Godly Wisdom
Notes
Transcript
13 Who among you is wise and understanding? Let him show by his good behavior his deeds in the gentleness of wisdom.
14 But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, do not be arrogant and so lie against the truth.
15 This wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but is earthly, natural, demonic.
16 For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every evil thing.
17 But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy.
18 And the seed whose fruit is righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.
13 Who among you is wise and understanding? Let him show by his good behavior his deeds in the gentleness of wisdom.
James is asking who has wisdom and understanding.
We all have potential to be in the mix…
28 Even an ignorant fool, when he keeps silent, is considered wise; When he closes his lips, he is considered understanding.
James points to a wisdom that is by far one of the hardest to gain. That is the wisdom of when to speak and when not too.
(How has opened mouth and inserted foot before?)
Godly wisdom guides us and empowers us to guard our speech and to learn how to speak with season.
James is a practical man, this whole book is one calling on the reader for application in life.
Understanding is application of this wisdom.
To simply have knowledge without application cannot be called wisdom.
(Man went to Harvard School of eng… Got out with a 4.0 gpa… went to build a bridge in the foothills of NC and was told by a local farmer that his design would fail in 3 years… NO WAY I am and Expert!
Ok son you do it… 3 years later the creek rose 30 feet and washed away the bridge, He was embarrassed)
What does that have to do with wisdom and understanding?
He had the knowledge of how to build a bridge, but he lacked the understanding of the season and location of the area.
He built a bridge for his past in a controlled environment, not for a valley that floods every 7 years.
MacArthur Study Bible NASB (Commentary)
“Wise” is the common Gr. word for speculative knowledge and philosophy, but the Hebrews infused it with the much richer meaning of skillfully applying knowledge to the matter of practical living.
The word for “understanding” is used only here in the NT and means a specialist or professional who could skillfully apply his expertise to practical situations.
James is asking who is truly skilled in the art of living.
James 3:13 (NASB95)
…Let him show by his good behavior his deeds in the gentleness of wisdom.
This phrase here would have seemed like an oxymoron in Jame’s day.
Gentleness or Meekness was not something the people saw with self-proclaimed wise guys.
It was more of “Look at me I am wises of them all”… reminds one of social media.
The truly wise never have to broadcast it, it precedes them. Their life glows it to the whole world which is what James is getting at here.
Let your life speak of your wisdom, not the other way around. Let the World See CHRIST in you.
14 But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, do not be arrogant and so lie against the truth. 15 This wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but is earthly, natural, demonic.
James is calling out those good church folk that don’t smoke, chew, cuss, drink, gamble, eat pork or all the ice cream.
He’s telling them that no matter how good they think they are, if you have sin don’t lie and say you don’t, own it and put it to death. NAIL IT TO THE CROSS!
Fire Bible (Chapter 3)
Selfish ambition. “Selfish ambition” refers to the ungodly habit of promoting one’s own interests above the purposes of God and the good of others.
Selfish ambition in the church is equated with humanistic “wisdom” (v. 15), which is
(1) “earthly”—corrupting what is holy and spiritual;
(2) “unspiritual”—without the Holy Spirit;
(3) and “of the devil”—inspired by demons,
As Judges opens up with “Every Man did what was right in his own eyes”…
The NIV says if you Harbor bitter jealousy and selfish ambition… That means do you invite it to come to port in your heart? Do you welcome it?
Living with selfish ambition is the opposite of thinking like Jesus and it leads to “disorder and every evil practice” (v. 16).
16 For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every evil thing.
James is calling it as it is, where you find Jealousy and selfish ambition sown you will find demonic disorder and wickedness manifested.
The root word used for disorder here is the same root we find in James 3:8 (restless evil) and James 1:8 (double minded).
Paul uses the same word: “For God is not a God of disorder but of peace” (1 Cor. 14:33a).
The enemy’s main tactic is disorder or chaos. It would behoove us to stop and ask the Lord to reveal our hearts and the source of the chaos when we notice it.
If the devil can’t get you to disown God he will sure make you busy and life chaotic.
If we operate our of Jealousy and Selfish ambition we are practicing witchcraft through and through. We are serving the Devil, and doing it willingly.
17 But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy.
Pure: it is Holy, Undefiled, without sin.
Peaceable: It loves or promotes peace
Gentle: ἐπιεικής (epieikēs)
MacArthur “This word is difficult to translate, but most nearly means a character trait of sweet reasonableness. Such a person will submit to all kinds of mistreatment and difficulty with an attitude of kind, courteous, patient humility, without any thought of hatred or revenge”
Reasonable: One who is teachable, one who willingly submits to moral and legal standards, in particular to God’s standards.
Full of Mercy: They care about those who suffer pain, hardship, and the ability to forgive quickly.
Without Hypocrisy: MacArthur:
The Gr. word occurs only here in the NT and denotes a consistent, unwavering person who is undivided in his commitment and conviction and does not make unfair distinctions.
18 And the seed whose fruit is righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.
The more we live a life seeded from haven the more it will flourish in our lives, and even into the lives of the ones around us.
Where is your wisdom from?
