Faithfull Living - Studies from
the Book of James
"Wisdom". James 3_13-18
Introduction. Today knowledge is exploding; Textbooks and
encyclopaedias are behind the times, soon after they have been published.
The computer age continues to advance at such
a tremendous pace that technology is outdated with each passing month. But, in
the midst of this increased knowledge, wisdom is practically
nonexistent.
Friends few people would argue that the
incredible leap in knowledge has been paralleled by a corresponding leap in the
common sense wisdom, not to mention spiritual and moral wisdom.
If anything, man's understanding of what
he is doing and why he is doing it seems to decrease as his practical knowledge
increases. Why aren't people any better?
In chapter 3 James shows the tremendous
power and potential of the tongue and draws attention to the fact that our
words reveal our character. Consistent with his emphasis in this letter, James
shows that the real test of true, godly wisdom lies in a person's conduct. A
person may be very intelligent and almost a genius in their particular field
but still lacks real wisdom.
Prov 4:7 Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get
wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.
The word "Wisdom" is
often used in a careless way today but its origin in history is vastly
different. Put at its highest, wisdom is nothing less than one of the
attributes of God.
Job 12 -13 With the
ancient is wisdom; and in length of days understanding. With him is wisdom
and strength, he hath counsel and understanding.
God has complete knowledge of everything;
all His actions are perfect and His judgement is infallible.
DR. H.B. Smith has called God’s wisdom "that attribute of God
whereby He produces the best possible results with the best possible
means".
Wisdom from above is something that we
ought ever to seek, for there is a vast difference between the wisdom of men
and the wisdom of God.
Sir Isaac Newton -- As a blind man has no
idea of colours, so we have no idea of the manner by which the all-wise God
perceives and understands all things.
In these verses James contrasts heavenly
wisdom with earthly wisdom the wisdom of the World with the wisdom of the Word.
Speaking of Earthly wisdom James
says
James 3:15 This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual,
devilish.
Speaking of Heavenly wisdom
James 3:17 But the wisdom that is from above is
first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be entreated, full of
mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.
1. The
Origin of Wisdom
True wisdom comes from above and has the
marks of godliness upon it, but false wisdom comes from below. Whatever does
not come from God is destined to fail, no matter how successful it may seem at
the time. There are many example of the folly of mans wisdom recorded in the
Bible.
A. In Gen.11: 1-9 The building of the Tower of
|Babel seemed a good idea to men but it ended in failure and confusion.
B. Abraham thought that it was a good idea, in the time of
famine, to go down into Egypt for help, but the outcome proved otherwise. This
experience turned him into a liar, he almost lost his wife and he caused
plagues to come on Pharaoh and his household.
C. King Saul thought that it was a wise thing to put his own
armour on David, but God had other plans. One stone would be enough to kill
Goliath and give
The origin of man’s wisdom is earthly,
sensual and devilish. Man’s wisdom is drawn from his three enemies, "the
world, the flesh and the Devil".
How wonderful and blessed it is for the
Believer to realise, in days of confusion, when difficult decisions have to be
made, that there is a higher power available, Grace that is sufficient, and
there is Wisdom from on high.
Rom 11:32 For God hath concluded them all in
unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all.
Rom 11:34 For who hath
known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his
counsellor?
James has already urged his
readers.
James 1:5 If any of you
lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men
liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be
given him.
A. The Challenging
Question. v 13
"Who is wise and endued
with knowledge among you"? I
think that James had in mind those who were pushing themselves forward into
positions of prominence in the Church. Those who sought to be
teachers and were loudest in self esteem.
In the day of James as in ours, there were
those who thought that they excelled in wisdom. Nowhere does the Bible say that
a person with a high IQ—is super spiritual or ranks higher than anyone else.
But it is the responsibility of ever Christian to appropriate the truth Man’s
wisdom comes from reason; God’s wisdom comes from revelation.
God’s people have never had so many study
aids to help them to understand what God is saying from His word.
Example—commentaries, concordances, study books, audiotapes, video ministry.
Yet there are so many spiritual dwarfs’,
underdeveloped Christians. It is even more tragic, when some of them have made
their way to the Pulpit to teach others.
C H.Spurgeon. Was looking out of his hotel window, watching people
who were coming to draw water from the pump in the street.
After a period of time, he noted a man,
who had come to the pump a number of times.
Later Spurgeon discovered the reason why
this man was at the pump so often; he was the local water seller, who
distributed water to others. This was why he had to come back to the source of
the water, time and time again.
So it is with Christian teaching, we can
only share with others what we have received from the source of supply. How we
need to go often to the Origin of wisdom, to the Lord and His precious word.
