Wisdom from Above
Notes
Transcript
Scripture Intro:
Scripture Intro:
Scripture Reading (“Please stand…”)
Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom.
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.
For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice.
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.
Pray...
Intro:
Intro:
What is wisdom?
We tend to think of it as something of the intellect.
A special knowledge.
True, but incomplete.
You could say that wisdom is "truth in action".
Knowledge applied to life.
And this matches what James is saying here in this passage.
Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom.
“let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom”
Further development of James 2:18,
"I will show you my faith by my works.”
And...
“show his works in the meekness of wisdom”...
The Meekness of Wisdom
The Meekness of Wisdom
(Timer: 20 minutes left)
We tend to think of wisdom as making good decision
or knowing what to do in a situation.
And that is definitely part of wisdom.
Proverbs is full of passages that speak to that.
I have taught you the way of wisdom; I have led you in the paths of uprightness.
And wisdom opens up a future to you.
Know that wisdom is such to your soul; if you find it, there will be a future, and your hope will not be cut off.
But this notion of wisdom goes far beyond making good choices.
Meekness
Translated “gentleness” or “meekness”
So what is meekness.
James contrasts it with anger...
for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God. Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word...
Meekness also carries with it a notion of humility.
Humility
If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.
"True wisdom comes not merely through intellectual effort or study; it is the gift of God." (Douglas Moo)
“God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”
Gentle strength
Strength that does not need to tell everyone how strong it is.
It someone who is confident...
not in their own strength,
but in the Lord’s strength and the Lord’s leading.
So It frees a person from the temptations of self-reliance and pride.
"the meekness of wisdom"
Follows Jesus...
who has declared himself to be gentle and lowly
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.
So “the meekness of wisdom”?
You have a gentleness and humility about you.
The Lord gives wisdom
The Lord gives everything we have.
Every good and perfect gift comes down to us...
from our God and Father.
The Contrast of Earthly Wisdom
The Contrast of Earthly Wisdom
(Timer: How much time left?)
Earthly wisdom
But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth.
"bitter jealousy" - envy of someone else’s success
"selfish ambition" - the desire to achieve one’s own advancement
at the expense of others
James uses these same words again...
For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice.
If our “wisdom” (even if it’s based on truth)...
“introduces discord and instability into the community of faith, it is not true wisdom." (Dan McCartney)
“disorder” - where people are pursuing their own selfish concerns
will break churches apart
This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic.
"earthly, unspiritual, demonic"
“earthly” - a narrow perspective that fails to consider God’s realm and will.
This type of wisdom...
destroys a community.
“BUT...”
Wisdom from Above
But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere.
Kittel:
The divine wisdom is gentle and peaceable (3:13, 17), and its gentleness will be a mark of the righteous in pleasing contrast to bitterness and contention.
The Harvest of Godly Wisdom
The Harvest of Godly Wisdom
(Timer: How much time left?)
And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.
** On Communion Sunday...
If after 10:30,
go straight to the Lord’s Supper.
Close in Prayer
Close in Prayer
Closing Song:
Closing Song:
“Good and Gracious King”
Benediction:
Benediction:
