Heavenly Wisdom Vs. Earthly Wisdom
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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.
Introduction
Introduction
In 1 Kings 3 King Solomon asks the Lord for wisdom so that he might be a good and wise leader in ruling his people. Because he did not ask for riches or comfort or pleasure, the Lord was pleased with Solomon's request, He have him wisdom and much more. Solomon began his reign as the wisest man on Earth and enjoyed the respect and honor of his people. But after a while, Solomon grew to Love the things God had blessed him with more than God Himself. His life became centered around his wealth, and power, and pleasure. He had elevated his worldly wisdom above Godly Wisdom. Solomon forgot that it is the wisdom of God that answers our needs and gives us clear direction in our lives.
In the Old Testament book of Proverbs, we are encouraged to seek after wisdom
Proverbs 3:13–18 (ESV)
13 Blessed is the one who finds wisdom, and the one who gets understanding,
14 for the gain from her is better than gain from silver and her profit better than gold.
15 She is more precious than jewels, and nothing you desire can compare with her.
16 Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor.
17 Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.
18 She is a tree of life to those who lay hold of her; those who hold her fast are called blessed.
Proverbs 4:7–9 (ESV)
7 The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom, and whatever you get, get insight.
8 Prize her highly, and she will exalt you; she will honor you if you embrace her.
9 She will place on your head a graceful garland; she will bestow on you a beautiful crown.”
Likewise, in the New Testament we are exhorted to walk with wisdom
Ephesians 5:15–17 (ESV)
15 Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.
But in James chapter three, we learn that there is more than just one kind of wisdom.
Today we are looking at what James describes as two different kinds of wisdom:
Heavenly Wisdom and Earthly Wisdom
Heavenly Wisdom and Earthly Wisdom
In discussing these two, James does so by making several contrasts; the first being:
Earthly Wisdom is not From Above
Earthly Wisdom is not From Above
Earthly Wisdom, or we might say worldly wisdom is wisdom that is according to the world's standards.
But this wisdom is foolishness to God
20 Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?
Worldly wisdom is a sensual wisdom which means it appeals to the senses, the emotions, the passions of the world. It is a wisdom based on what feels right. The “If is feels good, do it” mentality.
The fact is, if feels right does not make it right. James tells us that this kind of wisdom can often be demonic. This is the kind of wisdom possessed by the devil and his angels. This is the wisdom that often finds its origin in the influences of Satan.
This is the ideal of the hedonist's, a person who is devoted to the pursuit of pleasure. Unfortunately, this frame of mind is prevalent in our society today and many of our young people live by this principle. This the thought that if something makes you feel good then disregard all opposition or censorship and just do it.
This ideal is not right. Often our feelings are our greatest enemies when it comes to making decisions. Our feelings are like the weather. Our feelings are very temperamental and unpredictable. One day we feel this way about something and the next we may feel another. Our moods change, our likes change, our feelings change all the time. But truth never changes and our decisions to be good ones, they need to be anchored in truth, whether we like it or not, and whether we feel it or not.
Many of the things that keep us striving to work hard, improve our lives, broaden our mind and make sound judgments are not the things that give us that instant gratification that we have been trained to seek.
The things that are best for us usually the things that demand discipline and hard work. Things that we may find disagreeable. Things like removing ourselves from pointless arguments, remaining respectful to those people around us who’s company we may not particularly enjoy, remaining calm in difficult traffic situations where the tendency would be towards road rage.
I used to work with this one guy in Michigan. He was a good man, a former Marine like me, but I hated riding in the car with him. I don’t think I ever took a car ride with him in Detroit that did not involve the use of some very colorful language along with a lot of gesturing and the liberal use of the car horn.
To act on impulse or a sudden rush of emotion, just because we derive pleasure from a certain thing is a weak and often dangerous foundation to base our decisions and actions on.
Physics tells us that for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. It is the same for our decisions. For ever action we take, there is a consequence. When we disregard the consequences for the sake of self-gratification, we may find that the negative results far outweigh a moment's pleasure.
