Wisdoms
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Last week - power of the tongue; the influence of the words we speak;
Your words determine your life. They are the rudder that steers the direction of life… either toward the spirit or toward the flesh.
And not only your life. Your words influence your children; your co-workers; your bros and sisters in Christ.
two wisdoms… one that is from God and one that is foolishness to God.
13 small pivot toward providing us a mark or a definition of true wisdom. Sets it up with a question.
Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom.
let him show…in his conduct..
The works his conduct shows are works that proceed from Faith. They are works of Wisdom (Paul I think would call them works of the Spirit), made possible by our meekness / our humility. Turning our lives over to Christ.
Contrast is to those who would claim wisdom and try to convince you of it by their words. by their impressive oratory. (like we see in Acts.) Rhetoric. Challenge is to see who can out-talk the other.
wise = skilled in moral insight… discerning right and wrong (greek word used)
importance: teachers are essentially speaking for God.
matt 23:1
Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, “The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses’ seat,
Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples,
“Seated themselves in the seat of Moses.”
so do and observe whatever they tell you, but not the works they do. For they preach, but do not practice.
“Seated themselves in the seat of Moses.”
- “seven woes” outside (visible) vs inside. Don’t just talk the talk / walk the walk. Remember that trials are our opportunity to walk the walk. To grow.
But:
But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth.
Speaks of those in the church who seek influence (of a teacher)… competition and conflict, leading to:
:!4
basis for competition?
He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it.
debating who knows more; who knows what? Probably: Centered around Law.
Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach,
Leads to disorder in the body.
1 timothy
ungodly speech; selfish ambitions… we put ourselves & our desires before God.
Paul: natural man vs spiritual man.
“Lie against the truth.” (Gospel Truth) how? Actions. “Can’t hear you, your actions are too loud.”
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.
James 3
Not from Above! (Ecclesiastes reference. under sun / above sun)
reminds of Joe Beam at retreat: (demons want to make us ineffective…not trying to “take us out”)
(demons want to make us ineffective…)
competition and conflict that come from jealousy and selfish ambition make the body ineffective for God. (the family; the individual as well)
“Lie against the truth.” (Gospel Truth) how? Actions. “Can’t hear you, your actions are too loud.”
opportunity to evaluate:
We all want a meaningful life. A life of purpose.
Christians specifically want to be “influential for God. useful for God.” Here is what that looks like:
But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere.
James 3:17
Pure. (lack of jealousy and ambition) Unmixed. (reference back to the doubleminded man)
Peaceable: “right relationships with others”
Gentle: considerate; recognizing when and where to “bend the rules” of the “letter of the law” for the benefit of others… knowing and applying the “spirit” of the law.
Open to reason: persuadable; (the application of humility). Willing to listen and willing to yield when it is wise to do so. Alternate to: I have decided! No change!
Mercy and Good fruits: we help because God took mercy on us - he does not give us what we deserve.
Impartial: Not divisive.
Sincere: without hypocrisy. We mean it when we say it and when we do it.
And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.
As for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it. He indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty.”
Matthew
sown in peace = sown where right relationships with one another exist; where we work to maintain right relationships.
harvest of righteousness (fruit of righteousness) = conduct pleasing to God.
Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.”
Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Romans 12:14
Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil.
Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger,
Romans 12:14-18
Righteousness “Sown in peace”
Parable of sower: rocky, thorny, good soil. Good: hears and understands.
When you are at odds with someone or within a group or a body - the ground on which you stand is barren… it is rocky… and whatever might be sown is, as Jesus says, snatched up by the evil one.
But
As for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it. He indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty.”
But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere.
James 13:17
We bring with us everywhere we go, our character - our visible faith.
In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.
Our words (that either give life or death) Bank: deposits or withdrawals.
Our motives
our relationships with others
Our re-actions
Our fidelity to what we profess.
Our fidelity to what we profess.
Seem hard?
Humility. “Lack wisdom? Let him ask God. But let him ask in Faith.” Not, “let him figure(ith) it out himself.”