(James 012) Two Kinds of Wisdom: Godly Wisdom vs Earthly Wisdom

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.

James has been laying out tests of true or genuine faith.

There seems to be unrest and bickering going on in the churches James is writing to.

How do you walk through trials.

Do you have dynamic or active faith?

Can you control your tongue?

Do you exercise wisdom?

Wisdom is not simply knowledge.

Wisdom is how we apply knowledge.

You and I are living in what’s commonly referred to as the Information Age.

Our accumulated knowledge until 1900 doubled roughly every century.

By the end of World War 2, knowledge was doubling at the rate of every 25 years.

Now knowledge doubles every 13 months.

In 2010 Eric Schmidt (former CEO of Google) explained this explosion in information this way: “Every 2 days now we create as much information as we did from the dawn of civilization until 2003.”

“Our generation possesses more data about the universe and human personality than all previous generations put together. High school graduates today have ben exposed to more information about the world than Plato, Aristotle, Spinoza or Benjamin Franklin. In terms of facts alone, neither Moses nor Paul could pass a college entrance exam today. Yet by everyone’s standards, even with all our knowledge, society today is people with a bumper crop of brilliant failures. Men and women educated to earn a living often don’t know anything about handling life itself. Alumni from noted universities have mastered information about a narrow slice of life, but couldn’t make it out of the first grade when it comes to living successfully with family and friends. Let’s face it, knowledge is not enough to meet life’s problems. We need wisdom, the ability to handle life with skill.” - Haddon Robinson

1. Earthly Wisdom (vs. 14-16)

James 3:14–16 ESV

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.

1. Earthly Wisdom (vs. 14-16)

(1)A. Characteristics of earthly wisdom.

i. Bitter jealousy

Holding bitter jealousy close.

Rather than being happy for someone you are envious of them.

Jealousy comes from a mindset that thinks we deserve certain things.

The reality is we don’t deserve anything.

Whatever we get is by God’s grace.

ii. Selfish ambition

Nobody else matters.

It is all about me and what I want.

It doesn’t matter who I have to inconvenience to get it.

iii. Boasting

Worldly wisdom wants others to be impressed by them and impressed with their accomplishments.

Look how different this is than marked by meekness and humility.

1 Corinthians 8:1 ESV

Now concerning food offered to idols: we know that “all of us possess knowledge.” This “knowledge” puffs up, but love builds up.

iv. Denying truth

Earthly wisdom doesn’t care about what’s true.

It cares about self.

So it changes truth to fit a desired lifestyle.

It demands I get what I want.

It doesn’t matter if I’m right or wrong.

It doesn’t matter what it does to others.

It would make sense that worldly wisdom would deny the truth to keep people from the truth...

James 1:18 ESV

Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.

(1)B. The reality of earthly wisdom.

James 3:15 ESV

This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic.

i. Earthly wisdom isshort sighted.

This wisdom is characterized by worldly wisdom.

Think about how much we focus on this life.

We are thinking about our job/career.

A promotion.

Our kids school/job/future.

Our retirement.

Current events.

Politics.

We become consumed by this world.

We can then easily buy into their wisdom.

1 John 2:17 ESV

And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.

i. Earthly wisdom isshort sighted.

A wisdom that is driven by a temporary mindset.

These characteristics prove that.

ii. Earthly wisdom is unspiritual.

Meaning of lower or bestial nature.

Sensual.

Literally: animal like

Wisdom that is controlled by the impulses and sinful nature of the heart.

Jeremiah 17:9 ESV

The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?

ii. Earthly wisdom is unspiritual.

This means we make decisions that aren’t base on truth.

They are based on how we feel in that moment.

They are based on the baggage of our past - not who we are NOW in Christ.

This wisdom takes NO biblical thinking!

Romans 8:7 ESV

For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot.

ii. Earthly wisdom is unspiritual.

iii. Earthly wisdom is demonic.

It might seem like James is taking this too far.

We tend to undersell our sin.

We overlook the seriousness of our sin.

It is time we stop fooling ourselves.

We need to quit buying into the world’s philosophies.

James is telling us that we are following the wisdom of the world.

A system run by Satan and his Demons.

That the root of this wisdom is Satan himself.

2 Corinthians 11:14 ESV

And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.

iii. Earthly wisdom is demonic.

We are buying into the demonic and sinful lies the world’s wisdom sells us.

We must know where to look for truth.

Where do you go when looking for wisdom?

The world or the church?

Your unsaved friends or trusted Godly Christians.

(1)C. Consequences of following earthly wisdom

James uses broad terms...

i. Disorder

When you promote self only it causes disorder.

Instability… a state of confusion.