James tells us that:
Heavenly Wisdom is from Above
Heavenly Wisdom is from Above
Heavenly wisdom comes from God
17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.
Heavenly wisdom comes by prayer:
5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. 6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.
17 And I applied my heart to know wisdom and to know madness and folly. I perceived that this also is but a striving after wind.
Now that we know the source of each kind of wisdom, we should have no trouble in selecting the right one.
But if that is not enough, then consider how James describes the two kinds of wisdom.
In 3:14 James describes earthly wisdom as, “bitter jealousy and selfish ambition, false to the truth.”
This is earthly wisdom that prides itself in power and position and prestige.
It was this kind of wisdom that prompted Satan and his angels to rebel against God. This is the kind of wisdom that prompted the disciples to argue over who would be the greatest in the kingdom, and who would sit on the right hand of God.
Then James speaks of heavenly wisdom in verse 17.
17 But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere.
These sentiments are echoes by Paul in:
If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.
and also in speaking the truth in an attitude of love
Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ,
James says we should be gentle with each other, not harsh. When we have a disagreement with someone, gentle is usually not our “go to” move. We are more likely be harsh with those we disagree with.
And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth,
We should be willing to yield, not in matters of truth but in matters of opinion.
As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions.
And in matters of liberty:
So then let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding.
Do not, for the sake of food, destroy the work of God. Everything is indeed clean, but it is wrong for anyone to make another stumble by what he eats. It is good not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything that causes your brother to stumble.
James says we should be full of mercy. This means we are quick to forgive the offenses of others while remembering one’s own need for mercy.
For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.
James says in verse 13 that Godly wisdom produces “good fruits.”
This means we are to show our Godley wisdom by our conduct and understanding. This is the kind of wisdom that takes us beyond being a hearer to being a doer.
But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.
And Godly wisdom brings us to an understanding that our faith without works is dead.
For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead.
James tells us that we should show no partiality in verse 17 as he had amplified this principle in chapter 2.
My brothers, show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory. For if a man wearing a gold ring and fine clothing comes into your assembly, and a poor man in shabby clothing also comes in, and if you pay attention to the one who wears the fine clothing and say, “You sit here in a good place,” while you say to the poor man, “You stand over there,” or, “Sit down at my feet,” have you not then made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts? Listen, my beloved brothers, has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which he has promised to those who love him? But you have dishonored the poor man. Are not the rich the ones who oppress you, and the ones who drag you into court? Are they not the ones who blaspheme the honorable name by which you were called?
If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well. But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors. For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become guilty of all of it. For he who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not murder.” If you do not commit adultery but do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law. So speak and so act as those who are to be judged under the law of liberty. For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.
In verse 17 James is speaking of treating all fairly, on the same basis, without hypocrisy.
The root word for hypocrite is (an-oo-pok'-ree-tos) and it was originally used to mean an actor. That is a person who pretends to be someone else. How many people are there in the world that are actors? Not actors of the stage or film, but people who attempt to fool people into believing they are someone that they are not. Their whole life is an act, a show. But the identity of the person who has Godly wisdom shows in everything they do.
And heavenly wisdom produces peace instead of confusion and bears the fruit of righteousness.
Conclusion
Conclusion
Certainly, when we compare their origin, their nature and their fruits, the wisdom we want to choose is heavenly wisdom.
What kind of wisdom do you have today?
Those who have earthly wisdom boast of themselves and have envy in their hearts.
Those who have earthly wisdom show who they are in their conduct and attend to others with meekness.
What kind of wisdom do you want?
If earthly wisdom is what you desire, then no effort is necessary. Just do what the world tells you just do what feels right.
But if heavenly wisdom is that you desire, then you must be diligent to seek such wisdom from God, and demonstrate that such wisdom by your conduct
What kind of wisdom do you have in regard to the gospel of Christ?
Earthy wisdom has no response to the gospel, or if any, only that which is convenient
Heavenly wisdom receives the commands of the gospel joyfully and obediently.
The commands of the gospel can be summed up in a couple of verses:
And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.
And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Have you demonstrated heavenly wisdom?