James 3:13-18
The Hebrews who clearly understood that true wisdom was not intellectual, but behavioral. Thus, the biggest fool was one who knew truth and failed to apply it.
A minister, a Boy Scout, and a computer expert were the only passengers on a small plane. The pilot came back to the cabin and said that the plane was going down but there were only three parachutes and four people. The pilot added, “I should have one of he parachutes because I have a wife and three small children.” So he took one and jumped.
The computer whiz said, “I should have one of the parachutes because I am the smartest man in the world and everyone needs me.” So he took one and jumped.
The minister turned to the Boy Scout and with a sad smile said, “You are young and I have lived a rich life, so you take the remaining parachute, and I’ll go down with the plane.”
The boy Scout said, “Relax, Reverend, the smartest man in the world just picked up my knapsack and jumped out!
Job asks: “But where shall wisdom be found? and where is the place of understanding?” (28:12) and then he answers, “And unto man he said, Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.” (28:28)
True wisdom, the wisdom from above, is not a matter of how much one knows but of how much one trusts, loves, and obeys the Lord.
In James 3:13-18 James offers wisdom as still another test of living faith. The kind of wisdom a person possesses will be revealed by the kind of life he lives (v. 13). Those who possess the wisdom of man, the wisdom from below, will demonstrate by their lives that they have no saving relationship to Jesus to Jesus Christ and no desire to worship, serve, or obey Him (vv. 14-16). Those, on the other hand, who possess genuine saving faith will manifest the wisdom of God, the wisdom from above (vv. 17-18)
I. CONTRADICTION IN OBSERVATION
This section applies to everyone in the churches to whom James was writing, true believers and mere professed believer. James is seeking to identify who is truly skilled in the art of righteous living. “In what way are you wise?” he is asking, in effect, “and in what way are you understanding? The answer will reveal not only your inner character but the spiritual condition of your soul.”
It is hard to find a self-professed fool. Most people have and elevated and unrealistically high opinion of their wisdom, although they might not say so but you can tell.
There was a typical blond. She had long, blond hair, blue eyes, and she was sick of all the blond jokes. One day, she decided to get a make over, so she cut and dyed her hair. She also went out and bought a new convertible. She went driving down a country road and came across a herd of sheep. She stopped and called the sheep herder over.
“That’s a nice flock of sheep” she said.
“Well thank you” said the herder.
“Tell you what. I have a proposition for you” said the woman. “If I can guess the exact number of sheep in your flock, can I take one home?”
“Sure” said the sheep herder.
So, the girl sat up and looked at the herd for a second and then replied “382".
“Wow” said the herder. “That is exactly right. Go ahead and pick out the sheep you want to take home.”
So the woman went and picked one out and put it in her car.
Then, the herder said “Okay, now I have a proposition for you”.
“What is it?” Queried the woman.
“If I can guess the real color of your hair, can I have my dog back?”
James is saying, “If you claim wisdom and understanding show it first by your good behavior, your exemplary lifestyle.” As with faith, wisdom and understanding that are not demonstrated in righteous, godly living are devoid of spiritual value. James goes on to admonish readers to show their wisdom and understanding by their good deeds. Believers are also to demonstrate wisdom and understanding by an attitude of gentleness (meekness = “power under control”), People who are wise in their own eyes are generally arrogant about it.
A rider on horseback, many years ago, came across a squad of soldiers who were trying to move a heavy piece of timber. A corporal stood by, giving lordly orders to “heave.” but the piece of timber was a trifle too heavy for the squad.
“Why don’t you help them?” asked the quiet man on the horse, addressing the important corporal.
“Me? Why, I’m a corporal, sir!” Dismounting, the stranger carefully took his place with the soldiers.
“Now, all together, boys—heave!” he said. And the big piece of timber slid into place. The stranger mounted his horse and addressed the corporal.
“The next time you have a piece of timber for your men to handle, corporal, send for the commander-in-chief.”
The horseman was George Washington.
John Brodie, former quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers, was once asked why a million-dollar player like him should have to hold the ball for field goals and points after touchdown. “Well,” said Brodie, “if I didn’t, it would fall over.”
II. CONTRAST IN ORIGINS (JAMES 3:15, 17A)
The true wisdom comes from above, but the false wisdom comes from below. In other words, there is a “heavenly wisdom” that comes from God, and there is a “man-made wisdom” that does not come from God.
Verse 14. The Motivation of False Wisdom
Motivation is always determined in the heart.
Matt. 15:19 “For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies.”
Prov. 4:23 “Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.”
Two motives:
1. Bitter envy
2. Selfish ambition
A Summary of the Motive: Selfishness
(An illustration of the “Me first” attitude) John and Dave were hiking when they spotted a mountain lion staring at them. John froze in his tracks, but Dave sat down on a log, tore off his hiking boots, pulled a pair of running shoes from his backpack and hurriedly began to put them on.
