The Meekness of Wisdom
Notes
Transcript
Scripture reading: James 3:13-18
Scripture reading: James 3:13-18
Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom. But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.
Introduction
Last week our pastor led us through the first half of James 3, where James talks about taming our tongues. It’s small, but it is mighty. It’s the tip of the iceberg, and this morning James addresses the root of the problem, starting from chapter 3 verse 13 until verse 18.
Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom.
The word for understanding here means ‘to be learned.’
The word for conduct here in Greek can be translated as ‘mode of life.’
In today’s era of idols and influencers, a wise person is seen as someone who has a following. Their conduct doesn’t matter as much as their content. Their works are done in order to accumulate a larger following.
James says that true wisdom is different. True wisdom makes us not bigger, but smaller. Not louder, but softer. It makes us humble rather than proud.
James says that the wise person is one who works in the meekness of wisdom or the meekness that comes from wisdom.
But how can wisdom make us meek? Job shows us what that looks like.
For 40 chapters Job argued with his friends about his suffering and about the nature of God. But at the end, he met God.
I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear,
but now my eye sees you;
therefore I despise myself,
and repent in dust and ashes.”
Job’s attitude and tone have completely changed. Why? Because now he’s met God. He’s met the big fish. Many times we live as if we’re the big fish in a small pond, but true wisdom is knowing what’s actually the case. We are small fish before a big God.
That’s why the Bible says that wisdom begins with the fear of the Lord.
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,
and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.
But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice.
The first kind of wisdom makes us gentle and meek. The second kind makes us boastful and proud. He calls it earthly, unspiritual, and demonic.
Earthly because it’s motivated by the things of the world. It’s driven by bitter jealousy and selfishness, comparison and envy. The wise person is not an envious person.
Unspiritual or without spirit because it leads to death.
Demonic because it comes from the devil.
James previously talked about the faith of demons.
You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder!
It’s faith or knowledge that existed only in the head but not in the works or actions. And Satan tempted eve with a similar brand of wisdom. Wisdom to live on her own and stand on her own two feet apart from God, in spite of God’s presence.
So this false wisdom has its source in the devil. Its motivation is the earth, its consequence is chaos, and its conclusion is death.
What about the true wisdom from above?
But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.
James here uses descriptions found in the beautitudes in Matthew 5, where Jesus says ‘Blessed are the pure in heart. Blessed are the peacemakers. Blessed are the gentle, the poor in spirit, the merciful’ and so on.
And Jesus here isn’t describing a concept or an idea. He’s describing people. So to James, wisdom is first and foremost a personal characteristic. Or perhaps even a person. Someone who is from above. Someone pure, peaceable, gentle, reasonable, merciful, impartial, and sincere. So by using the beautitudes as his framework for wisdom, we can see that for James, true wisdom is Jesus Christ Himself.
So to become wise is to become one with Christ. To encounter Him, to attend to Him, to live in His presence.
That’s what it means to change our conduct and our mode of life, and to do good works in the meekness of wisdom.
So what must we do? We need to ask God for more wisdom. More encounter. More presence. More worship. More love.
This morning, through this passage in James, let us reflect on our motivations, our hearts, and our actions. Have we looked at others with an eye of comparison? Have we pursued our own selfish ambitions?
The Gospel we proclaim is Good News. But does my life look like good news?
We need to be like a Charlie Chaplin Gospel movie. If you cut the audio, it’s still about the Gospel.
Let us pray that we will live in the meekness of wisdom, that we will surrender ourselves to God, and harvest fruits of righteousness.