Peace over Disorder | James 3:13-18

Introduction

Life is full of choices. Knowledge can inform us but to make right choices we need wisdom. Sometimes we make bad choices and its not for lack of wisdom but rather a blatant refusal to adhere to it. Monday of last week I was chatting with Daniel and out of nowhere, upon seeing something on his screen, said “Animals as Leaders is in Charlotte tonight”.

Now there are some facts you need to know. Daniel is not spontaneous. And while I used to be, neither am I really. Other facts: the show was in Charlotte. The show did not begin until 8 pm. Which can I just ask why? Other facts: Tuesday I needed to be in Asheville for work by 8 am. You do the math and the final fact you will see here is that will leave very little room for, oh I don’t know, sleep.

We had these facts. Did we act with wisdom? No, We denied reality for several hours and pretended like we were still young college students with no consequences. All joking aside it was an incredible show and that band is unbelievably talented. Even more so was just the chance to hang out with my best friend and just have solid time with him to and from the show.

As we get into our message today and look at James’ analysis of earthly wisdom, we see in a similar vain a sort of denial of reality. Though my story was in jest, James will show us a much more sobering reality that much of what the world considers wise only leads to disorder and worse.

But let’s back up for a moment.

I have to say, I love how the Spirit of God works and cares for us. Russell gave a great message from Jeremiah that just puts the proverbial ball on the t for us this morning. It’s a great springboard for getting back into our series on The Steadfast life. In Jeremiah, God questioned boasting and said let them boast in knowing me. In similar fashion James will ask this morning “Who is wise among you?” But it has been a while since we have been in James so to begin this morning I want to give a brief recap.

So if we recall, James was written to a specific audience and yet unlike other letters in the New Testament wherein specific things within the life of the church were addressed, James has a message for all of Christ’s followers. His message is potent and extremely practical. The aim of the letter is to challenge Christians to live up to the faith they claim.

The first week we opened this letter written to the scattered and suffering church. James set the tone for the entire book with the idea that as Christians, trials in life can be counted as joy because they lead to a steadfast life. We have spent each week since then looking at what a steadfast life looks like.

Week two we saw that a steadfast life trusts in God alone, that God is the constantly giving God who does not hold back wisdom from those who ask for it. Week three we learned the steadfast life rests in the goodness of God. On week four we finished out the first chapter of James by seeing the steadfast life is shaped by the word; that we should be slow to speak and quick to listen to God’s word.

We opened up chapter 2 on week 5 and saw that the steadfast life springs from and is marked by mercy; that knowing we have been shown immense mercy we should show it to all without partiality. On week 6 we saw that the steadfast life is a life of lived out faith. James really drives home in the latter part of chapter 2 that our claim to faith should have fruit and if it doesn’t, we have no reason to think we belong to God.

Finally on week 7 we began chapter 3 and saw that the steadfast life glorifies God with its words. Billy spoke on the power our words have. He reminded us that according to James 3:9-12 the words we say are a manifestation of what is in our hearts. We cannot bless God and curse others. In other words, our praises to God might as well bounce off the ceiling if we are going to turn around and bad mouth someone, especially brothers and sisters in Christ.

And that brings us to our text today. The context of week 7 is important for us to understand what is going on here. Remember James begins this chapter by saying “not many of you should teach”. This is a sobering truth but a good reminder to pray for your lead pastor. Pray for the preaching team of Coram Deo. Right now that is myself and Billy, but Lord willing it will grow. Pray for Billy. It is no easy task.

So James begins this chapter by challenging leaders in the church and aspiring leaders. He is echoing the sentiment we heard a couple weeks ago from Pastor Mark; He described the qualifications for elders in the church and drove home the point that yes these were specific instructions for leaders but also anyone claiming Christ. James will do the same thing throughout chapter 3.

His message is that we should take pause and not enter into leadership lightly. He challenged our words in the first part and as we wrap up the chapter today, James will challenge in each of us, our pride. He will puts this on display with an analysis on wisdom.

That leads us to our big idea today.

The Big Idea: The steadfast life is embodied by Godly wisdom

He begins with this question in verse 13, Who is wise among you? The main point for James original audience was that earthly wisdom leads to disorder, but Godly wisdom leads to peace.

In other words, James is saying, “You think you are wise? Well true wisdom only comes from God so lets see if the fruit of your wisdom lines up with the truth of God.”

So our outline, thanks to James, is very simple today. We will look at both measures of wisdom by the fruit they produce. First we will look at the fruit of worldly wisdom and finally the fruit of Godly wisdom.

Let’s begin in verse 14.

I. | The Fruit of worldly wisdom vs. 14-16

[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.