"For crying out loud, you can’t outrun a mountain lion!" John hissed.
"I don’t have to," shrugged Dave. "I just have to outrun you."
“Glory not.” A person whose motives are based on the world’s wisdom is inevitably arrogant.
* A professed Christian who is proud, boasting, self-centered, loveless, and arrogant is a fraud.
* To claim otherwise is to lie against the truth.
* There is nothing more characteristic of fallen, unredeemed men than being dominated by self.
* James is therefore saying that, if a person claims to belong to God and to have the wisdom of God, but his life is motivated and characterized by selfish ambition and bitter envy, he is simply lying against the truth.
* Whatever he might claim, he cannot be saved. He is a living lie.
The Contrasting Motives for True Wisdom:
Phil. 2:3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.
4 Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.
5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
III. CHARACTERISTICS IN OPERATION
Characteristics of False Wisdom, 15
The three great enemies of the believer are the world, the flesh, and the devil, which correspond to the three characteristics of false wisdom that James mentions here. It is earthly (of the world), natural (of the flesh), and demonic (of the devil).
False wisdom is natural, sensual, fleshly.
1 Cor.2:14 “But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.”
Those who rely on this wisdom are “sensual, having not the Spirit” (Jude 19).
False wisdom is demonic. (New Age movement)
1 Tim. 4:1 “Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils.”
Characteristics of Heavenly Wisdom, verse 17.
* Is first pure, ’agnh. Chaste, holy, and clean.
* Peaceable, eirhnikh. Living in peace with others, and promoting peace among men.
* Gentle, epieikhv. Meek, modest, of an equal mind, taking every thing in good part, and putting the best construction upon all the actions of others.
* Easy to be entreated, eupeiyhv. Not stubborn nor obstinate; of a yielding disposition in all indifferent things; obsequious, docile.
* Full of mercy, Ready to pass by a transgression, and to grant forgiveness to those who offend, and performing every possible act of kindness.
* Good fruits, Each temper and disposition producing fruits suited to and descriptive of its nature.
* Without partiality, adiakritov. Without making a difference-rendering to every man his due; and being never swayed by self-interest, worldly honour, or the fear of man; knowing no man after the flesh.
* Without hypocrisy, anupokritov. Without dissimulation; without pretending to be what it is not; acting always in its own character; never working under a mask. Seeking nothing but God’s glory, and using no other means to attain it than those of his own prescribing.
IV. COMPARING THE OUTCOMES (JAMES 3:16, 18)
Origin determines outcome. Worldly wisdom will produce worldly results; spiritual wisdom will give spiritual results.
The Results of False Wisdom, 16
A. Disorder
Confusion sets the stage for “every evil work” (James 3:16). Evil here means “worthless, of no account.” It reminds us of the “wood, hay, stubble” of 1 Corinthians 3:12. A ministry operating in the wisdom of this world may appear to be great and successful, but in the day of judgment it may burn up.
Verse 16. For where envying and strife is, there is confusion. Everything is unsettled and agitated. There is no mutual confidence; there is no union of plan and effort; there is no co-operation in promoting a common object; there is no stability in any plan; for a purpose, though for good, formed by one portion, is defeated by another.
B. And every evil work. The truth of this no one can have any doubt who has observed the effects in a family or neighborhood where a spirit of strife prevails. Love and harmony of course are banished; all happiness disappears; all prosperity is at an end. In place of the peaceful virtues which ought to prevail, there springs up every evil passion that tends to mar the peace of a community. Where this spirit prevails in a church, it is of course impossible to expect any progress in Divine things; and in such a church any effort to do good is vain.
James 3:16 “For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.”
1 Cor. 3:3 “For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?”
The Results of True Wisdom, 17, 18
Tonto and the Lone Ranger were riding through a canyon together when all of a sudden both sides were filled with Native American warriors on horses, dressed for battle. The Lone Ranger turned to Tonto and asked, "What are we going to do?" Tonto replied, "What you mean ’we,’ Whiteman?"
—Edward Dobson, In Search of Unity, p. 20-27.
In a Peanuts cartoon Lucy demanded that Linus change TV channels, threatening him with her fist if he didn’t. "What makes you think you can walk right in here and take over?" asks Linus.
"These five fingers," says Lucy. "Individually they’re nothing but when I curl them together like this into a single unit, they form a weapon that is terrible to behold."
"Which channel do you want?" asks Linus. Turning away, he looks at his fingers and says, "Why can’t you guys get organized like that?” —Charles Schultz
Conclusion: You can tell if people in a church are wise or unwise at their business meetings. But not by the decisions they make but by how they make those decisions. Are our meeting marked by strife and selfish ambitions or by unity.
