Two Kinds of Wisdom - Part 7
Recap from Last Time
Let’s turn to James 3:13
1) Three Examples
A. Dead Faith Vs. A Living Faith
A living faith produces obedience and good works
B. A Mouth that Curses Vs. A Mouth Which Blesses
A godly tongue is tamed and focuses on blessing
C. Demonic Wisdom Vs. Heavenly Wisdom
Godly wisdom is expressed by good conduct and meekness
2) True wisdom is behavioral, not theoretical
“Wisdom” is knowledge put into practice, and “understanding” refers to “being knowledgeable in a way that makes one effectual in the exercise of such knowledge.”
3) What is envy and how does it talk?
“If I can’t have it, I don’t want them to have it either” -Envy
4) Ungodly wisdom flows out of bitter envy and selfish ambition
If you are under the influence of these demonic feelings/thoughts, stop pretending you are wise and do not lie to yourself.
5) False Wisdom Test - James 3:15
A. Earthly: is it fleshly? - world
B. Sensual: is it feelings based? - flesh
C. Demonic: is it demonically inspired? - devil
Are any of these things shaping your worldview?
Where the world’s thinking about money, popularity, beauty, and leadership dominates, the result will be conflict. Where God’s values of submission, mercy, and unselfishness are present, the result will be peace.
6) Notice the presence of confusion - James 3:16
7) God’s Spirit moves ABOVE the chaos - Genesis 1:2
Just consider how worked up Christians can get about church music. Dangerous attitudes abound: selfish ambition (This is the music I like to sing), pride (The songs that I like are better than those of the younger or older generation), and envy (Why is that generation getting the songs they like to sing and ours is not?). When we find ourselves dispensing with love and humility and replacing them with anger and selfishness, we need to face reality: the problem is in us, not the “other guy.”
8) True Wisdom Test - James 3:17
1. Pure
2. Peace-loving
3. Gentle
Ceslas Spicq renders this word (epieikēs) as “friendly equilibrium” since the sense of the word in the New Testament moves through these ideas: goodness, courtesy, mildness, benevolence, generosity, and each in view of the need to render judgment with equity. The use of this Greek term in translating the Old Testament or in texts traditionally associated with the Old Testament suggests the act of judgment (Wis 12:18) and, in that judgment, mercy, moderation, clemency, and leniency (Dan 3:24; see also Acts 24:4).
This wise attribute of gentleness p 314 also evoked for Paul the example of Christ (2 Cor 10:1) and became a virtue of Christ to be imitated (Phil 4:5). Like James, Paul thought gentleness was among the top virtues for a teacher and leader in the church (1 Tim 3:3; Tit 3:2). The zealous and ambitious teacher no doubt remembers moments when his or her honor has been assaulted or called into question, and the “gentle” person will not only drop the moment from memory, learn from the situation, and strive to improve, but will also work to create peace in the community in a non-combative manner.
The latter attribute suggests one who “yields to persuasion” (Adamson, 155), not in the sense of gullibility, but as deferring to others when there are no serious moral or theological issues that threaten (Moo, 136; as F. F. Bruce said of Paul [Paul: Apostle of the Heart Set Free (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1977) 186]
4. Accommodating
5. Merciful/Fruitful
6. Impartial
7. Sincere
The result of God’s wisdom is that it creates peace within oneself and peaceful relationships with others because it promotes “consideration” of the needs of others and “submissiveness” to the leadership of others and is “full of mercy” for the faults of others.