In these verses, James points out the fruits or characteristics of earthly wisdom. Jealousy, selfish ambition, pride and lying. This is not lying in the normal way we would think, but rather it’s a dishonesty with yourself. It’s almost a willful ignorance. This is the DNA of pride; boasting and being false to the truth. This is a person who won’t hear anything anyone has to say to them. He goes on to say, this ‘wisdom’ is earthly, unspiritual, and demonic. So James says, “if this is the fruit of your living, your ‘wisdom’ is not from God.” But this is important to hear and understand, because we often find ourselves face to face with the results of our “earthly wisdom” and we say to ourselves or to the watching world, “I am only human”. No, James says, this is far worse. It is unspiritual. It is demonic. It is anti-God. James will not let us take our sin lightly. So we need to examine our hearts and look for this demonic fruit and pray that God would eradicate it. Let’s walk through these.

First James brings to light bitter jealousy. This is the heart that not only refuses to rejoice with those who rejoice but also finds hatred in their hearts for those who are rejoicing. Let me make it as real as I can. Rachel and have been married for 13 years. 11 of those years were actively spent in the pain, uncertainty, and heart ache of infertility.

My longing to be a dad, my deep sorrow, my learning how to grieve, even lament at the reality of how much loss we experienced both with miscarriages and just time gone buy; all of this the bible says is ok. But that thing in my heart when I would find out dear friends were pregnant. What is that thing? What is this mechanism in my heart? I cannot simply call it hurt or being human. James says it is from Satan. It’s demonic. It’s bitter envy. Hear how C.S. Lewis puts it in The Screwtape Letters.

We must picture hell as a state where everyone is perpetually concerned about his own dignity and advancement, where everyone has a grievance, and where everyone lives with the deadly serious passions of envy, self-importance, and resentment. _C.S. Lewis, The Screwtape Letters

Next selfish ambition. As you go about your job or career path and see the way to the top, you might see that as wise. James says, don’t confuse being clever with being wise with wisdom from God.

<aside> 📓 According to the New York Times, in the summer of 1994, a Virginia state trooper, who was a member of the bomb squad, and his dog, Master Blaster, became local celebrities when they found bombs at malls in Hampton and Virginia Beach. That bit of celebrity evidently went to the state trooper’s head. A hidden camera later recorded him placing a bomb in a shed that he had been asked to search for explosives. He was arrested and later pled guilty to planting explosives at two malls, a courthouse, and a coliseum. He told investigators he had not intended to hurt anyone. The bombs—a cardboard tube filled with explosives, and pipes filled with gunpowder and nails—never exploded. He said he was simply trying to enhance his image.

Selfish ambition is one of the most powerful—and potentially destructive—motivations we can have. When we are in the grips of selfish ambition, we can rationalize almost anything.

Craig Brian Larson, 750 Engaging Illustrations for Preachers, Teachers & Writers (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 2002), 499.

</aside>

We should recall Paul’s words in Philippians.

Philippians 2:3–4 [3] Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. [4] Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. (ESV)

Do you think you are wise? If so what is your aim? As you serve the church, or as you serve in the community, are you serving out of a wellspring of mercy and grace or is your ambition for a good name driving you? Most of the time we don’t even catch it. For most of us our jealousy and selfish ambition is water and we are fish. Remember, the DNA of pride: boasting and being false to the truth. We put on a sort of willful ignorance. We don’t want to face the truth about our desires and motives, so it turns out our pride is actually just deep insecurity that we have built a shield around that is made out of boasting.

Let me speak very practically to what this looks like. Hey brother/sister I see this sin in you and the Lord would have you repent - This brother or sister has two choices in this moment: brash defensiveness and denial or a willingness to hear what may or may not be true. In other words, “you are wrong, how dare you say such a thing” or “Wow, I can’t see that but will you pray that God would soften my heart and open my eyes to it?”.

Which response would be yours? Mine is the first far more often than not. Can we recognize where that ‘wisdom’ comes from? It’s not God.

James finishes with a blanket statement to re-emphasize his point. He says in verse 16 where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. So one more un fun question. How often do you feel the chaos of life and think, “if everyone else would get there act together…” Friend, some things are external meaning, things do in fact happen to us. But let’s not be so quick to dismiss the fact that perhaps if there is disorder in our lives it is the result of our earthly decisions. It is a result of walking in our own made up wisdom and not that of God.

What about every vile practice? Well, when you are caught up in a habitual sin, how much time is spent coming up with all the excuses and reasons for getting there versus time just walking in the light and confessing your need for Jesus? Is there vile practice in your life?

Ask God to reveal to you how perhaps your bitter jealousy and selfish ambition lead you there.

So we have a pretty clear picture of earthly wisdom at this point.

Bitter Jealousy Selfish ambition Blind boasting Denying the truth Disorder vile practice.

