Wisdom From Above

Introduction

How do you know if someone is wise?

What makes a person wise?

Maybe we would say they have a lot of knowledge.

Maybe they are well educated.

Maybe they have a high IQ.

Maybe they are experienced.

Maybe they are good at solving problems.

Maybe they always seem to know what to say.

We tend to think of wisdom as something that happens primarily in the mind.

A wise person knows things that other people do not know.

A wise person understands things that other people don't understand.

A wise person can explain complicated things.

And certainly, knowledge and understanding are valuable.

But James is going to challenge our definition of wisdom today.

James is going to tell us that wisdom is not ultimately demonstrated by what you know.

Wisdom is demonstrated by how you live.

In fact, James is going to give us a test.

He is going to say, essentially:

If you think you are wise, show me.

Don't just tell me.

Show me.

Because genuine wisdom has fruit.

And the question James wants us to ask isn't simply: "How much do I know?"

The question is: "What kind of person is my wisdom making me?"

That's a much more uncomfortable question.

Because I can know the right answer and still be proud.

I can know Scripture and still be difficult to live with.

I can win an argument and lose a relationship.

I can have good theology and bad attitudes.

I can sound wise while producing division.

And James says that if that's what is happening, we need to take another look at the source of our wisdom.

So let's read the passage together.

James 3:13–18

James 3:13–18 NIV

13 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. 14 But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. 15 Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. 16 For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice. 17 But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. 18 Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.

Let's pray.

Wisdom Is Demonstrated, Not Announced

James begins with a question: "Who among you is wise and understanding?"

Notice what James doesn't do.

He doesn't identify the wise people.

He doesn't say, "Here are the five people in the church who are really wise."

He asks: "Who among you is wise and understanding?"

It's almost as though he says: "Who thinks they're wise?"

Go ahead.

Raise your hand.

And James knows something about human nature.

Most of us would like to be considered wise.

We like people to think we're knowledgeable.

We like people to value our opinions.

We like being the person someone comes to for advice.

There is nothing inherently wrong with any of that.

The problem comes when we confuse being recognized as wise with actually being wise.

James says: "Let him show his works by good conduct with wisdom's gentleness."

Notice the word show.

James doesn't say: "Let him explain his wisdom."

He doesn't say: "Let him win a theological argument."

He doesn't say: "Let him demonstrate how much he knows."

He says: "Let him show it."

Show it through your conduct.

Show it through your character.

Show it through your humility.

This is very similar to what James has already told us about faith.

Back in James 2, James said that faith without works is dead.

Now he is applying the same principle to wisdom.

Faith that never produces action is dead faith.

And wisdom that never produces godly character isn't really wisdom.

Words aren't enough.

Knowledge isn't enough.

Claims aren't enough.

Wisdom has to become visible.

And James says one of the clearest signs of true wisdom is gentleness.

The word James uses carries the idea of meekness, humility, or controlled strength.

It is not weakness.

It is strength that doesn't have to prove itself.

Think about that.

A person who is truly wise doesn't have to constantly demonstrate that they're the smartest person in the room.

They don't have to have the last word.

They don't have to win every argument.

They don't have to make everyone else look foolish so that they can look intelligent.

There is a humility that comes with genuine wisdom.

And that makes sense when we remember where wisdom comes from.

We talked about this earlier in James.

James 1:5 CSB

5 Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God—who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly—and it will be given to him.

Wisdom comes from God.

So if I really understand that, I don't become proud because I have wisdom.

I become humble because I know where it came from.

There Is a Wisdom That Looks Wise but Isn't

Then James takes an unexpected turn.

Verse 14: "But if you have bitter envy and selfish ambition in your heart, don't boast and deny the truth."

At first, you might wonder: "What does envy and selfish ambition have to do with wisdom?"

Everything.

Because James is exposing counterfeit wisdom.

There is a kind of wisdom that sounds impressive.

It may be intelligent.

It may be persuasive.

It may even contain some truth.

But its motivation is wrong.

James identifies two things:

Bitter envy And selfish ambition.

These are motivations that say:

"I need to get ahead."

"I need to be recognized."

"I need to be right."

"I need people to notice me."

"I need to make sure I get my way."

"I need to protect my position."

"I need to win."

And here's the problem.

You can use very intelligent arguments to accomplish very selfish purposes.

You can use Scripture to defend your pride.

You can use theology to justify your anger.

You can use truth as a weapon.

You can use knowledge to put somebody else down.

And James says: Don't call that wisdom.

Then he gives us one of the strongest statements in this passage: "Such wisdom does not come down from above but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic."

