A Time for Wisdom
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James 3:13-18
James 3:13-18
As we continue in the letter of James we will be reading James 3:13-18 for our text today. The title I would put with this section today is A Time For Wisdom.
In the beginning of this chapter James talks about the tongue and how it is impossible for us to control our tongue. We must know that the key to right talk is right thought. It is not intelligence that helps us to hold our tongues. We can have all of the knowledge in the world and still be harmful with a tongue that is set on fire from hell.
It is only through the power of the Holy Spirit , at work in the life of the believer, that their tongue may be brought to submission. It is an act of God in our lives and an act of us seeking after the wisdom of God in our lives. Wisdom, that we receive from God, is what allows the believer to respond and be characterized by humility, grace, and peace in the words that are spoken by their tongues.
Wisdom is something that is very important to the Jewish people. I think of imagery from the old musical Fiddler on the Roof. Tevye is singing the song relaying all that he would do if he were rich and the music gets soft and sentimental and the lyrics say:
If I were rich, I'd have the time that I lack to sit in the synagogue and pray
And maybe have a seat by the Eastern wall
And I'd discuss the holy books with the learned men, several hours every day
And that would be the sweetest thing of all
The pursuit of not just knowledge but the wisdom of what to do with that knowledge was something that was highly valued. The elders of the Jewish people didn’t just sit and repeat things they had learned. They discussed the knowledge among themselves, they spoke of how it should apply to their lives, they used their knowledge to grow wisdom in each other and share that wisdom with the community around them.
We must understand the difference between knowledge and wisdom. I can have all of the knowledge in the world on a subject, but if I don’t have the wisdom to know how to adequately apply the knowledge then all of the knowledge I have is worthless. We are to seek after wisdom and when we lack it we are to ask God for it. We are told by the wisest man in all of history, the importance of wisdom and the effect it will have on out lives in Proverbs:
Proverbs 4:5–8 “5 Get wisdom; get insight; do not forget, and do not turn away from the words of my mouth. 6 Do not forsake her, and she will keep you; love her, and she will guard you. 7 The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom, and whatever you get, get insight. 8 Prize her highly, and she will exalt you; she will honor you if you embrace her.”
We are to ask God for Wisdom and to treasure it when we receive it! Proverbs tells us that wisdom is a prize to be highly sought after and kept and that if we embrace this wisdom then that wisdom will bring honor into our lives.
James is addressing issues within the church. That some people are trying to teach but they are doing so with the wrong motives and the wrong reasons behind it. They are not desiring to teach because of a passion and zeal for the things of God, but they are desiring to do so in order that people might see them and praise them.
Some, in the church, are using their words and causing division and strife among the believers. They are using a tongue from hell to destroy the body of believers that God has established.
James is reminding that their is power in the tongue and that there must be wisdom in our speech. We must use wisdom in the things that we teach, the words we say to others, the way we allow our speech to be used. James in this section distinguishes between false wisdom of this world that comes from hell itself, and true wisdom which only comes from God through His Holy Spirit.
James is continuing in this next section to exhort the people that is is not simply enough to stand before people with words to say. This is not how you teach, you don’t simply say words to say words, and you’re doing a disservice to the people of God if you teach in this way. You must have something to actually say! Wisdom allows us to take the knowledge we have studied and gained and put it together to relate the truths of God’s Word to our daily life. Too often we hear people say that the Word of God is no longer relevant to their lives and they believe this due to a lack of wisdom being spoken into their lives. They are being fed knowledge but they are not being taught how that knowledge applies to grow them closer to God.
The Word of God is relevant in every aspect we go through in our lives but too often we may hear good things but those teaching them fail to relate how we are to apply them to our lives. James is contrasting true and false wisdom in this section. He is pointing out where false wisdom comes from and what it looks like. He is also giving traits and characteristics to be looked for in true wisdom. What are the signs that something is true? What are the fruits we should be looking for?
We ask God for Wisdom, but we also must be able to recognize false wisdom, from true wisdom. We can say we must recognize and distinguish wisdom that is not of God, from the wisdom that is given to us by God. One source of wisdom will destroy us and those around us, while the other source of wisdom will build and edify to accomplish the work of God and His will for our lives and those who are around us.
This is the Word of our Sovereign God to His people:
James 3:13–18 (ESV)
13Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom.
14But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth.
15This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic.
16For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice.
17But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere.
18And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.
This is the Word of the Lord. Amen.
