Wisdom From Above (2)

Who is wise and understanding among you? Show by your good life that your works are done with gentleness born of wisdom. But if you have bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not be boastful and false to the truth. Such wisdom does not come down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, devilish. For where there is envy and selfish ambition, there will also be disorder and wickedness of every kind. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without a trace of partiality or hypocrisy. And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace for those who make peace.

Introduction

Wisdom. How to live to become best version of self —

Knows how to do the right thing, the right way, at the right time, in the right degree. (Aristotle) — for the benefit of the community around you.

Ecclesiastes 8:5 “Whoever keeps a command will know no evil thing, and the wise heart will know the proper time and the just way.”

A tree is known by its fruits. Real wisdom is known by the way it impacts the community for the good.

James’ churches are struggling with jealousy, ambition, conflict.

That should not be the case if the Christians are wise.

So there is a counterfeit so-called “wisdom” on the loose. A contagion.

Who among you is truly wise? take a closer look.

Ancient Problem - Wisdom from Below

There can be a false wisdom. It looks like wisdom, sounds like it…but it is not real.

Recalling Jesus:

Jesus’ parable:

When you give alms don’t sound the trumpet to be seen as generous by others. (Matt 6:1) They have their reward.

The pharisees who pray lengthy prayers, so people will admire their sanctity; (Matt 6:5)

who fast and put on a dour face, so that people will see how much they suffer for piety; (Matt 6:16)

Prayer, fasting, giving. All good things. Wise things to do. Shape us into who God wants us to be. Generous; compassionate; self-disciplined.

But there is a different agenda in place.

It is selfishness, ambition, envy. I am better than you.

I am more religious than you. I am more spiritual than you. I am more generous than you.

WORSE: Devilish.

Demonic. Satan — Selfish, ambitious, filled with envy. I will ascend. I will be like the most high. I am better than …better than other angels, better than humankind made in God’s image, better perhaps than God the Maker.

Resulted in war in heaven. Rupture and cast out.

Now Satan and the demon are the power from below.

Their “wisdom” is motivated by the desire to ascend.

This wisdom can infect the church. People are motivated by am I better than I really am, better than you. There are practicing a wisdom from below. A demonic agenda.

My be praying, reading scripture, serving…but with the self at the center. Entitled to deference, get their own way, others to revere them. It’s not about God. It is about me.

Just as their was discord in heaven. So there will be discord in the church.

you know the tree by the fruit. You know the demonic wisdom from the discord that it creates.

Current Problem - demonic wisdom

It is always a temptation to put ourselves at the center of things and to see everything from our own point of view and for our own agenda.

That can be a sign of just being immature.

But it can be something more. Become a wisdom from below. Our agenda is actually wrong.

Wisdom from below is about how can I get good at getting what I want.

Maybe we have been in the church a long time.

Therefore it is “my” church. Jealous of our power in it. That is “wisdom from below”. Because the church is God’s church.

Maybe we know our Bible well, or think we do.

Therefore the right to railroad over other people’s opinions, beliefs, or questions. Wisdom from below. I am better. Bitter.

Maybe we are on lots of teams.

Therefore I am entitled to have things my way. I am better. Ambitious.

Maybe we just have really strong feelings about a topic.

My passion about this means that I am better. Things disordered because all other topics give way to that one.

Is it good to be a life long member, to know our Bibles well, to serve, to be passionate. Yes, yes, yes, and yes.

where it goes wrong is the motivation.

My agenda. Desperate clawing up from below. To get higher THAN.

Known by the effects: unspiritual (like the competitive world around us), jealousy, ambition, disorder, bad practices. Then wisdom from below is operating.

in our church, in our workplace, in our families. There is a clawing upward.

Hinge

Good news: Another kind of wisdom. Real wisdom.

There is wisdom from above.

Ancient Solution

The wisdom from above, a very different character.

The wisdom from above is

pure. Not mixed with selfish agenda.

peaceable. Not given to conflict. Polarizing.

gentle. Not hurtful to others or embarrassing. Knows how to handle things that are delicate, like people and church.

Open to reason; not dominated by emotion.

full of mercy and good deeds.

Sounds humble.

Drawn from Old Testament images:

A city is saved by the poor wise man…but the fool tears it down.

Even more drawn from Jesus.

He is the wisdom of God. 1 Corinthians 1:30 “And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption,”

yet did not lord it over or seek to lift himself up. He came down.

Philippians 2:5–7 “Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.”