That's pretty strong language.

James is saying there are two sources of wisdom.

There is wisdom from above. And there is wisdom from below.

And the difference is not merely how intelligent it sounds.

The difference is where it comes from and what it produces.

Genesis 2–3 Gives Us the Bigger Picture

This brings us back to something we talked about earlier in James.

When we came to James 1 and James said: "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God..."

we connected that with the beginning of Scripture. Genesis 2 and 3.

Because Genesis gives us the fundamental question behind biblical wisdom: Who gets to decide what is good?

In Genesis 2, God creates the world.

God establishes what is good.

God gives Adam His instruction.

God defines the boundaries.

God is the Creator.

Adam is the creature.

God knows what is good.

And humanity is called to trust God's wisdom.

Then Genesis 3 comes along.

And the serpent introduces another possibility.

The temptation is not simply:

"Eat this fruit."

The deeper temptation is:

"Do you really want God to be the one who decides what is good?"

The serpent tells Eve that if she eats, her eyes will be opened and she will be like God, knowing good and evil.

In other words: "You don't have to simply receive God's definition of good and evil.

You can determine it for yourself."

That is the fundamental temptation of humanity.

Will I trust God's wisdom, or will I make myself the authority?

James is addressing that same issue.

We can call something "wisdom," but the question remains:

Where did that wisdom come from?

Is it wisdom from above?

Or is it wisdom from below?

And James says we can tell by the fruit.

Worldly Wisdom Produces Disorder

Verse 16: "For where there is envy and selfish ambition, there is disorder and every evil practice."

Look at the progression.

It starts inside.

Envy.

Selfish ambition.

Then it moves outward.

Disorder.

Every evil practice.

What happens inside eventually comes out.

If my wisdom is built around self-interest, eventually my relationships will feel the effects.

If everybody has to get their own way, there will be conflict.

If everyone has to be recognized, there will be competition.

If everyone has to be right, there will be arguments.

If everyone is protecting their own position, there will be division.

And James says: "Where there is envy and selfish ambition, there is disorder."

This is why this passage fits so well with the discussion of the tongue that James has just given us.

In chapter 3, James has been talking about the power of words.

Words can destroy.

Words can divide.

Words can set a whole life on fire.

And now James goes deeper.

He asks:

What is producing those words?

Because the tongue is often just the messenger.

The deeper issue is the heart.

If the heart is full of envy and selfish ambition, eventually the tongue will reveal it.

But if the heart is being shaped by wisdom from above, that will eventually show up in our words, our attitudes, our decisions, and our relationships.

The question is not simply:

"What did you say?"

The question is: "What is growing inside you that caused you to say it?"

Wisdom From Above Has a Distinctive Character

Now James gives us the alternative.

Verse 17: "But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peace-loving, gentle, compliant, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without pretense."

This is one of the most beautiful descriptions of wisdom in the New Testament.

Notice what James does.

He doesn't define wisdom primarily as a list of things you know.

He defines it by the kind of person you become.

Let's walk through these characteristics.

First, wisdom from above is pure.

Purity means there isn't a hidden agenda.

I'm not pretending to care about you while secretly trying to get something from you.

I'm not saying the right thing because I want to manipulate you.

I'm not using truth to advance myself.

Godly wisdom is clean.

Its motives are clean.

Its purposes are clean.

Second, it is peace-loving.

This is one of the central ideas in the passage.

James wants us to understand that wisdom from God produces peace.

Not peace at any price.

Biblical peace doesn't mean ignoring sin or pretending problems don't exist.

It means actively pursuing reconciliation, unity, and what is right.

A wise person doesn't enjoy conflict.

A wise person doesn't stir things up just to see what happens.

A wise person doesn't constantly divide people into camps.

A wise person asks: "How can I help bring peace into this situation?"

This is so important because James ends the passage by saying: "And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who cultivate peace."

The wise person doesn't merely experience peace.

The wise person plants peace.

They cultivate it.

They work for it.

They become a person through whom peace grows.

Third, wisdom from above is gentle.

Again, this is controlled strength.

It means I don't have to crush someone simply because I disagree with them.

I can be convinced without being arrogant.

I can correct someone without humiliating them.

I can speak truth without becoming cruel.

Fourth, wisdom from above is compliant.

This means willing to listen and open to reason.

That doesn't mean gullible.

It doesn't mean abandoning convictions.

It means I don't assume: "I am always right."

A wise person can listen.

A wise person can say:

"Maybe I need to think about that."

"Maybe I missed something."

"Maybe I need to ask for forgiveness."