B. The Clear Distinction. V 13
"Let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of
wisdom.
James exhorts those who are wise, and
"endued with knowledge," or understanding, to demonstrate it in their
conduct, and behaviour.
Simply put, James is saying, "One
cannot practice what one does not possess!"
1. The
Origin of Wisdom
2 The
Outworking of Wisdom
James is saying, "if you claim to
have wisdom and understanding then let me see the evidence".
The impact of what James is saying comes
across forcefully the phrase; " Let him show," Remember what he said
in
James 2:18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith,
and I have works: show me thy faith without thy works, and I will show thee my
faith by my works.
If a man claims to have Faith, let him
display it! If a man claims to have wisdom let him display it in the way he
lives. For the true test of wisdom is works and not words alone. True wisdom
and understanding begin with a proper relationship with God and are displayed
by the evidence of the new life.
Verse13 Amp. (Who is there among you who is wise and intelligent? Then let him by his noble living
show forth his good works with the unobtrusive humility, which is the proper
attribute of true wisdom)
A. Wisdom from above is
Genuine.
Christianity is not just a collection of
good ideas or the performing of religious ceremonies. Christianity is to
control every fibre of our being, and our actions, producing a good life that
brings glory to God.
Christian wisdom, according to God’s
standard, finds expression in one’s daily course of life and conduct.
Jesus exhorts-- Mat 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your
Father which is in heaven.
As someone has said, "The trouble with so many Christians is that
they are suffering from spiritual measles. Their lives display a mixture of
spirituality and carnality, which display a lack of wisdom. God wants His
people to be pure, bowing in submission to His revealed word, that His wisdom
may pervade the whole life.
A. Wisdom from above is
Genuine.
B. Wisdom from above is
Gentle V13
Indicates that works are
done with meekness of wisdom. (AMP) (with the unobtrusive humility,
which is the proper attribute of true wisdom)
True wisdom is clothed with humility. Paul
said to the Church at
Phil 1:27 Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see
you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one
spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;
He said to the Church at
2 Cor 10:1 Now I Paul
myself beseech you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ,
Jesus has left an example for us to
follow. He is the personification of Heavenly wisdom.
Even when men hurled insults at Him He did
not retaliate. When He suffered He made no threats. He entrusted Himself to the
one who judges justly.
What a perfect example of true wisdom, the
Master, in His humility has left for His people to follow. He committed His
cause into the hands of the Father.
How contrary we can behave, because of the
lack of Heavenly wisdom, and fail to commit our way unto the Father.
:
Dwight Lyman Moody-- A man can counterfeit love,
he can counterfeit faith, he can counterfeit hope and all the other graces, but
it is very difficult to counterfeit humility.
A. W. Tozer ---- Because Christ Jesus came to the world clothed
in humility, he will always be found among those who are clothed with humility.
He will be found among the humble people.
Verses 14-15 James speaks of a Wisdom that is earthly
(read)
1. The Corruption Described.
Now we have the evidence of false wisdom. Bitter envying—jealously, selfish ambition. Strife in your
hearts –contention "Glory not, and lie not
against the Truth". Do not take pride in these things and lie
against the truth.
The heart of man’s problem is
the problem of man’s heart
James exposes the folly of
false wisdom as he highlights the connection between the fruit and the root.
Outward actions are the result of inward attitudes.
Bitter envy, self-seeking, self-boasting,
and self-promotion are the expression of man’s wisdom. The wisdom of which
James is now speaking is Secular, Sensual and Satanic.
The wisdom of the world says "promote
yourself" you are as good if not better than others. Even among the Lord’s
people there is a great deal of selfish, carnal self-promotion.
The Apostles argued over who was going to
be the greatest in the kingdom.
The Pharisees used their activities to
promote the praise of men.
It is important that the believer is
zealous in the things of God, but we must be sure that our motives are right.
The Wisdom of this world exalts man and robs God of Glory
The Apostle Paul says to the Church at
1 Cor 1:17 For Christ
sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words,
lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.
He then exhorts them.
He that glorieth, let
him glory in the Lord"
We must ever examine our hearts, to make
sure that our zeal and our service for the Lord is, spiritual and not carnal.
Simply put the wisdom of the world cares only for itself, and the things of the
world
1. The Corruption
Described.
The wisdom of the world originates in the
secular and in the sensual, it is earthly, and it
ignores the spirit. Worldly wise men are those who mind earthly things.
Christians are to seek those things, which are above.
2. The Correction that is
Needed
Col 3:1 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek
those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on
the right hand of God.