His teaching and example.

Matthew 11:29 “Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”

Matthew 5:39 “But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.”

Matthew 20:28 “even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.””

John 13:14 “If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet.”

James would have known the heavenliness of this wisdom acutely. He did not believe. Offered earthly wisdom to Jesus:

John 7:3–5 “So his brothers said to him, “Leave here and go to Judea, that your disciples also may see the works you are doing. For no one works in secret if he seeks to be known openly. If you do these things, show yourself to the world.” For not even his brothers believed in him.”

Vaunt yourself. get ahead. If you are greater be above.

Jesus said no. But went humble route. Crucifixion. Put into practice heavenly wisdom.

And THEREFORE God raised him up. And gave him the greatest name.

He did not claw his way up…he came down, and God graciously raised him…FOR OTHERS!

Could have left James behind.

Jesus APPEARED to James (1 Cor. 15:7). Even though exalted, came to lowly James.

learned that divine wisdom is profoundly gentle.

Did not break him, but drew him in closer.

James one of the first of the harvest.

A harvest of righteousness is sown for those who make peace. Jesus made peace with James, and many benefited.

Wisdom is not about getting ahead or being above, it is about coming toward and benefiting others.

Current Solution

Brokenness and strife in our world, in our workplace, our family, our church…strained relationship with each other and with God? Likely the wrong kind of wisdom is action.

We need heavenly wisdom.

peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy, impartial, sincere.

That means fighting our lower nature that wants to look out for #1. Even that phrase is wrong. I’m not #1. God is #1.

GOD, OTHERS, SELF.

Priority hierarchy puts life in order.

That was Jesus’ view, and it is one James commends to us.

Decide you want it. Ask for it. James 1:5 “If any of you is lacking in wisdom, ask God, who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly, and it will be given you…but be committed. Not wavering.”

GOD what do you want me to do in this?

Good conduct. Do what you know God wants you to do. Not seeking the praise of others or fearful of their criticism. Meekly, sincerely, doing what is right for God’s sake.

OTHERS. Ask that in different words in different settings, how can I be FOR you; Christ was for us. We seek to be FOR others.

Business - how can I make you shine?

Church - make YOUR ministry more effective.

Family - what YOU need from me right now.

And if you don’t do the same in return for me…okay, I was doing it for you.

Imagine Jesus washing feet. If the Son of God could wash feet…what prevent me?

Meeting. All the ideas going. In my imagination. What if I had to wash each of their feet? Well, I can certainly meet them at this table.

Marriage. Entrenched feelings, and bitterness. What if I had to wash his feet or her feet. Well, I can certainly meet them in this moment.

Lastly SELF. I can lower myself and wait and trust that God will raise me up when it is right. Later in this letter:

James 4:10 “Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.”

CONSIDER:

The demonic wisdom claws its way up, but will be cast down in the end.

heavenly wisdom graciously descends, and god will raise it up at the end

We want to be wise like Jesus, in his wisdom he suffered for others, God raised him up. And he raised up James. And us. So we can humble ourselves, suffering if need be, and God will raise us up and we can raise up others.

Conclusion

Who is wise among you? Jesus is wise among us. Let us in every way turn to him and learn wisdom.

Prayer of Intercession

[A time of silence follows each petition.]

God of wisdom, through the Word read and proclaimed, and through your Word incarnate, Jesus Christ, you give us the direction we need and show us that there is nowhere else to go but to you with our joys and our concerns.

We pray for our world that too often follows the advice of wickedness that leads to war, to violence, to conflict between ethnicities, genders, and parties, to fear.

We pray for the women in this world who, as payment for their devotion and love as capable wives, daughters, sisters, girlfriends, mothers, receive rejection, abuse, heartbreak, and hate.

We pray for our children who have been called the first in God’s heart and kingdom but are not welcomed, loved, heard, or spoken to.

We pray for the men, who seeking strength are labeled toxic, who struggle to provide for and protect their families are worn out, who feel alone and alienated.

We pray for relationships that are broken by conflicts and dispute, by murder and deceit, and that cannot find a way back to restoration and healing.

We believe in you, God of justice and mercy, and we ask, trusting in your power, to heal the wounded hearts, to restore the brokenness of the world, and to lead us to everlasting peace. Amen.

Origin.

Proverbs 1:7 “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.”

Proverbs 9:10 “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.”

Job 12:13 “With God are wisdom and strength; he has counsel and understanding.”

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