wisdom into human hands, and sometimes we take God’s grace and wisdom and turn it into evil.
James gives a list of 7 things that come from God’s wisdom. It is a list we can readily compare to the Fruits of the Spirit in Galatians 5 that Paul wrote. When we look at each item we notice that these are all noble and really not that far out of reach. They are all doable. It ultimately becomes a matter of the heart.
I just want to say a couple of words about each one —
PEACEABLE – doesn’t mean someone who’s a pushover. Instead, it’s someone who strives to be at peace, to be calm, a person who is untroubled and undisturbed. This is a person who has let go of anxiety and trusts God.
GENTLE — this is different, it’s not only someone who is patient, but someone who wants to make sure the spirit of the law if fulfilled as much as the letter of the law. It’s someone who wants things to be equitable and fair.
OPEN TO REASON — someone who is open to reason, who is ready and willing to come to terms regarding an issue. Isn’t that something which is missing in our world today?
FULL OF MERCY – means you have a God centered compassion for another.
GOOD FRUIT – your results or actions are intended to honor God. You’re performing acts of kindness and compassion in the name of God.
IMPARTIAL — is a person who is single-minded and doesn’t show favoritism, which James spoke against in 2:1. An impartial person has a singular purpose in trusting God. This is the opposite of someone who is double-minded, as James said in chapter condemns in chapter 1 and 4.
SINCERE — is a person who is not phoney, not a hypocrite. They’re free from hidden agendas and selfish motives.
To follow this Godly wisdom is not always easy. There are so many pressures that are thrust our way everyday, that it becomes easy to give in to the wisdom of the world. We can take the path of least resistance, the path which has the smallest chance of personal harm and then we can make all the rationalizations we want to justify our decisions.
Yet, the ultimate goal is peace within the community, not because we are people who “want to keep the peace” at all costs and avoid conflict and confrontation like the plague, but it is to experience a Godly peace when we make the correct decisions, even the difficult ones.
This becomes so difficult when there are so many competing voices, but we can always be assured that we are making the correct decisions if we seek God’s wisdom, the wisdom that is 100% pure, wisdom that has no imperfections, wisdom that will always, if we desire lead us to the right path, the path of righteousness, for His names sake.
Everyday we are confronted with decisions, not so much which pair of shoes will we wear, but how am I going to honor God. My friends, as we seek to become more authentic Christians may we heed these powerful words of James and ask God for His wisdom and may we know that we will be blessed for following Him.
Following God’s wisdom will lead to a harvest of righteousness as more people see God in us and experience the power of Jesus Christ in their lives!
Wisdom over the ages has definitely changed. That’s earthly wisdom, but wisdom from above, God’s wisdom, friends . . . . that’s eternal. That’s wisdom which will never end, never fade and never become obsolete. That’s the wisdom we should always seek after!
