Text: “Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom” (James 3:13).
What is wisdom?
One person said that wisdom is the quality that keeps you from getting into situations where you need it.
J.I Packer said, “Wisdom is the power to see and the inclination to choose the best and highest goal, together with the surest means of attaining it.”
Doug Larson said, “Wisdom is the reward you get for a lifetime of listening when you would have preferred to talk.”
According to the American Heritage Dictionary, wisdom is: Understanding of what is true, right, or lasting.
James asks the question: “Who is wise and understanding among you?” (v.13). Are any of us present here wise and understanding? All of us have been alive a good number of years. I believe I am correct if I say the age range is 66 to 97. Since we have made it this far, we must understand what is true, right and lasting.
We may not always do what is right, but we know what is right. We know how to treat people regardless of their race, color, creed, background, place in society, etc. We realize that everyone is different, because God did not make two people identical. We know that we have strong points and weak points and other people’s strong and weak points are different from ours.
We say things that are pleasing to God our Father, but then there are times when our words are destructive or harmful to people and offensive to God. True wisdom can be measured by the way we act. As a child, we learned to respect other people and their possessions. We might not have obeyed our parents all the time, but we knew we should. The times we were disobedient to our parents brought forth a quick remembrance by our parents.
As we grew, we learned of our role concerning responsibility. When we were in school, we had the wisdom to know the seriousness of education and the importance of learning through completing lessons handed to us by our teachers. We soon learned the importance of getting sufficient sleep which enabled us to perform better in studies, sports, singing in the chorus, and performing in the band.
As time passed, we developed relationships with more and more people. At a certain time, our relationship to a very special person formed. Now our attention is turned to the love of our life. We begin to do what is true and right for this person because we are looking for a lasting relationship. As the days pass, our wisdom and knowledge increases. Our character is molded into one of understanding, caring, loving, and being compassionate.
We show our wisdom by the way we live and the way we treat other people. We are kind, considerate, and loving to our family, friends, and to all other people we meet. We are excited about going the second mile to help someone in need. We like to be with people, because they too were created in the image of God.
We learned that if we are to survive in this life, we must be wise or have wisdom. Everything is not going to go our way, but that does not mean it’s wrong. Just because everyone does not see things our way, or everyone does not like us, or people say things of dishonor to us, does not mean we are to retaliate with bitter harsh words. We are to follow Jesus’ words: “This is my command: Love each other” (John 15:17). As Christians, many in the world will hate us, but we are to love and support one another.
Each day we need to pray that God will provide wisdom to the people we have elected to run our country. These people face problems and situations that the average person does not understand. We don’t know everything and we have to be wise enough to realize that fact. We may not agree with the President and his ideas about the situation in Iraq, but we must continue to pray that God will provide him with the wisdom to make the correct decisions.
Everyday, we read articles in the newspaper about how the police or sheriff’s department made a wrong decision in a certain situation. What we fail to realize is that they are human beings, God’s people, out there every day facing issues that could mean life or death for them. It is because of these people that we are able to survive. If it weren’t for the public servants, police departments, fire departments, and medical emergency departments, we would soon be living in a lost society. We must have enough wisdom and knowledge to support the people who are looking out for us. We need to send up prayers asking God to give them wisdom to make the correct decisions so that we can all benefit.
James says, “But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. Such ‘wisdom’ does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil” (v.14-15).
When bitterness and selfishness becomes a part of our character, the devil sits back and claims a victory. The devil is of the world and it is very easy to be drawn into the realm of worldly desires. It is so easy to listen to and be influenced by other people.
For example, when a person is having marital problems, it is very easy for them to be enticed into a relationship with someone who pretends to care for them and reaches out with encouraging words, but with an ulterior motive. When a person is hurting, they are very vulnerable (susceptible, weak, defenseless). In other words, they are ripe for a quick-fix and are taken advantage of by a person with selfish ambitions.
When someone hurts us through rumors or gossip, we are quick to fight back with harsh words because of the bitterness in our hearts. Again, this is exactly what the devil wants us to do. What we really need to do is to forgive that person and pray for them. Jesus said, “But love your enemies, do good to them…” (Luke 6:35). We must remember that “He who is in us is greater than he who is in the world” (I John 4:4). We need to seek God and rely on his wisdom when we fall into worldly endeavors.
It is not difficult to understand wisdom or being wise in this earthly life. It is easy to see that if you deprive you body of food and nutrition, you will become anorexic and eventually die. If you continually overstuff your body with more food than you need, you will become overweight and have physical problems. If you don’t get enough sleep or rest, you will be tired, rundown and prone to sickness and disease. If you jump into a swimming pool and can’t swim, you are probably going to drown. If you get behind the wheel and can’t drive, you are sure to have an accident. What am I getting at? I am saying that there is no wisdom demonstrated in each of these situations. In other words, stupidity is brought to light.
James tells us, “But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere” (v.17).