James gives us 3 “contrasts” of wisdom to look at in these 5 verses. 3 ways in which we distinguish true wisdom from false wisdom.
Contrast in Origins (James 3:15,17a)
Contrast in Operations (James 3:13-14, 17)
Contrast in Outcomes (James 3:16, 18)
Contrast in Origins (James 3:15,17a)
James begins with contrasting the source or origin of where the two types of wisdom are found. There is a true, or heavenly, wisdom that comes from God, at work in the life of the believer, through the power of the Holy Spirit, and there is a false wisdom that is man-made. This false wisdom does not come from God and is even related here to coming from hell itself.
The Bible Exposition Commentary Chapter Eight: Where to Get Wisdom (James 3:13–18)
Whatever does not come from God is destined to fail, no matter how successful it may seem at the time.
If the origin or source of anything is not from God, it may seem like it is working, it may seem like a success, but eventually it will without doubt fail. Whatever comes from God will always fulfill and complete exactly what God ordained for it to do. I was speaking with one of my pastors this week and was talking about something I brought up in the previous sermon. I can study and put in all the work that I humanly can into a sermon and if it is all coming from me then it will fail. The beauty of God’s grace is if it is God’s Word being spoken, the Bible taught whole and complete, it will go forth and do exactly what God wanted it to do despite my best failures. God’s Will cannot and will not be thwarted by man, but will always be accomplished.
This is why Romans 8:28 tells us:
28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.
Not that all things work for our purpose but that all things work for God’s purpose. If God is in it, and brings it forth, He will see it to completion, and it will accomplish exactly what He meant it to accomplish.
We see example after example in the Bible of mans wisdom and the wisdom of this world failing. Whether its in the story of the tower of Babel in Genesis 11, or in Abraham going to Egypt during the famine in Canaan, and saying only that his wife was his sister, allowing her to be taken by pharaoh in Genesis 12. When David went to fight Goliath and King Saul thought it wise to put his own heavy armor on David, but David knew God had a different plan. The disciples urged Jesus to dismiss the masses of people that had followed Him in order that they might find food because the disciples couldn’t feed them, but Jesus had other plans and fed the 5000 with 5 loaves of bread and two fish.
Time and time again we see the wisdom of this world, at odds with the wisdom of God, because the wisdom of this world seeks to usurp the power of God and to make men Gods to themselves. This is why James tells us the source of this false or wordly wisdom is earthly, sensual, and devilish. Paul writes in Ephesians that there are three enemies that the believer has.
1 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins 2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— 3 among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.
The enemies of the believer are the world, the flesh, and the devil. James says these are the sources of false wisdom as well. The world has plenty of knowledge, but their response in how they apply that knowledge, ignores the creator and gives a false wisdom. It is a denial of God Himself and the Bible tells us that:
1 The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.”
They are corrupt, they do abominable deeds;
there is none who does good.
The one who denies God and denies the wisdom of God, is a fool. The world may have the knowledge of God but they lack the wisdom to actually follow God. In the worlds false wisdom they reject the very Gospel that can save. Paul writes:
18 For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
The very Gospel message is seen as foolishness in the eyes of the wisdom of the world.
The Bible Exposition Commentary Chapter Eight: Where to Get Wisdom (James 3:13–18)
Man’s wisdom comes from reason, while God’s wisdom comes from revelation. Man’s worldly wisdom will come to nothing (
This false wisdom is not just earthly but it is sensual, or unspiritual. It is the opposite of spiritual. The sensual, unspiritual nature of fallen man is always going to be contrary and at odds with the spiritual, heavenly nature of the redeemed. James doesn’t stop with the contrast of this false wisdom being earthly, and unspiritual, but he tells us it is devilish or demonic. This false wisdom literally finds its origins in the doctrine of demons. From the beginning in the garden when Eve is deceived by the serpent questioning, “did God really say” and continuing throughout time and history, there is a false wisdom, that comes from satan, at work fighting against the true wisdom that comes from God. Paul writes in:
18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. 19 For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. 20 For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. 21 For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Claiming to be wise, they became fools, 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things.
24 Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, 25 because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.
Men exchanged the true wisdom from God for the false lie from the devil, and they became fools worshipping self over their creator. This false wisdom glorifies yourself, and does not glorify God. It is one of the most damaging and demonic phrases of history that I need to follow my heart, and I need to take care of myself. We as a society focus on us, us, us, and we place ourselves in a position of worship, whether we realize it or not, above God! The Bible tells us our heart are deceitful and wicked. The true wisdom from God tells us to follow His commands and to die to our own selfish wants and desires. To not follow our own hearts but to pray for God to give us new hearts that follow Him. The false wisdom, the demonic doctrine, says that we have to make sure we worry about ourselves above all else, but the true wisdom from God says true religion is to look after the widows and orphans. To focus on others before we focus on ourselves.
