James 3:13-4:3,7-8 | Kathryn Alban

Intro:

—Recently I read a very interesting scripture verse that I had never really heard or maybe just not focused on. And so this whole week I was malling over this scripture, planning to preach on it this Sunday. But then as I was writing my sermon I just did not feel settled so I was like…let me go to the lectionary and see what scriptures were on the liturgical calendar for this Sunday.

After reading today’s scripture in James I was just blown away and knew for this Sunday God was taking me in a different direction than my original plan. Hopefully I get to preach on the scripture I had planned at a later time but for today I hope you all gain as much insight as I did as I read these verses in James 3.

Background

Before we dive into our scripture some background on the book of James:

This book of the bible was written by Jesus’ half brother (James).

James was one of the crucial leaders of the church during Difficult times in the christian history…pursecution, hardship, and famine were all realities of those living during this time.

James was known as a peacemaker till her was killed.

This book is a summary of wisdom for the christian church as a whole, James is not writing to one body of believers but to the Christian Church as a whole.

In James 3:13-4 James discusses the topic of godly wisdom, And just as all other words in the bible, these scriptures are very applicable to us today.

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.

The first thing James points out about wisdom is that if a person is truly wise…then this will be shown through their actions.

First, a word about wisdom. What is it? We must not confuse it with knowledge. Knowledge is information; wisdom is application. Knowledge is comprehending facts; wisdom is handling life. Knowledge is theoretical; wisdom is practical.

Roger Ellsworth

Our actions reflect what is in our hearts.

James says that the wise will act out of the Meekness of Wisdom:

What is the meekness of wisdom?

Willingness to not seek for ones self.

Biblical meekness is not weak or passive. But an active attitude that accepts our place compared to God’s.

In this understand meekness is strength that is shown through self-control.

James 3:14–15 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.

1. Here is what godly wisdom is NOT.

Wisdom that comes from God is NOT routed in what we can gain.

Our own desires.

What makes us comfortable.

In a commentary it put it this way: To boast about wisdom when one is displaying jealousy and selfish ambition is... to give lie to the truth that wisdom must be associated with humility. ... Worldy wisdom is unspiritual rather than spiritual. It has to do with that part of man ‘where human feeling and human reason reign supreme’.

This is so dangerous and is something that we can all get trapped in if we are not focused on God and His word.

And when we give way and live according to our human desires…we might try to put on the facade of wisdom but the result of ungodly (earthly wisdom is clear).

2. The Result of ungodly wisdom:

James 3:16 ESV

For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice.

I love the book of James because he lays it plan for us.

Ungodliness is routen in selfishness. The wisdom that comes from this world is centered around self…when this happens.

When people are more focused on loving themselves and putting themselves above everyone else (including God) the result is chaos.

Miguel and I watched a movie a little while back. I forget the name but it was about people stuck at a gas station and a part of this group of people were bad guys who had just robbed a bank and were trying not to get away with the money. Also at the gas station are a bunch of “inocent” people, one of which seemed like a good guy who started off just caring about his life not money. He was on his way traveling to visit his son...Well the movie ends with chas.... everyone loosing their life due to greed, and this greed also taking over the “good guy” who ends up taking the life of others for money and then dying himself. The last scene of the movie is this man walking away, with a bullet wound, a bag of money cletched in one hand with the dollars flying away in the wind, and with the other hand he pulls out a letter from his son to read before taking his last breathe.

This movie, although I really didn’t care for it because of how depressing it was. That last scene was the perfect picture of were selfishness leads. It leads to greed that ends up distroying everything of true value.

A lack of acting according to godly wisdom leads to Disorder and vile practices.

There is not peace in selfish ambition.

We are going to skip over verses 17 and 18 and read 4:1-3

James 4:1–3 ESV

What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions.

-I am sure that we can all think of a time that the selfish acts of someone led to disorder and division.

But I want to challenge us to check ourselves. Is there disorder in areas of your life? Where does this stem from? Could it be from our own self ambition? Is God included in your decision making? Are your actions led from Him?

I love verse 4:3

James 4:2-3 (ESV)

James 4:2–3 (ESV)

You do not have, because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions.

Are you in need of wisdom today. Ask God. But before you ask surrender your dreams, wants, desires to God.

He is not going to withhold His wisdom to those who ask with a sincere heart:

James 1:5 ESV

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.

What does this wisdom from God look like?

3. What is Godly Wisdom?

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.

Pure: This word for pure is hagnos meaning exciting reverence, clean

That is beautiful. wisdom is being reverent to God. Recognizing our position to HIs. Knowing that we do not understand and cannot understand everything. But God, the creator of the universe does.

Then Peaceable:

Unlike earlthy wisdom that is full of selfish ambition and disorder. Wisdom that comes from God is full of peace. If we are acting in godly wisdom, even if the world is going crazy we will still have a sense of peace, you are going to feel good about your actions.

How many of you after exercising or eating a health meal have through…Man I really shouldn’t have done that. Man I really shouldn’t have gone on that walk or eaten those greenbeans.

No, right. We feel good about making wise decisions that benefit us.

Yet, on the other hand. How many of you have every felt that yuckie feeling of regret after eating way too many cookies (cookies are my weekness).

The same is true in our spiritual walk. Acting out of God’s will brings an unsettled and yuckie feeling. It leaves us without peace.

—Now if you know you are acting against the word of God and do not have that unsettled, yuckie feeling in your spirit. Then there is a heart problem which needs to be taken to God and checked by the Holy spirit.

But when we are using the wisdom given to us by God you will notice peace and stability.

James 4:7 ESV

Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

James 4:8 (ESV)

Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you.

All that I am, all I can be, All that I have, all that is me. Accept and use Lord, as you would choose Lord, right now today.