Slow to Speak with Wisdom James 3:13-18

Heavenly Wisdom vs. Earthly Foolishness

Bible Passage: James 3:13-18

1. Heavenly Wisdom: Meekness (Patience with Faith)

James 3:13 “Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom.”

Wise σοφός sophos - wisdom, experiential knowledge learned through trials.

Good conduct - the Christian life putting into practice the things you hear.

Works done in meekness - not quantity, but attitude of humility and faith.

We should follow Christ’s example. Christ shows us meekness of wisdom in 2 Corinthians 8:9 “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich.”. And consider Philippians 2:7 “but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men.” We learn meekness from the fact that Jesus became poor to make us rich, He became a servant to set us free.

Paul’s example Philemon 18 “But if he has wronged you or owes anything, put that on my account.” We learn from Christ’s example

2. Heart Check: Envy and Ambition

James 3:14 “But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth.”

Approbation Lust says, “pay attention to me!” Being slow to speak means seek the benefit of others (1 Cor 10:24). Don’t promote yourself, let God promote you.

“People were created to be loved

Things were created to be used

The reason the world is in chaos

Is because things are being loved

And people are being used.”

“Don’t love things and use people to get them

Love people and use things to love them more”

Proverbs 25:25–28 “As cold water to a weary soul, So is good news from a far country. 26 A righteous man who falters before the wicked Is like a murky spring and a polluted well. 27 It is not good to eat much honey; So to seek one’s own glory is not glory. 28 Whoever has no rule over his own spirit Is like a city broken down, without walls.”

Don’t eat too much honey, seek your own. What you will get will not be glory. No servant is greater than his Master John 13:16.

3. Havoc: Wisdom from Below

James 3:15–16 “This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. 16 For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there.”

What well do you draw from? Poison water from a polluted well? Water that is contaminated and unclean. Jeremiah 2:13 “For My people have committed two evils: They have forsaken Me, the fountain of living waters, And hewn themselves cisterns—broken cisterns that can hold no water.” Anyone who travels in the backcountry knows not to drink from stagnant pools but rather from fresh running streams. One case of amoebic dysentery will convince you of this truth.

The wisdom from below is opposed to God’s thoughts. It is in active rebellion to common sense and good judgement. Isaiah 5:20 tells us, “Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; Who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!”

Proverbs warns us in chapter 8 verse 13, “The fear of the Lord is to hate evil; Pride and arrogance and the evil way And the perverse mouth I hate.” and Proverbs 4:24 says, “Put away from you a deceitful mouth, And put perverse lips far from you.”

4. Harmony: Wisdom from Above

James 3:17 “But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy.”

Pure - unadulterated, clean, free of contamination

Peaceable - seeks peace and harmony without compromise

Gentle - kindly seeks to bring people along without condemnation

Willing to yield - obedient to follow the truth

Merciful - James 2:13 “For judgment is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.” takes care of the consequence of sin

Good fruit - a faith that works, produces an effect.

Without partiality - James 2:1-13.

Without hypocrisy - Sincere James 3:14.

1 Corinthians 2:6–7 “However, we speak wisdom among those who are mature, yet not the wisdom of this age, nor of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. 7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory,”

Speak slowly and accurately from the wisdom that comes from God.

As cold water to a weary soul, So is good news from a far country Proverbs 25:25.

We should all seek the wisdom that comes from above. First in prayer, second through the Word of God, and finally through godly teaching from dedicated teachers.

2 Chronicles 9:23 “And all the kings of the earth sought the presence of Solomon to hear his wisdom, which God had put it in his heart.”

Paul was a diligent teacher who studied to show himself approved (2 Ti 2:14) and taught from every page of the sacred text. Acts 20:27 “For I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God.”

What will be your resource in trials? Will you patiently wait on the Spirit of God to illuminate truth from above or will you turn to the wisdom of the world? Every bit of advise you give or take should be filtered through the Word of God.

Proverbs 18:21 “Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit.”

5. Harvest: Reward of Peacemakers

James 3:18 “Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.”

Gk syntax “fruit of righteousness in peace is sown by peacemakers”

The righteousness is in peace - the result of peacemakers is peace. Words of peace spoken slowly, deliberately and in righteousness will be rewarded by peace in trials.

Remember the purpose of trials in our lives is to teach us patience. It’s hard to have patience without peace.

Psalm 133:1 “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is For brethren to dwell together in unity!”