The true wisdom from God, tells us there is nothing we can ever think, or do, to earn the grace that is freely given to us by the Father, but the false wisdom, the demonic doctrine, tells us we must continually work to earn our salvation and that we can never obtain it. The false wisdom of this world and of hell tells us to glorify ourselves, to put the effort and decision on ourselves for our salvation and if we do well then we will be the ones that obtain it. While the true wisdom from God our Father says that we are to glorify Him in all and our salvation is a free gift of grace, in order that God is glorified.
The Westminster Catechism in the very first question asks what is the chief purpose of man? What is the reason we are here on this earth. False wisdom might give a long list of accomplishments we are to try for, a long list of do’s and don’s by which we must live our lives and hope we are good enough. True Godly wisdom in found in the answer to this question, that man’s chief purpose, the only end of man, is to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever.
Our purpose, the true wisdom that God gives us is to know that in all things we glorify Him and in glorifying Him we find rest and enjoyment. The pressure is not on us. The results are not on us and our efforts. We are not to be glorified. It is all in the work of the Father and He is to be glorified above all.
The believer finds their wisdom in:
Jesus Colossians 2:3
3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
The Word of God 2 Timothy 3:15
15 and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.
Prayer James 1:5
5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.
The Holy Spirit Ephesians 1:17
17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him,
We find true, Godly wisdom through Jesus, The Word of God, Prayer, and the Holy Spirit.
Contrast in Operations (James 3:13-14, 17)
James also points out that there is not only a contrast in the origin of where false and true wisdom come, but there is a contrast in how false wisdom operates as opposed to how true wisdom operates. What are the different ways in which we see false wisdom operate?
Envy - false wisdom is focused on self and your own ambitions over others. The world says to promote yourself, glorify yourself, do good deeds to be seen by other people so that you look better. We must always be on the lookout that our motive are correct. It is very easy to fall into the trap to seek men’s praise and approval and to be glorified among others rather than seeking the approval of God and to glorify God.
Do we rejoice with our brothers and sisters when they succeed in life are do we find ourselves envious of their success? If our zeal and desire for God to be glorified and the Gospel shared or for us to be glorified and praise given to our efforts?
Strife - the word for strife can be translated as “party spirit.” It was a political term used within Greek for someone that would go out seeking votes. It is a wisdom that is self seeking and seeks after the approval of men. It seeks after getting others to focus their attention on you and make sure people are on your side. It takes the focus off of the Church body as a whole functioning body of Christ, and puts the focus on self. Paul warns in his letter to the Philippians:
3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.
Boasting - False wisdom and pride loves to boast in self accomplishments. False wisdom turns the glory for what you have done from God and focuses the glory on self. When we are truly seeking after the true wisdom of God there is a humility and submission to God in how we act and we will focus all glory on God and away from ourselves. We don’t fall into the trap of comparing ourselves with each other but we keep our focus on striving every day to be more like Christ and focus on Him alone.
Deceit -
The Bible Exposition Commentary Chapter Eight: Where to Get Wisdom (James 3:13–18)
The sequence is not difficult to understand. First, there is selfish ambition that leads to party spirit and rivalry. In order to “win the election” we must resort to boasting; and boasting usually involves lies!
5 Therefore do not pronounce judgment before the time, before the Lord comes, who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. Then each one will receive his commendation from God.
By lying we only lye to ourselves and those around us. God always knows what is truly in our hearts and He knows our motives and our purpose behind our actions. God always knows the truth of our lives and God will always bring the truth to light in His time and way. We can work to deceive ourselves and others all we want, but we will never be able to keep it up. False wisdom says to boast and lie about what we have done, to lie about the sins we have committed, to lie about the hurt and pain we may have caused and to deceive ourselves even into thinking it never happened. True wisdom tells us to confess our sins to Christ and He will forgive our sins.
The evidences of true wisdom are outlined in the fruits of the spirit in Galatians. The work of the Holy Spirit, in the life of the believer, will produce fruit, and these fruits are evidence of true spiritual wisdom in our lives. They are evidence of what God is continually doing to sanctify us and make us more like Christ.