What then is true wisdom? Here we arrive at our second point today. Look at verse 13, then verse 17-18.

II. | The Fruit of Godly wisdom vs. 13, 17-18

[13] Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom. [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. (ESV)

James has already made it clear through out this letter that ours is a faith that is lived out. In parallel to chapter 2:14; James there asserts that if you claim to have faith then there will be evidence. The same thing is happening here. If you claim to be wise, there will be evidence. Sam Allberry puts it like this:

Wisdom is something that can be shown and does not exist if it is not shown. It is seen—not primarily in words, but in deeds. It is someone’s conduct and how they live, rather than their brainpower and what they know, that shows they are wise. _Sam Allberry

So in case we hadn’t realized this already, wisdom, like our faith, is seen as it is lived out in community. And this is true whether our wisdom is that from above or below. This is a fundamental yet helpful distinction to make here as well; knowledge and wisdom are not the same. You can have all the knowledge in the world and still lack wisdom. You can lack the ability to act rightly upon that knowledge.

So just as we walked through the fruit of earthly wisdom, let’s walk through the fruit of Godly wisdom.

James says that first it is pure. The idea here is one have seen in James’ letter before in chapter 1 verse 27. Rather than being related to sexual purity, this is more along the idea of being blameless and above reproach. The wisdom of God is undefiled. So if your actions manifest in that way, you can be sure it is wisdom from God, not from within, that lead you there.

What James does for us next is quite helpful. He gives three fruits that act in contrast or opposition to earthly wisdom.

Peaceable ↔ Bitter Jealousy

After Godly wisdom is pure, it is peaceable. This is in contrast to bitter jealousy. So rather than being so consumed with envy. Rather than having the bitterness, the original language here defines it as acrid. If you smoke meat you are familiar with this word - it’s not good. Its a gross taste in the mouth. So rather than this demonic, acrid jealousy, James says that wisdom from above has the aroma of peace. It is peace- seeking. It seeks the wholeness of those around.

The voice inside pushing your actions. Is it the Holy Spirit? Well, do those actions seek the welfare and thriving, the flourishing of others? Or are those actions self serving? That leads to the next one.

Gentle ↔ Selfish ambition

Wisdom from above displays in gentleness. How we respond to brothers and sisters and how we respond to the outside world will be a direct result of the wisdom we are living out of. This gentleness is in contrast to the selfish ambition mentioned above. When we are filled with envy all of our ambition becomes selfish. When we are filled with the Spirit we are freed to serve others and seek their well being. This will display in gentleness.

This is the meekness James mentioned in verse 13. It shouldn’t be confused with passivity. Gentleness, meekness, and humility, this trinity of Godly wisdom as it were is anything but passive. Meekness in scripture often refers to a bold and strong person who displays this strength at just the right time with just the right amount. She understands that her sister may need correction but she doesn’t come with weapons to the table. Rather she comes motivated by love. This sister does not need to put on display the great strength she has because she is happy to put on display God as the ever strong one who has made her a daughter. So when she corrects her sister or her brother, she does so out of mercy not out of desire to be right.

John Calvin puts it like this:

He testifies that what he had hitherto said tends in no degree to do away with calm reproofs, but that those who wish to be physicians to heal vices ought not to be executioners. _ John Calvin

Do you want to see your brother or sister, do you want that not yet believer, do you want them to know God more and be closer to Him; or do you just want to prove them wrong? Wisdom from above will display in gentleness.

Open to Reason ↔ Boasting/willful ignorance/Denial

James finally contrasts the boastful denier of truth with a person who is open to reason, a person who is submissive. Godly wisdom speaks into our life scenarios like this: Maybe this person has come at me with poor wording, maybe they have been graceless in their approach. Maybe they are just flat wrong. I will submit myself to what the Spirit of God may be saying through them. I will be open to reason. I will be teachable. I don’t need to defend myself. Christ is my defense. If the hard thing is true about me, praise God for bringing it to light that He may put it to death in me! If it is not true, then who cares!? In the final analysis when we stand before the Lord, it is the blood of Christ alone that will cover me and get me through the gates, not the fact that I was proven innocent in that one argument that one time.

Are you proud? Are you open to reason? Here is a helpful measure: are you right now in this sermon, or any sermon for that matter, thinking of all the people who really need to hear this message?

Friend, I need to hear it. You need to hear it. It’s been said that Christians should be the least defensive people on earth. Because we have been shown grace upon grace.

What are your “off limits” areas of life? Here is a more pointed and direct question, is there an area of your life that multiple brothers and sisters have tried to speak into? What was the outcome of that?

Wisdom from above will be peaceable, gentle, and open to reason.

Finally James says it will be full of mercy and good fruits.