That takes humility.

Fifth, wisdom from above is full of mercy and good fruits.

Mercy isn't simply feeling sorry for someone.

Mercy moves toward people.

Mercy helps.

Mercy forgives.

Mercy serves.

Mercy produces something good.

This sounds a lot like the James we've already been reading.

Remember James 2?

James told us that genuine faith produces action.

Now James tells us that genuine wisdom produces good fruit.

The Christian life is not supposed to remain trapped in our heads.

What God puts inside us eventually needs to come out in how we live.

Sixth, wisdom from above is unwavering.

It is not constantly changing according to whatever is most convenient.

It is consistent.

The person isn't one way at church and another way at home.

They don't speak about love on Sunday and spend the rest of the week tearing people apart.

Their character is becoming consistent because their wisdom comes from God rather than circumstances.

Finally, wisdom from above is without pretense.

It's genuine.

It's sincere.

There is no mask.

No hidden agenda.

No performance.

What you see is what you get.

Wisdom Can Be Tested by Its Fruit

This gives us a practical test.

How do I know whether something is wise?

James says:

Look at what it produces.

Jesus used a similar principle.

In Matthew 7, Jesus said that you recognize a tree by its fruit.

James is essentially saying the same thing about wisdom.

Don't be impressed simply because someone sounds intelligent.

Watch what their wisdom produces.

Does it produce humility?

Peace?

Mercy?

Gentleness?

Good fruit?

Sincerity?

Or does it produce envy?

Selfish ambition?

Disorder?

Division?

Broken relationships?

James gives us a spiritual diagnostic.

And this is important because worldly wisdom can sound very convincing.

It can sound sophisticated.

It can be presented with confidence.

It can even contain facts.

But the question isn't simply: "Does this sound smart?"

The question is: "Where does this lead?"

That is a question we should ask about our own decisions too.

Before I make a decision, I should ask:

What is motivating me?

What am I trying to accomplish?

Is this about God's glory or mine?

Is this about serving others or advancing myself?

Will this produce peace or division?

Will this produce righteousness or disorder?

Will this help people move toward God or simply help me get my way?

Those questions can expose the difference between wisdom from above and wisdom from below.

The Goal of Wisdom Is a Harvest of Righteousness

James ends with this: "And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who cultivate peace."

I love the agricultural picture James gives us.

Wisdom is not just something we possess.

It is something we plant.

Every day, we are planting something.

Every conversation plants something.

Every decision plants something.

Every reaction plants something.

Every word plants something.

The question is:

What kind of harvest are we producing?

If I continually plant anger, I shouldn't be surprised when I harvest conflict.

If I continually plant pride, I shouldn't be surprised when I harvest broken relationships.

If I continually plant selfishness, I shouldn't be surprised when I harvest isolation.

But if I plant peace...

If I plant mercy...

If I plant gentleness...

If I plant humility...

If I plant righteousness...

then, in God's time, there will be a harvest.

James says: "The fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who cultivate peace."

Wisdom from above produces something.

It changes us.

And then it changes the people around us.

So What Kind of Wisdom Are We Living By?

James has given us two pictures.

One comes from above.

One comes from below.

One produces humility.

The other produces pride.

One produces peace.

The other produces disorder.

One produces mercy.

The other produces selfishness.

One produces good fruit.

The other produces evil.

One is sincere.

The other is driven by hidden motives.

So here's the question James puts before us:

What kind of wisdom is shaping your life?

Not: "What do you know?"

Not: "How educated are you?"

Not: "Can you win an argument?"

Not: "Can you quote the Bible?"

The question is:

What kind of person is your wisdom making you?

Because if the wisdom I claim to have is making me proud, something is wrong.

If it is making me argumentative, something is wrong.

If it is making me harsh, something is wrong.

If it is creating division everywhere I go, something is wrong.

If it is always about me, something is wrong.

James says wisdom from above looks different.

It makes us humble.

It makes us pure.

It makes us gentle.

It makes us merciful.

It makes us teachable.

It makes us people who pursue peace.

How Do We Pursue Wisdom From Above?

So how do we cultivate this kind of wisdom?

James has already given us the first answer.

Ask God.

James 1:5: "Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God."

We don't manufacture heavenly wisdom.

We receive it from God.

But James 3 reminds us that receiving wisdom from God means allowing that wisdom to shape our lives.

So we ask God: "Lord, give me wisdom."

And then we open His Word.

We listen.

We submit.

We practice.

We allow God to correct us.

We allow the Holy Spirit to expose our motives.

And when God's wisdom conflicts with our preferences, we choose God's wisdom.

