Wisdom From Above vs. Wisdom From Below

English Standard Version Chapter 3

13 Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom. 14 But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. 15 This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. 16 For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. 17 But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. 18 And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

Introduction

Introduction

Wisdom was an important thing to jewish people

They realized you had to have more than just knowledge, but wisdom to properly use that knowledge

We all know people who are incredibly intelligent, but fail to carry out the most simple tasks of life.

What James is doing in this passage is contrasting true and false wisdom in three different aspects.

English Standard Version Chapter 3

13 Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom. 14 But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. 15 This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. 16 For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. 17 But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. 18 And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

Contrast in Origins (, )

True wisdom comes from above

False wisdom comes from below

Bible contains many examples of the folly of man’s wisdom.

tower of babel

Abraham going to egypt—results were bad

King saul thought it wise to put his armor on david

Disciples thought it was wise for the crowd to go find their own food, but Jesus fed 5000

What is the origin of man’s wisdom?

Wisdom descendeth not form above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish (v.15)

talks about a wisdom of this world

There is a different between worlds knowledge and wisdom

Man unlocks secrets of the universe, but he does not know what to do with them once he gets them

Everything man creates turns out to go against him somehow

Henry David Thoreau warned that we had “improved means to unimproved ends”

So often we are trying to gain knowledge but forget to gain wisdom

Wisdom only comes from God

The Bible Exposition Commentary Chapter Eight: Where to Get Wisdom (James 3:13–18)

The world by its wisdom knew not God, and in its wisdom rejects the very Gospel of God. “For the preaching of the Cross is to them that perish foolishness” (1 Cor. 1:18).

The Bible Exposition Commentary Chapter Eight: Where to Get Wisdom (James 3:13–18)

The world by its wisdom knew not God, and in its wisdom rejects the very Gospel of God. “For the preaching of the Cross is to them that perish foolishness” (1 Cor. 1:18).

The Bible Exposition Commentary Chapter Eight: Where to Get Wisdom (James 3:13–18)

Any person enamored with the wisdom of this world ought to read the first two chapters of 1 Corinthians and notice how much Paul has to say about God’s wisdom and man’s wisdom. Man’s wisdom is foolishness to God (1 Cor. 1:20), and God’s wisdom is foolishness to man (1 Cor. 2:14). Man’s wisdom comes from reason, while God’s wisdom comes from revelation. Man’s worldly wisdom will come to nothing (1 Cor. 1:19), while God’s wisdom will endure forever.

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The Bible Exposition Commentary Chapter Eight: Where to Get Wisdom (James 3:13–18)

Any person enamored with the wisdom of this world ought to read the first two chapters of 1 Corinthians and notice how much Paul has to say about God’s wisdom and man’s wisdom. Man’s wisdom is foolishness to God (1 Cor. 1:20), and God’s wisdom is foolishness to man (1 Cor. 2:14). Man’s

Because the world has turned from God it has lost His wisdom

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom (:10)

There is no fear of God before their eyes ()

Worldly wisdom is:

Natural—the opposite of spiritual. It comes from the fallen nature rather than the new nature given at rebrith

Demonic—It comes from beneath. From satan. Wisdom of satan is fighting wisdom from God.

Godly wisdom is:

From above—Every good gift and every perfect gift ()

He is looking to heaven not around on what is on earth

His treasures are in heaven not earth

His citizenship is in heaven not earth

He was born from above ()

He sets his hope on things above not on earthly things ()

Jesus is our wisdom (, )

in Him hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge ()

The word of God is our wisdom

Wise unto salvation ()

We find wisdom through believing prayer

If you lack wisdom let him ask of God ()

The origin of true spiritual wisdom is God. To get wisdom from anywhere else is asking for trouble

Not only do we have a contrast in origins, but also a contrast in operations

Contrast in Operations (, )

Since wisdom from above and wisdom from below come from totally different places they must operate in completely different ways.

Worldly Wisdom:

Envy (14a)

Selfish ambition

We must be zealous in things of the Lord, but we must make sure our motives are right

How to know weather your zeal is spiritual or carnal

Do you rejoice when others succeed or are you angry

Do you criticize others or build them up

Do we feel burdened when others fail or are we secretly pleased

Strife (14b)

self-seeking

creates rivalry and division in the churh

Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory ()

Boasting (14c)

Are you proud, or do you put others before yourself

when God’s wisdom is at work there is a sense of humility and submission and you want God to get all the glory

Deceit (14d)

Boasting usually involves lies

A ans life is not read in his press releases; it is read by the Lord in his heart.

Spiritual wisdom is true because God is always true

Meekness (13)

Spiritual Wisdom:

Meekness (13)

Strength under control

Meek person seeks the glory of God and not the praises of man

Fruit of the spirit

Cannot be manufactured

Meekness is the right use of power and wisdom is the right use of knowledge

Attitude and action go together

Purity (17a)

holiness

Free from defilement

God’s wisdom leads to purity of life

Man’s wisdom leads to sin

Peace (v.17b)

Man’s wisdom leads to competition rivalry and war

God’s wisdom leads to peace

Peace based on holiness not compromise

We don’t need to compromise what we believe in to have peace and unity with others

Gentleness (v. 17c)

Moderation without compromise, gentleness without weakness

Gentle person does not deliberately cause fights

Neither does he compromise the truth

Carl Sandburg described Abe Lincoln as a man of “velvet steel.” That is a good description of gentleness

Compliance (17d)

God’s wisdom makes the believer agreeable and easy to live with

Man’s wisdom makes the believer incorrigible, hard, and stubborn

The compliant person is willing to hear all sides

Stubborn person only cares about his idea

Mercy (17e)

God is in his grace gives us what we do not deserve and in His mercy doesn’t give us what we deserve

Doing something not for repayment, but because it is the will of God.

Good Samaritan

Good fruits (v. 17f)

God’s wisdom is practical; it changes the life and produces good works to the glory of God

Decisiveness (v. 17g)

Singleness of mind opposite of wavering

when you have God’s wisdom you need not waver

Sincerity (v. 17h)

not being a hypocrite.

Openness and honesty

Speaking the truth in love

not only contrast in origins and operations, but Finally we have contrast in outcomes (, )

Contrast in Outcomes (, )

Direction, not intention, determines destination

Worldly wisdom produces trouble (16)

confusion means disorder that comes from instability

Jealousy, competition— all of these contribute to confusion.

Confusion sets the stage for every evil work (James 3:16)

Evil here means “worthless, of no account”

The most important thing we can do is measure our lives by the wisdom of GOd not the wisdom of man. THat wisdom only produces trouble.

God’s wisdom produces blessing (v.18)

James returned to the word fruit

Fruit is the product of life

Fruit has in it seeds for more fruit

As we share the fruit of GOd with others, they are fed and share fruit with others

Life is all about sowing and reaping. you reap what you sow. What are you sowing?

Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding “Prov 3:13)