Earthly Wisdom Vs Real Wisdom
Being Real in an AI World • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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James 3:13-18
13 If you are wise and understand God’s ways, prove it by living an honorable life, doing good works with the humility that comes from wisdom.
14 But if you are bitterly jealous and there is selfish ambition in your heart, don’t cover up the truth with boasting and lying.
15 For jealousy and selfishness are not God’s kind of wisdom. Such things are earthly, unspiritual, and demonic.
16 For wherever there is jealousy and selfish ambition, there you will find disorder and evil of every kind.
17 But the wisdom from above is first of all pure. It is also peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others. It is full of mercy and the fruit of good deeds. It shows no favoritism and is always sincere.
18 And those who are peacemakers will plant seeds of peace and reap a harvest of righteousness.
INTRODUCTION:
Being real in an AI world begins with acquiring and operating in real wisdom.
There are two kinds of wisdom:
* Earthly wisdom and Real wisdom
How can we know the difference?
The Word of God has the answer.
I- EARTHLY WIDSOM (JAMES 3:14-16).
I- EARTHLY WIDSOM (JAMES 3:14-16).
14 But if you are bitterly jealous and there is selfish ambition in your heart, don’t cover up the truth with boasting and lying.
15 For jealousy and selfishness are not God’s kind of wisdom. Such things are earthly, unspiritual, and demonic.
16 For wherever there is jealousy and selfish ambition, there you will find disorder and evil of every kind.
A- Earthly Wisdom's Signature Traits:
A- Earthly Wisdom's Signature Traits:
14 But if you are bitterly jealous and there is selfish ambition in your heart, don’t cover up the truth with boasting and lying.
Cambridge Greek Testament: Greek Text Chapter 3
14 εἰ δὲ ζῆλον πικρὸν ἔχετε καὶ ἐριθείαν ἐν τῇ καρδίᾳ ὑμῶν, μὴ κατακαυχᾶσθε καὶ ψεύδεσθε κατὰ τῆς ἀληθείας.
1- Bitter Jealousy
1- Bitter Jealousy
( ζῆλον πικρὸν)
Descriptions of Jealousy:
• Envy is rebellion against God’s leading in the lives of his children. It’s saying that God has no right to bless someone else more than you.—Erwin Lutzer
• The envious man feels other’s fortunes are his misfortunes; their profit, his loss; their blessing, his bane; their health, his illness; their promotion, his demotion; their success, his failure.—Leslie Flynn
• Jealousy, the jaundice of the soul.—John Dryden, quoted by Coach Pat Riley*
2- Selfish ambition
2- Selfish ambition
(ἐριθείαν ἐν τῇ καρδίᾳ ὑμῶν)
3- Boasting Arrogance
3- Boasting Arrogance
( μὴ κατακαυχᾶσθε )
• Criticism is often nothing more than low-grade envy.
4- Deception
4- Deception
(καὶ ψεύδεσθε κατὰ τῆς ἀληθείας.)
B- Earthly Wisdom's Source:
B- Earthly Wisdom's Source:
15 For jealousy and selfishness are not God’s kind of wisdom. Such things are earthly, unspiritual, and demonic.
Cambridge Greek Testament: Greek Text Chapter 3
15 οὐκ ἔστιν αὕτη ἡ σοφία ἄνωθεν κατερχομένη, ἀλλὰ ἐπίγειος, ψυχική, δαιμονιώδης.
1- Earthly
1- Earthly
(ἐπιγειος= Old adjective, on earth)
2- Unspiritual
2- Unspiritual
(ψυχικη= the sensuous or animal life)
(1 Corinthians 3:1-4)
Dear brothers and sisters, when I was with you I couldn’t talk to you as I would to spiritual people. I had to talk as though you belonged to this world or as though you were infants in Christ.
I had to feed you with milk, not with solid food, because you weren’t ready for anything stronger. And you still aren’t ready,
for you are still controlled by your sinful nature. You are jealous of one another and quarrel with each other. Doesn’t that prove you are controlled by your sinful nature? Aren’t you living like people of the world?
When one of you says, “I am a follower of Paul,” and another says, “I follow Apollos,” aren’t you acting just like people of the world?
3- Demonic
3- Demonic
(δαιμονιωδης)= demoniacal or demon-like)
(John 8:44)
For you are the children of your father the devil, and you love to do the evil things he does. He was a murderer from the beginning. He has always hated the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, it is consistent with his character; for he is a liar and the father of lies.
C- Earthly Wisdom's Sinful End
C- Earthly Wisdom's Sinful End
16 For wherever there is jealousy and selfish ambition, there you will find disorder and evil of every kind.
Cambridge Greek Testament: Greek Text Chapter 3
16 ὅπου γὰρ ζῆλος καὶ ἐριθεία, ἐκεῖ ἀκαταστασία καὶ πᾶν φαῦλον πρᾶγμα.
1- Disorder
1- Disorder
(ἀκαταστασια= “instability,” (a, negative, kata, “down,” stasis, “a standing”), denotes “a state of disorder, disturbance, confusion, tumult,”)
2- Evil of every Kind
2- Evil of every Kind
(πᾶν φαῦλον πρᾶγμα= every kind of evil)
• Envy can ruin reputations, split churches, and cause murders. Envy can shrink our circle of friends, ruin our business, and dwarf our souls.… I have seen hundreds cursed by it.—Billy Graham
3- A universal rule:
3- A universal rule:
16 For wherever there is jealousy and selfish ambition, there you will find disorder and evil of every kind.
a- Where jealousy and selfishness are present, sin and destruction will follow.