That's where Genesis 2 and 3 comes back into the picture.

The fundamental question remains:

Who gets to define what is good?

God?

Or me?

Every day we face that question.

God says forgive.

I say, "But they don't deserve it."

God says love your enemy.

I say, "But you don't understand what they did."

God says serve others.

I say, "But what about me?"

God says be generous.

I say, "But I need more."

God says pursue peace.

I say, "But I need to win."

The temptation is still the same. Will I trust God's wisdom?

Or will I decide that I know better?

Wisdom from above begins when we stop making ourselves the final authority.

Next Steps

James began this passage with a question: "Who among you is wise and understanding?"

And perhaps the easiest response is:

"I am."

But James doesn't let us answer that question with our mouths.

He tells us to answer it with our lives.

Show me.

Show me by your conduct.

Show me by your humility.

Show me by your gentleness.

Show me by your mercy.

Show me by your pursuit of peace.

Show me by the fruit growing in your life.

Because wisdom is not merely knowing what is right.

Wisdom is living according to what is right because you trust the God who defines what is right.

That takes us all the way back to the garden. In Genesis 2, God gives humanity His wisdom. In Genesis 3, humanity reaches for wisdom on its own terms.

And throughout Scripture, God continues to call His people back to Himself.

James reminds us that the question is still before us.

There are two sources.

Two ways of thinking.

Two ways of living.

And two very different harvests.

Worldly wisdom says: "Look out for yourself."

Wisdom from above says: "Trust God and serve others."

Worldly wisdom says: "Make sure you win."

Wisdom from above says: "Pursue peace."

Worldly wisdom says: "Make yourself great."

Wisdom from above says: "Walk humbly."

Worldly wisdom asks: "What can I get?"

Wisdom from above asks: "What can I give?"

And James tells us exactly where each path leads.

One produces disorder.

The other produces a harvest of righteousness.

So this week, don't simply ask: "What should I do?"

Before you ask that, ask: "What wisdom am I following?"

And when you need wisdom, remember what James already told us:

Ask God.

Then trust Him enough to live according to what He says.

Because true wisdom doesn't just fill your head.

It changes your heart, shapes your character, transforms your relationships, and produces a harvest of righteousness.

That is wisdom from above.

Let's pray.

Listener Notes

Faith Works: Wisdom From Above

James 3:13–18

Theme: True wisdom reveals itself through humility, purity, and peace rather than selfish ambition.

Big Idea: Biblical wisdom is not measured primarily by what we know, but by the kind of person our wisdom makes us.

Wisdom Is Demonstrated, Not Announced

James challenges those who consider themselves wise to show it through their lives.

True wisdom is demonstrated through:

Good conduct

Humility

Gentleness

Just as faith without works is dead, wisdom without godly character is empty.

Two Kinds of Wisdom

Chart

Wisdom From BelowWisdom From AboveBitter envyPuritySelfish ambitionPeaceDisorderGentlenessEvil practicesWillingness to listenEarthlyMercyUnspiritualGood fruitDemonicConsistencySincerity

Wisdom Can Be Tested by Its Fruit

Ask:

What is motivating me?

Does this produce humility or pride?

Does this produce peace or division?

Does this produce mercy or selfishness?

Does this produce good fruit?

Am I seeking God's glory or my own?

Genesis 2–3 Connection

The question behind biblical wisdom goes all the way back to the garden:

Who gets to decide what is good?

Genesis 2 shows humanity receiving God's definition of what is good.

Genesis 3 shows humanity being tempted to decide good and evil on its own.

Wisdom from above begins with trusting God's wisdom rather than making ourselves the final authority.

Wisdom Produces a Harvest

"And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who cultivate peace." James 3:18

Every day we are planting something through our words, attitudes, decisions, and relationships.

What kind of harvest are you planting?

This Week

When facing a decision or conflict, stop and ask:

"What kind of wisdom am I following?"

Then ask God for wisdom and allow His wisdom to shape your response.

Bibliography

Allison, Dale C., Jr. A Critical and Exegetical Commentary on the Epistle of James. International Critical Commentary. Edited by G. I. Davies and C. M. Tuckett. New York: Bloomsbury, 2013.

Blomberg, Craig L., and Mariam J. Kamell. James. Zondervan Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2008.

Eng, Daniel K. James. The Hodder Bible Commentary. Edited by Lee Gatiss. London: Hodder, 2025.

Elwell, Walter A., and Philip Wesley Comfort. Tyndale Bible Dictionary. Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 2001.