Disorder with coworkers.

Disorder with family.

Lawsuits

Broken marriages.

Kids who never live in a full family unit.

Right considered wrong and wrong considered right.

1 Corinthians 14:33 ESV

For God is not a God of confusion but of peace. As in all the churches of the saints,

i. Disorder

ii. Every evil practice

Absolutely nothing good comes from worldly wisdom.

Every good gift comes from above.

2. Godly Wisdom. (vs. 17-18)

James 3:17–18 ESV

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.

2. Godly Wisdom. (vs. 17-18)

(2)A. Characteristics of Godly wisdom

i. pure

1 John 3:3 ESV

And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure.

i. pure

purity is the most important and polar opposite of worldly wisdom.

Someone with pure motives.

Blameless in front of others.

No ulterior motives.

They can be trusted.

Their advice can be trusted.

Rather than their own interest, they have your’s and God’s interest in mind.

ii. peaceable

In contrast to chaos caused by worldly wisdom Godly wisdom loves and seeks out peace.

Translated “peace-loving”

There are a lot of Christians who are not peace-loving.

Matthew 5:9 ESV

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.

ii. peaceable

iii. gentle

Being courteous. Giving courtesy.

Instead of being harsh you respond with patience.

Gentleness and meekness are often seen as a mark of weakness.

2 Timothy 2:23–26 ESV

Have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant controversies; you know that they breed quarrels. 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, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will.

iii. gentle

When the Bible speaks of gentleness or meekness it is speaking of power under control.

iv. Open to reason

They are willing to hear another side.

They are willing to consider what someone else is thinking.

Also translated: submissive.

1 Corinthians 9:19 ESV

For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them.

iv. Open to reason

The idea is to be easily persuaded.

Not gullible or wavering from core doctrine.

But willing to defer to others for the sake of peace when you can.

Pastor Tom would ask: Is that a hill that’s worth dying on?

Ask yourself that with your brothers and sisters.

Ask yourself that with your unsaved friends.

Is the a hill that is worth destroying this friendship over?

Godly wisdom knows when to fight and when to put aside self.

v. Full of mercy

Knowing someone may deserve judgement but you offer mercy.

We all deserve God’s judgment but he gave us mercy!

Ephesians 2:4 ESV

But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us,

v. Full of mercy

vi. Full of good fruit

Exceptionally obvious to others that your life is producing good fruit.

Godly wisdom naturally leads to good fruit.

Psalm 1:1–3 ESV

Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.

vi. Full of good fruit

Not compartmentalized to Sundays.

Not bound up in the way you serve in church.

Pouring out in your entire life.

vii. Impartial

Not playing favorites.

Social status doesn’t matter.

Race doesn’t matter.

viii. Sincere

You really are who people think you are.

Not a hypocrite.

Not wearing a mask.

It doesn’t mean you are perfect but you don’t hide your mess.

(2)B. Benefits of following Godly wisdom.

i. Peace

ii. Righteousness

A harvest of righteousness sown in peace by those who make peace. (vs 18)

The seeds are sown patiently.

This is somewhat hard for us to translate into an english sentence.

The point is the fruit of righteousness and peace is doesn’t happen by accident.

It doesn’t happen in our church.

It doesn’t happen in our homes.

It doesn’t happen in our lives.

Without carefully planting the right seeds.

Galatians 6:9 ESV

And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.

ii. Righteousness

3. True wisdom isn’t simply about knowledge. (vs. 13)

James 3:13 ESV

Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom.

3. True wisdom isn’t simply about knowledge. (vs. 13)

What does good conduct and meekness have to do with wisdom?

We tend to view the wise as those who have a degrees.

Those who have the most biblical knowledge.

James is saying it isn’t about the knowledge.

It is how you apply the knowledge you have.

Just as he said show me your faith by your works

He is saying show me your wisdom by your life.

Do you want to identify those who are wise, or do you want to be known as wise?

Few are actually wise.

The ones who are wise SHOW IT.

They don’t have to SAY it… others SEE it.

They see it in the lifestyle of the wise person.

They show it by their meekness and humility of the wise person.

Meekness is the idea of not being overly impressed by your own importance.

Proverbs 11:2 ESV

When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with the humble is wisdom.

3. True wisdom isn’t simply about knowledge. (vs. 13)

I believe our church has a wealth of deep spiritual teaching.

Pastor Mike

Our Sunday School teachers

Those who lead Wednesday nights.

We get spoiled.

What are you doing with all this knowledge you are accumulating?

Questions for the week:

Is my life producing the fruit of worldly wisdom or Godly wisdom?

Godly wisdom requires effort and intentionality. Am I being intentional in everything I say and do?