Meekness - I will remind you that meekness is not weakness. Many think when they hear meekness of someone who is timid or shy but that is not the case at all. Meekness is knowing the power you have and controlling it properly. The Greek word for meekness reflected a horse that was no longer wild but had been broken so that his power was now under control. The power was no longer not good for any purpose but had now been harnessed to be beneficial to those around it. The Christian that exercises true wisdom knows the power they have and through the grace of God harnesses that power to be used for the good of the Church. Meekness and Wisdom go hand in hand, Meekness is the right use of power, while wisdom is the right use of knowledge. The true believer will show in their daily life that they are a follower of Christ in both their attitude and their actions.
Purity - God’s wisdom, true wisdom, leads to purity in the life of the believer. God is holy so the wisdom He gives must be pure and without defilement. The false wisdom of man leads to sin and destruction, but the pure wisdom of God leads to life everlasting.
Peace - While the wisdom of men leads to fighting and wars, God’s wisdom will always lead to peace. This peace is based on the holiness of God and not compromising what God has said. This is a peace that the believer can hold to, even while experiencing persecution and trials, that God is with us and He carries us through every circumstance to accomplish His will and for out good. A peace in trusting in the eternal goodness of our loving Father, that no matter what comes He is in control, and He is Good!
Gentleness - That we are gentle but not weak. We do not seek to stir up trouble or start fights, we respond to painful treatment with grace and moderation. We don’t retaliate in our own anger, whether it is justified or not, but we hold to the truth, we stand for the truth.
Compliance - God’s wisdom will work on us to soften our hearts towards others, to be willing to give grace just as God has given us grace and extended mercy. A false wisdom will make a person hard and stubborn. The true wisdom will not compromise truth, but they are willing to listen to different opinions from their own, and hear all sides. They are open to obey whatever God reveals, even if they may have had other ideas.
Mercy -
36 Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.
We are told to show mercy and be full of mercy even as God was and is merciful to us. Mercy means we care for others without any thought of repayment. We are to be full of mercy. This means that we are to be controlled by mercy. How often do we fail to show mercy to others over even the smallest inconvenience in our lives. True, Godly wisdom, leads us to be merciful even as God is merciful. When God has paid such a large, unpayable debt for us, how can we hold a miniscule debt over hurt feelings or misunderstandings over our brothers and sisters. If God has been merciful to us in so much how can we not show mercy in so little?
Good Fruits - People who are faithful to God and His wisdom will be fruitful in their lives. The wisdom of God fills our lives to overflowing with the glory of God at work in our hearts, minds, and souls. While we are never saved by our good works, the natural outflow of the changed heart is reflected in the works that are done to glorify God in the life of the believer.
Decisiveness - True Godly wisdom allows us to stand firm on the truth of God’s Word to us. If we are leaning on the wisdom of the world we can be moved back and forth, from point to point, until we don’t even know why we believe what we believer, but when we stand on the solid, unchangeable truth, found in God’s Word we are given strength from God to stand firm on the firm foundation of Jesus Christ.
Sincerity - When man’s wisdom is at work there may be insincerity. The word hypocrite, translated from the greek, means “one who wears a mask, an actor.” Mans wisdom tells us to mask our true purpose, to be actors and not be able to tell the truth in love to those around us. True wisdom tells us
15 Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ,
Because we love and are filled with truth from God we speak the truth to those we come in contact with, but we do so in love. Not for reasons to bring hurt or destruction, but to sincerely care for the person we are speaking with.
Contrast in Outcomes (James 3:16, 18)
The final contrast James deals with between true and false wisdom is the outcome of that wisdom.
The Bible Exposition Commentary Chapter Eight: Where to Get Wisdom (James 3:13–18)
Origin determines outcome. Worldly wisdom will produce worldly results; spiritual wisdom will give spiritual results.
We have seen that the results of world wisdom, or demonic false wisdom is always evil. The results of false wisdom turn focus on self and your own sin and away from God and His mercy and grace. The ministry that is built on false wisdom produces confusion and evil in the lives and communities on which it is built. It may appear successful for a time in the eyes of the world, but it will eventually fail and be destroyed in judgment.
This is why we must understand what true Godly wisdom is. We must pray and seek after the wisdom of God in our churches and our lives. We must recognize and reject the false wisdom that comes from Hell. This false wisdom seeks to destroy the believer and destroy the Church so it cannot function.