Got Questions Ministries. Got Questions? Bible Questions Answered. Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software, 2002–2013.

Kärkkäinen, Veli-Matti. Trinity and Revelation. Vol. 2 of A Constructive Christian Theology for the Pluralistic World. Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2014.

Luter, Boyd A. The Epistle of James within Judaism: The Earliest First-Century Window into Messianic Jewish Belief and Practice. Eugene, OR: Wipf and Stock, 2024.

Runge, Steven E. High Definition Commentary: James. High Definition Commentary Series. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2015.

Schnabel, Eckhard J. “Wisdom.” In New Dictionary of Biblical Theology, edited by T. Desmond Alexander and Brian S. Rosner, 841–847. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2000.

Bible Study: Wisdom From Above

Day 1: What Does Wisdom Look Like?

Read: James 3:13–18; Proverbs 9:10

James challenges us to demonstrate wisdom through our conduct rather than simply claiming to be wise.

The Bible's understanding of wisdom is different from simply possessing information. Biblical wisdom begins with a proper relationship with God and then works itself out in how we live.

James specifically connects wisdom with humility and gentleness.

Think About It:

How have you typically defined wisdom?

Why do you think James connects wisdom with humility?

What is the difference between knowing what is right and actually living wisely?

Where do you need greater humility in your life?

Prayer: Ask God to give you wisdom that changes not only what you know but who you are.

Day 2: Two Sources of Wisdom

Read: James 3:14–16; Genesis 2:15–17; Genesis 3:1–7

James describes wisdom that is earthly, unspiritual, and demonic. It is characterized by envy and selfish ambition.

This takes us back to Genesis 2–3. God established what was good and gave humanity His wisdom. The serpent's temptation challenged humanity to reject God's definition of good and evil and determine it for themselves.

The fundamental question remains:

Will I trust God's wisdom, or will I make myself the authority?

Think About It:

What did God establish as good in Genesis 2?

What did the serpent tempt humanity to believe in Genesis 3?

Why is deciding what is "good" for ourselves such a powerful temptation?

Where might you be tempted to substitute your wisdom for God's?

Prayer: "God, help me trust Your wisdom even when Your ways are different from what I would choose."

Day 3: Examine the Fruit

Read: James 3:16–18; Matthew 7:15–20

James gives us a practical way to discern wisdom: look at the fruit.

Earthly wisdom produces disorder and evil.

Wisdom from above produces purity, peace, gentleness, mercy, good fruit, consistency, and sincerity.

Jesus similarly taught that a tree is known by its fruit.

Think About It:

What does the wisdom guiding your life produce?

Do your words and decisions generally create peace or conflict?

Are there areas where envy or selfish ambition may be influencing you?

What fruit of wisdom from above do you most need to develop?

Prayer: Ask God to reveal any unhealthy motivations in your heart and replace them with the character of Christ.

Day 4: Become a Peacemaker

Read: James 3:17–18; Matthew 5:9; Romans 12:18

James ends this passage with peace.

The wise person does not merely avoid causing conflict. They actively cultivate peace.

James says that righteousness is sown in peace by those who cultivate peace.

Being a peacemaker does not mean avoiding truth or pretending that problems do not exist. It means approaching conflict with humility, gentleness, mercy, and a desire for restoration rather than victory.

Think About It:

Is there a relationship in your life where you need to pursue peace?

How might humility change the way you approach that relationship?

What is the difference between keeping peace and making peace?

What would it look like for you to "sow" peace this week?

Prayer: "Lord, make me a person who brings peace wherever I go. Give me the wisdom to know when to speak, when to listen, when to confront, and when to extend mercy."

Going Deeper

Read James 1:5–8 and James 3:13–18 together.

James begins his discussion of wisdom by telling believers to ask God for wisdom.

Later, he explains how we can recognize whether the wisdom we are following is actually from God.

Consider this statement:

Godly wisdom is not merely something we receive. It is something we live.

How should that change the way you pray for wisdom?

YouTube Description

Wisdom From Above | James 3:13–18 | Faith Works

What does it really mean to be wise? James 3 challenges the world's definition of wisdom by showing us that true wisdom is revealed not by how much we know, but by how we live.

James contrasts earthly wisdom, marked by envy, selfish ambition, and disorder, with wisdom from above, characterized by purity, peace, gentleness, mercy, and good fruit.

We also connect James' teaching with Genesis 2–3 and the question at the heart of biblical wisdom: Who gets to decide what is good?

True wisdom comes from God, and it produces a life that reflects His character and cultivates peace.

Faith Works: The Letter of James James 3:13–18 Laughlin Community Church