This should all begin to sound familiar by this point. James has shown us real faith and counterfeit faith, and in this passage he has shown us real wisdom, true wisdom from God, and counterfeit wisdom that is from satan himself. He says, you will know that the wisdom comes from above by how the person exudes mercy and bears fruit.

The steadfast life is embodied by Godly wisdom.

Conclusion

The Bible is not an instruction manual. It is not an advisory book. It is first and foremost good news so as we come near the end, I want to encourage us to avoid a couple of temptations. Firstly we must avoid thinking that James is giving us a pros and cons list of sorts and that we just need to pick the right list to be on the right side of eternity.

Secondly, we should avoid putting ourselves in either of these categories; either leading us to despair and self deprecation or to the very thing James is arguing against; boasting!

It is impossible for us to just look at the earthly wisdom list and try to be the opposite of it. We can do nothing apart from Him! In the same light we can’t just look at the Godly list and try to match it perfectly - that is legalism and we know from scripture and experience that it doesn’t work. We can’t do it. We can do nothing apart from Him. So we read James 3 and our hearts are directed back to James 1:5.

James 1:5 [5] If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. (ESV)

See, the person who has the indwelling Spirit of God should read verses 14-16 and recognize fruits of their past and maybe even present. They would agree that it is demonic yet in humility see it as a call to repent. This same person should read verses 17-18 and see perhaps fruits of their present, yet also hope for those fruits of the future that God would produce in them through Jesus. James’ words are meant to point us to Jesus.

See Jesus is God’s answer to the person who prays James 1:5. Look at 1 Corinthians 1:28-31

1 Corinthians 1:28–31 [28] God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, [29] so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. [30] And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, [31] so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.” (ESV)

See earlier we read in Paul’s letter to the Philippians - Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Hear the next verses in Philippians 2:5

Philippians 2:5–8 [5] Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, [6] who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, [7] but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. [8] And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. (ESV)

As we close this morning and get to our application questions I really want to drive this home. The steadfast life is embodied by Godly wisdom. So how do we live that way? We ask God for wisdom and He gives us Jesus.

We get it a little more each day. We grow in Godly wisdom, and then a trial will come along or an unforeseen circumstance will arise and reveal our weakness, then we will ask God again for wisdom. He will always give us Jesus. It is only in abiding in Christ that our wisdom grows. God will not make you more clever. He does not want disorder for you but peace so He gives us Jesus.

Perhaps you are here this morning or listing online and have not met Christ. Maybe you have been in and out of the church for years. Maybe you are jaded because you have been treated by those in the church in ways that line up with the “earthly wisdom” we spoke of earlier this morning. I confess dear one, there are times in my past and present that I would have bene that perpetrator of earthly wisdom. Can I just humbly point you to Jesus. Maybe as you see the shortfalls of the church you can look to Jesus as the one who doesn’t fall short. Jesus says in John 6:44

John 6:44 [44] No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day. (ESV)

So if that’s you today and you see the fruit of earthly wisdom. You see disorder and long for peace. You are exhausted by your selfish ambition and how empty it leaves you. You are tired of trying to take care of you and yours and you long for community and belonging. Hear Christ’s words! The Father is drawing you near. Listen to His voice and meet Jesus today.

Finally this morning before we get to the application questions I want to read our passage as paraphrased by Eugene Peterson in The Message. It is so helpful, hear this:

13-16 Do you want to be counted wise, to build a reputation for wisdom? Here’s what you do: Live well, live wisely, live humbly. It’s the way you live, not the way you talk, that counts. Mean-spirited ambition isn’t wisdom. Boasting that you are wise isn’t wisdom. Twisting the truth to make yourselves sound wise isn’t wisdom. It’s the furthest thing from wisdom—it’s animal cunning, devilish conniving. Whenever you’re trying to look better than others or get the better of others, things fall apart and everyone ends up at the others’ throats.

17–18 Real wisdom, God’s wisdom, begins with a holy life and is characterized by getting along with others. It is gentle and reasonable, overflowing with mercy and blessings, not hot one day and cold the next, not two-faced. You can develop a healthy, robust community that lives right with God and enjoy its results only if you do the hard work of getting along with each other, treating each other with dignity and honor.

Eugene H. Peterson, The Message: The Bible in Contemporary Language (Colorado Springs, CO: NavPress, 2005), Jas 3:13–18.

4 Application Questions

Do I think I am wise? Is my measure of wisdom earthly or heavenly? What are specific ways I need to repent of earthly wisdom fruits: bitter jealousy, selfish ambition, boasting in falsehood? Who do I need to make peace with? Who has tried to love me and or correct me, only to have met my defenses? Who do I need to be open to reason with? What specific steps of faith do I need to take, walking in God’s wisdom this week?