We are told that whatever seeds we plant that is what we will harvest. We don’t plant okra seeds and expect to get a crop of potatoes. In the same way we don’t plant seeds of strife, and gossip, and hate and expect to harvest righteousness. No, we obey and seek after God’s wisdom, and in doing this we will reap righteousness, and God will use this to continue to sanctify us. God will use this to make us more in the image of His Son in everything we say and do.
The Bible Exposition Commentary Chapter Eight: Where to Get Wisdom (James 3:13–18)
What we are is what we live, and what we live is what we sow. What we sow determines what we reap. If we live in God’s wisdom, we sow righteousness and peace, and we reap God’s blessing. If we live in man’s worldly wisdom, we sow sin and war, and we reap “confusion and every evil work.”
It is a serious thing to be a troublemaker in God’s family. One of the sins that God hates is that of sowing “discord among brethren” (read
CLOSING:
Paul tells us the things we are to think on. We seek after God through prayer and we dwell and keep our minds on the things of God so that there is no room for satan to attack us with false wisdom.
8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.
In 1678, a puritan preacher names John Bunyan wrote what is considered one of the greatest works of Christian literature still to this day. This was a preacher who was steeped in the Word of God and lived it in his daily life. This was a book and author that was spoken highly of by many and is one of the most published books in the English language besides the Bible. The story is an allegorical tale that follows the journey of a man named Christian, who wakes up one day to find a heavy burden on his back, and learns that the city where he lives is set to be destroyed. He then begins a journey to escape the destruction and the story follows him throughout many different ares and characters until he reached the celestial city.
Two of these characters are Evangelist, and Worldly Wiseman. Worldly Wiseman tells Christian to avoid the advice given by Evangelist because it appears dangerous and troublesome. He also tells Christian that if he will visit the village of morality and legality that they can remove the burden from Christian’s back there. Worldly Wiseman says you just need to live a good moral life and be a good citizen. You don’t need to worry about sin at all. Worldly Wiseman also tells Christian not to read the Bible because it will make him more discerning and lead to God’s ways and you don’t want the hassle of that.
The motivation behind the words of worldly wiseman are a doctrine of demons. Just as wordly wiseman wants Christian to be ignorant of God’s ways, making him easier to lead wherever he wants him to go, Satan wants us to be ignorant of truth and Godly wisdom so we can be distracted and pulled in whatever direction takes us away from God. Worldly wiseman wants Christian to give up his pursuit of Christ and holiness, to give up all the religious foolishness that he has learned, and to be content to live a good life in the eyes of the world and to turn his back on God. Satan wants us to ignore our sin and our need of a saviour. Satan wants us to be content to go through our days working to achieve worldly success and wordly acclaim while ignoring the things of God and turning our backs on what God has called us to do.
19 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
True Godly wisdom keeps our focus on things above while False Worldly wisdom turns our focus from God and allows us to be deceived by Satan. The question is which wisdom will you follow? Which path will you take? Will you seek after God first and the paths of God before all else, or will you seek after the fame and the popularity this world offers.
13 “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. 14 For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.
18 “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you.
If we follow Godly wisdom the world will hate us, we will go against what the world says we should do, but God will bless us with righteousness and we will be covered in His grace and mercy throughout out lives, and we will dwell forever with our God!
I want to end with some of the words from a hymn written by James Montgomery in 1835 called “Forever With the Lord”
Forever with the Lord!
Forever in His will,
The promise of that faithful word,
Lord, here in me fulfill.
With You at my right hand,
Then I shall never fail;
Uphold me, Lord, and I shall stand,
Through grace I will prevail.
So when my latest breath
Breaks through the veil of pain,
By death I shall escape from death,
And life eternal gain.
That resurrection word,
That shout of victory:
Once more, Forever with the Lord!
Amen, so let it be!
When we seek and exercise Godly wisdom, truth in our lives, we seek after Jesus and we walk through every trial in this life with the sweet knowledge that we shall be Forever with the Lord!
PRAYER:
Father, let our hearts, our minds, and our souls always seek after truth and the Godly wisdom that comes only from you. Let us not be turned to the left or right by false wisdom that comes from satan and this world but keep our feet on the straight and narrow path that You have set before us. Let our lives be built on the firm foundation of Your Gospel, Your Truth, and Your Word. Lord, keep us always that we might glorify You in all that we say and do and that we spend eternity enjoying Your love and Your presence around us. In Jesus name. Amen
BENEDICTION:
31 Jesus answered them, “Do you now believe? 32 Behold, the hour is coming, indeed it has come, when you will be scattered, each to his own home, and will leave me alone. Yet I am not alone, for the Father is with me. 33 I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”
