#4 Rightness vs Wisdom

I - Road Trips

We are getting ready to go on a road trip to colorado and I was remembering...

Erin and I used to go on lots of road trips when we were dating...

Usually we would get into these ridiculous arguments. We would go back and fourth on some pointless issue.

I used to kind of enjoy it, but Erin did not. It drove her crazy. Usually she would play along for a while but eventually we would get to a point where she was just done talking about it and would want to drop it, but I would just not let it go...

It didn’t matter what the argument was or how it was impacting Erin, I was just so sure I was right and I wanted her to admit it!

Y - Being Right

We have all seen people have these kind of arguments and if you haven't. Go on Facebook and post. “What kind of bug spray is best?”

If you do you will discover just how passionate two of your Facebook friends are about bug spray as they go back and forth in the comments.

Have you ever had an argument like that? Where you were so sure you were right and just couldn't let it go?

That feeling of just wanting to win for the sake of winning.

Where you were so sure you were right and just couldn't let it go?

Have you ever seen two people have one of those pointless disagreements?

I don't think it is controversial to say that we are not so good at disagreeing with each other (about anything!)

And its a dangerous thing because it feels like we already agree on less and less.

G- Wisdom True Wisdom Puts People First.

TRANSITION: I am sad to say (though I probably don't even need to say it) that our bible, pastors, Christians, and churches have often contributed to this problem rather than alleviated it. When we disagree about something from the color of carpet to what it is ok to do on the weekends we have used *this* as a hammer. Ripping verses out of context to win arguments and shame opponents and even making people afraid to ask honest questions.

But this summer as we have been looking at James we have been trying to use it as it is intended. As a mirror, a mirror that reflects back to us uncomfortable truths about ourselves and then inviting God to work in us, drawing is closer to him and helping us to grow in our love for others and in our love for him. Love lived out.

James continues his letter calling all who would follow Jesus to live out their faith, with both words and deeds. Our scripture today continues the theme of how we talk, James talks about what happens when we encounter people we disagree with or as I like to call them, “people who are wrong.”

that was a joke...

James describes 2 kinds of wisdom. I like the think of them like 2 trees.

“Wisdom” - Rightness

Rooted in: Evil

Marked by: Bitter Envy Zeal, zealots ect and Selfish Ambition

Produces: Disorder (riots, rebellion, and violence) and Every Kind of Evil

True Wisdom

Rooted in: Heaven (connected to God)

Marked by: pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.

Produces: Peacemakers and Righteousness. (the counter qualities to Disorder and Evil)

So what is the difference?

The New International Version. (2011). (). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.

Roots? - ya, but everyone thinks their roots are in the right place

Fruit and Leaves? - EXACTLY

Looking at these two trees the main difference I can see comes back to where people fit in the equation.

Rightness puts ideas, ideals, ideologies, and -isms ahead of people.

It zealously sacrifices relationships, feelings, people, and even at its worst human lives in the name of that ideal.

I have seen this in friendships damaged by silly arguments and communities torn apart by petty disagreements. But history tells this same story in Slavery, Jim Crow, and the Holocost.

Rightn

When people are put below ideals and ideas it results in EVERY KIND OF EVIL.

Rightness is about winning at any cost.

“its me badgering my poor girlfriend while she is stuck in the car.”

“its someone belittling that person they disagree with online.”

“It’s refusing to consider the impact your decisions and words have on the lives of others.”

BUT, But But but! WISDOM

Wisdom is rooted in connection to God.

If you really know God, you konw GOD LOVES PEOPLE.

and TRUE WISDOM PUTS PEOPLE FIRST - write it

The closer you are to God and his LOVE FOR PEOPLE (even wrong people) the more willing you are

to be submissive

to be peace loving

to yeild for somone else’s good

to have mercy in a disagreement

to be impartial considerete, and sincere.

to be willing to LOSE the argument to KEEP the relationship.

Because - TRUE WISDOM PUTS PEOPLE FIRST - write it.

James says if you are truly wise, show it by your good life and your deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.

True wisdom is shown in love for others.

Because according to God people are

worth losing an argument for

worth letting a wrong person win.

Worth yeilding when you are right

Worth making peace witith.

According to Jesus people are worth DYING FOR.

Y -

I don’t know where James’ words here hit you. But here are some ways we can respond. Some ways we can take what we are hearing today and try putting them into action.

What kind of fruit do I see

What tree do the people I read from, listen to, follow, or watch on TV see

Rightness Tells while wisdom shows

Pray-Other’s first prayers: Lord help me to see other people and remember they count.

Ask: How will this action, behavior, philosophy, choice, argument, or fight impact people that God made and Loves?

Trust: God is able to take care of my needs, I can afford to lose, submit, and be taken advantage of.

Evaluate: The voices, teachers, information sources, heroes, and leaders I listen to. Are they always right? Do they disregard PEOPLE for ‘the greater good?’ or do they put people first? Do they treat everyone with respect and dignity? When they disagree with someone do they do it with charity? Do they ever admit they are wrong? Do they always reinforce what I already think or do they challenge me? Do they care about people, or use people? Do they leave a wake of wounded behind them? Do they run over people who disagree with them? How do they treat people when they are clearly wrong? How do they talk about the hurt and the helpless? Are they driven by ZEAL or Love?

Find: Wise people and invite them to speak into your life. Let wise people instead of people who are merely “right” influence your decisions. Let them teach you wisdom. Listen to them, imitate them, ask them how they drew so close to God.

W - As we come to the table today.

I want you know that God loves you more than you could ever love him. And he loved you before you could ever love him.

I want you to know that he loves people like that.

I want you to know that he loved you so much that he stood silent before his accusers as he was sentenced to death.

I want you to know that as they lifted him on that cross he prayed that God forgive those that put him there.

I want you to know that

As we all approach this free gift as we celebrate, remember, and participate in Jesus death and his Resurrection know that the only way to find wisdom, or restoration, or ressurection in this life is by accepting the gift that he is offering us. He wont force us, he only invites.

He died willingly and laid down everything in an attempt to offer a way back home to all of us.

So as we celebrate that today, may that same God work in our hearts and transform our desire for rightness, into the other’s first wisdom shown in the gospel.

Lets pray together.