Col 3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly
in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and
spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
The wisdom of the world finds its origin
in Satan and not in God. Satan is the power behind the wisdom of the world, and satanic thinking pervades much of man’s thinking
today.
This began back in the Garden of Eden. Eve
made her choice to disobey God.
Gen 3:6 And when the woman saw that the tree was
good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to
be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat,
and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.
Eve choose the
wisdom of the World and the result was the same as James describes in James 3:16 For where envying and strife is, there is
confusion and every evil work.
A heart filled with jealousy and ambition
produces problems of many kinds.
Permit worldly wisdom to creep into the
Assembly of God’s people, and you have opened the door for every kind of
satanic opposition, which will stem the tide of spiritual growth.
To be forewarned is to be forearmed.
God’s wisdom does not allow for envying,
strife and confusion. 1 Cor
14:33 For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all
churches of the saints.
Let us ever remember that Christians have
three great enemies. The World - Earthly The
Flesh - Natural The Devil - Demonic
Instead of bringing people together, they
drive them apart. Instead of producing peace, they produce strife. Instead of
producing a fellowship, they produce a disruption in personal relationship.
The Church needs to be on guard. The world
by its wisdom knew not God, and its world’s wisdom that rejects the Gospel of
God today.
For the
Preaching of the cross is unto those that perish foolishness.
But the wisdom that comes from hell will
never get a soul near heaven Man’s wisdom says I'll
believe it when I can see it, hear it, smell it, or touch it!"
The Wisdom of man will come to nothing but
God’s wisdom will endure forever.
A late
The wisdom of the world is good for
nothing. The wisdom of the world is inherited through our sinful nature. We do
not have to teach children worldly wisdom for they are born with it. The
greatest need we have in the world today is wisdom from God.
1. The
Origin of Wisdom
2. The
Outworking of Wisdom
3. The
Outcome of Wisdom v
17,18
In contrast to wisdom that is earthly, James now describes the outcome of wisdom that is
heavenly. Solomon said, in Proverbs 2:6:
"For the Lord giveth wisdom; out of his mouth
cometh knowledge and understanding."
James is going to use eight different
adjectives to describe heavenly, or Word wisdom. However, he draws specific
attention to one, and says that this wisdom is, before it is anything else, it
is "first pure.
This Wisdom from Above is pure, because it's origin is
pure.
1.
Purity—indicates
Holiness.
God is Holy and
therefore the wisdom from above is holy, in contrast to man’s, which is
sensual. Jesus is our wisdom and in Him are hidden all the treasures of wisdom
and knowledge. This wisdom is undefiled and free from the corruption that
characterizes ungodly wisdom. It is free from selfishness and the determination
to have one's own way.
This
Wisdom from Above is
2.
Peaceable.
Man’s wisdom leads
to competition, contention and war James 4:1,2
but God’s wisdom leads to peace.
A pure person
will be one who promotes peace. Jesus said,
Mat 5:9 Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called
the children of God.
The wisdom that
comes form above brings peace with God, peace with ourselves,
and peace with others. Peace of heart grows out of purity of heart. Real peace
does not come before purity, purity comes before peace.
3.
Gentleness. This also is wisdom
from above. It displays courteousness and reasonableness. Heaven’s wisdom is
gentle, not harsh or critical or inconsiderate of others. Such wisdom is a rare
commodity today.
The gentle
person does not deliberately cause fights, but neither does he compromise the
truth in order to keep the peace.
It
was said of Abraham Lincoln—"had he was a man of velvet steel"—This is a good
description of gentleness.
3.
Full
of Mercy---
Jesus said Mat
5:7 Blessed are the merciful: for they shall
obtain mercy.
Luke 6: 36 Be ye therefore merciful, as
your Father also is merciful. Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn
not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven
4. Full of Good Fruits. –
While the wisdom of the world results in
perversion, the wisdom from above results in productivity. Jesus reminds us
that His disciples will be known by their fruits. Matt 7:20
The wisdom from above is Peaceable, not
Perverted! The wisdom from above is Gentle, not
Grievous! The wisdom from above is Full of Mercy, not
Full of Murmuring! The wisdom from the above is Good Fruit, not Bad Fruit!
The wisdom from above is Without
Partiality, not With Prejudice! The wisdom from the Word is Without Hypocrisy,
not With Hypocrisy! Hypocrisy comes from an old actors
term, a man with many faces.
CONCLUSION This type of wisdom from ABOVE has an affect upon us
James 3:18 And
the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.
He who sows peace will reap peace. The
wisdom that comes from above can change our lives. It can make us pure, peace
loving, patient and productive.
Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,
and the man that getteth
understanding. Prov 3:13