Let’s consider the word “pure”. Anything that is pure is unadulterated, uncontaminated, unpolluted, untainted, and is wholesome. Jesus was the only “pure” person who ever walked the face of the earth. He had no sin. He was sinless. He came for only one reason and that was to reconcile mankind to the Father. God’s love was so strong for mankind that he was willing to sacrifice his Son for the sins of all mankind. God’s wisdom was “pure”. Jesus said, “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost” (Luke 19:10).
The wisdom of God is peace-loving as demonstrated by Jesus. Luke records these words: “Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests’” (Luke 2:13-14). Jesus said, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives” (John 14:27). Jesus went on to say, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace” (John 16:33). The wisdom of God is peace-loving.
The wisdom of God is to be considerate and is brought forth in the life of Jesus. When Jesus talked to the woman at the well, he was considerate of who she was. She was a Samaritan and Jews did not associate with Samaritans. He was very considerate of her background. He did not criticize or say any demeaning (shameful, humiliating) words to her. The Samaritan woman witnessed to other Samaritans and many of them believed and accepted Jesus.
Jesus was very considerate of the lame man who laid by the pool waiting for someone to help him into the pool at the right time so that he could be healed. Jesus said to the man, “Get up! Pick up your mat and walk” (John 5:8). The man was healed.
God, the Father, was very considerate of mankind when he sent his Son into the world that those who believed might be saved. Jesus came and died that we might live. He came to bear the burden of our sin. Did we deserve this kind considerate act? No! He considers us his children and he wants us to spend eternity with him.
Wisdom from God is submissive or obedient. Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does” John 5:19). Because of the relationship of the Son to the Father, Jesus lived as God desired him to live. All of us who call ourselves Christians have a personal relationship with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ; therefore, we must be submissive to him by honoring him and living as he wants us to live. This kind of submissive action does not come from the world, but comes from above.
The wisdom of God is merciful. David said in Psalm 103:9-10, “He will not always accuse, nor will he harbor his anger forever; he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities.” This is the wisdom of God not of the world. The wisdom of the world is to accuse, to harbor anger, to judge, and to get even.
Paul gave the Ephesians this message concerning the mercy of God. “As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath. But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions – it is by grace you have been saved” (2:1-5). God in his great wisdom is merciful to us. The penalty of sin and its power over us was destroyed at the cross by Jesus.
God’s wisdom is sincere. John records these words: “Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth” (I John 3:18). God’s love for us is sincere (genuine, truthful, honest). Is our love for others in accordance with the sincerity of God’s love? God showed his sincere love for us when he gave his only begotten Son to pay the penalty for our sins. Are you and I willing to go the extra mile to help someone in need? Are we sincere enough to clothe the naked, feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, and visit the sick?
Paul’s words to the Corinthians speak of wisdom and sincerity of God. In the 12 verse of 2 Corinthians chapter 1 Paul says, “Now this is our boast: Our conscience testifies that we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially in our relations with you, in the holiness and sincerity that are from God. We have done so not according to worldly wisdom but according to God’s grace.” Paul knew the importance of God’s holiness and sincerity. Paul was not trying to impress the people with worldly words and actions, but he spoke with the sincerity and wisdom that comes from above.
Conclusion:
We hear the words wisdom and knowledge used together, but they are different. Wisdom is much greater than knowledge. Knowledge is information that we gather and store in our memory. Knowledge is of the world. Wisdom is of a higher power and enables us to properly use the knowledge we have. Wisdom helps us to discard the worthless and retain that which is good. Wisdom is from above and has the characteristics of the Divine.
The individual whose heart is programmed to wisdom is in a position to think divinely or to think as God would think.
If we are to live a full happy and enjoyable life and not worry and fret about our daily needs, we must follow the words of Jesus. Jesus said, “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well” (Matthew 6:33). He was saying that we must always turn to God first for our help. Nothing is more important than giving God first place in our hearts. David expressed this well in Psalm 121:1-2. David said, “I lift my eyes to the hills – where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, and Maker of heaven and earth.” We should never trust any power less than the power of God. We will be content and at peace by complete surrender to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. True wisdom comes from above.
Story by Ray Trygstad
There’s a story about three people attending a church service one Sunday morning seeking help through the preaching of the Word. One was a businessman who had failed and was contemplating suicide. The other was a young man whose wages were not sufficient to support his extravagant way of life; he was planning to steal from his employer. And the third was a young lady who had been tempted from a life of virtue. As they mingled with the congregation the choir rose and sang a magnificent rendition of a classic anthem, and the pastor stepped to the pulpit and addressed an eloquent prayer to God. Then he opened his notes and delivered a scholarly address entitled “Is Mars Inhabited?” The three spiritually hungry persons who came looking for bread were fed stones. The businessman committed suicide; the young man stole from his employer and ended up in prison; the young woman returned to a life of shame. Those three people discovered what thousands and thousands have discovered through the centuries; there is no peace, no power, no forgiveness, and no salvation in the philosophies or wisdom of men.
Amen.