• [Envy is] one of the most cancerous and soul-destroying vices there is.… It is terribly potent, for it feeds and is fed by pride, the taproot of our fallen nature.—J. I. Packer*
II- REAL WISDOM (JAMES 3:13,17,18).
II- REAL WISDOM (JAMES 3:13,17,18).
13 If you are wise and understand God’s ways, prove it by living an honorable life, doing good works with the humility that comes from wisdom.
17 But the wisdom from above is first of all pure. It is also peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others. It is full of mercy and the fruit of good deeds. It shows no favoritism and is always sincere.
18 And those who are peacemakers will plant seeds of peace and reap a harvest of righteousness.
Cambridge Greek Testament: Greek Text Chapter 3
13 Τίς σοφὸς καὶ ἐπιστήμων ἐν ὑμῖν; δειξάτω ἐκ τῆς καλῆς ἀναστροφῆς τὰ ἔργα αὐτοῦ ἐν πραΰτητι σοφίας.
Cambridge Greek Testament: Greek Text Chapter 3
17 ἡ δὲ ἄνωθεν σοφία πρῶτον μὲν ἁγνή ἐστιν, ἔπειτα εἰρηνική, ἐπιεικής, εὐπειθής, μεστὴ ἐλέους καὶ καρπῶν ἀγαθῶν, ἀδιάκριτος, ἀνυπόκριτος. 18 καρπὸς δὲ δικαιοσύνης ἐν εἰρήνῃ σπείρεται τοῖς ποιοῦσιν εἰρήνην.
A- The Source of Real Wisdom:
A- The Source of Real Wisdom:
1- It is from above (heaven). (Vs. 17a).
1- It is from above (heaven). (Vs. 17a).
17 But the wisdom from above is first of all pure. It is also peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others. It is full of mercy and the fruit of good deeds. It shows no favoritism and is always sincere.
(ἡ δὲ ἄνωθεν σοφία= but the wisdom from above)
2- It is from God (vs. 13a)
2- It is from God (vs. 13a)
13 If you are wise and understand God’s ways, prove it by living an honorable life, doing good works with the humility that comes from wisdom.
(If you are wise and understand God’s ways)
B- The Signature Traits of Real Wisdom:
B- The Signature Traits of Real Wisdom:
17 But the wisdom from above is first of all pure. It is also peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others. It is full of mercy and the fruit of good deeds. It shows no favoritism and is always sincere.
17 ἡ δὲ ἄνωθεν σοφία πρῶτον μὲν ἁγνή ἐστιν, ἔπειτα εἰρηνική, ἐπιεικής, εὐπειθής, μεστὴ ἐλέους καὶ καρπῶν ἀγαθῶν, ἀδιάκριτος, ἀνυπόκριτος. 18 καρπὸς δὲ δικαιοσύνης ἐν εἰρήνῃ σπείρεται τοῖς ποιοῦσιν εἰρήνην.
1- Pure
1- Pure
(ἁγνή= pure, without defect) (vs. 17)
(1 John 3:3)
And all who have this eager expectation will keep themselves pure, just as he is pure.
2- Peace-loving
2- Peace-loving
(εἰρηνική) (Vs. 17)
(Romans 12:18)
Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone.
3- gentle and kind
3- gentle and kind
(ἐπιεικής= gracious, forbearing, not quarrelsome) (vs. 17)
4- Reasonable
4- Reasonable
(εὐπειθής= open to reason) (vs. 17) [willing to yield to others]
5- merciful
5- merciful
(μεστὴ ἐλέους= completely full of mercy) (vs. 17).
6- Displays the fruit of good deeds
6- Displays the fruit of good deeds
(καρπῶν ἀγαθῶν= good fruit) ( (Vs. 17)
(Matt. 7:17)
A good tree produces good fruit, and a bad tree produces bad fruit.
7- fair-minded
7- fair-minded
(ἀδιάκριτος= impartial, free from prejudice)
8- Sincere
8- Sincere
(ἀνυπόκριτος= genuine, sincere, lacking in pretense or show)
9- Humility
9- Humility
(vs. 13) (ἐν πραΰτητι σοφίας= in the meekness [humility] of wisdom)
C- The Sublime End of Real Wisdom (James 3:18).
C- The Sublime End of Real Wisdom (James 3:18).
18 And those who are peacemakers will plant seeds of peace and reap a harvest of righteousness.
1- Real wisdom sows godly seed throughout life's journey.
1- Real wisdom sows godly seed throughout life's journey.
a- The idea is consistent sowing of the seeds of godly wisdom.
1) notice:
(a) "Living and honorable life" (vs. 13)
(b) gentle "at all times" (vs. 17)
(c) "always" sincere (vs. 17)
2- Real wisdom yields a harvest of righteousness and peace.
2- Real wisdom yields a harvest of righteousness and peace.
a- With God
b- with other people.
CONCLUSION:
Questions for Pondering
How can we identify earthly wisdom in our own thoughts and actions?
What specific actions can you take to embody the humility that comes from real wisdom?
In what areas of your life do you find yourself struggling with jealousy or selfish ambition?
How can you demonstrate the traits of real wisdom in your relationships this week?
How does understanding the difference between earthly and real wisdom impact your daily decision-making?
How can you create an environment that fosters the seeds of peace and righteousness in your community?
