The Wisdom of the Mature Christian

Text - James 3.13-18

James 3:13–18 NASB95

Who among you is wise and understanding? Let him show by his good behavior his deeds in the gentleness of wisdom. But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, do not be arrogant and so lie against the truth. This wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but is earthly, natural, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every evil thing. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy. And the seed whose fruit is righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

Two Kinds of Wisdom

As John continues his discourse, he begins to speak on the role of wisdom in the life of a mature Christian. But there are 2 kinds of wisdom and they are directly opposite each other.

They are distinguished in their origins

One is earthly, the other is heavenly

Earthly wisdom is carnal and demonic

natural - grk. psychikos, of the soul, belonging to the soul

demonic - grk. daimoniodes, demon-like

Heavenly wisdom comes from God

James 1:5 NASB95

But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.

this is the wisdom that the Scriptures want to deliver to man.

however, just because one is reading the Bible does not mean heavenly wisdom is automatically gained.

They are distinguished in their operations

Earthly wisdom operates by jealousy and selfish ambition

envy is the desire to have other people’s property

envy and selfish ambition self-centered attitudes

Heavenly wisdom is pure, peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good works, unwavering, and without hypocrisy.

James 3:17 NASB95

But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy.

They are distinguished in their fruits

Earthly wisdom results in disorder and every evil thing/work

James 3:16 NASB95

For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every evil thing.

disorder - grk. akatastasia, confusion, upheaval

(evil) thing - grk. pragma, work (base or immoral work)

Heavenly wisdom bears the fruit of righteousness.

James 3:18 NASB95

And the seed whose fruit is righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

righteousness is the fruit of heavenly wisdom

Real Wisdom is clearly Identified

Real wisdom is God-given

James 1:5 NASB95

But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.

James 1:17 NASB95

Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow.

Real wisdom is not only theological, it is also practical

Theological or highly spiritual

1 Corinthians 2:6–8 NASB95

Yet we do speak wisdom among those who are mature; a wisdom, however, not of this age nor of the rulers of this age, who are passing away; but we speak God’s wisdom in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God predestined before the ages to our glory; the wisdom which none of the rulers of this age has understood; for if they had understood it they would not have crucified the Lord of glory;

Practical wisdom

James 3:13 NASB95

Who among you is wise and understanding? Let him show by his good behavior his deeds in the gentleness of wisdom.

1 Peter 2:12 NASB95

Keep your behavior excellent among the Gentiles, so that in the thing in which they slander you as evildoers, they may because of your good deeds, as they observe them, glorify God in the day of visitation.

Real wisdom is not self-focused, but others-focused.

James 3:14 NASB95

But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, do not be arrogant and so lie against the truth.

Real wisdom seeks to good of others

Example - when Paul came to Corinth, he applied real wisdom to his evangelistic preaching:

1 Corinthians 2:1–5 NASB95

And when I came to you, brethren, I did not come with superiority of speech or of wisdom, proclaiming to you the testimony of God. For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified. I was with you in weakness and in fear and in much trembling, and my message and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that your faith would not rest on the wisdom of men, but on the power of God.

I was with you in weakness, in fear, in much trembling

so that your faith would rest on the power of God

Real wisdom is the seed that we must sow in other people’s lives

James 3:18 NASB95

And the seed whose fruit is righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

Because we reap what we sow

Galatians 6:7–9 NASB95

Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary.

Because righteousness brings true and lasting peace

Jesus, our Righteousness, gives us His peace

John 14:27 NASB95

“Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.

Isaiah 32:17 NASB95

And the work of righteousness will be peace, And the service of righteousness, quietness and confidence forever.

Conclusion

Peace is not the absence of war. It is the presence of God’s righteousness in our hearts.

Peace is God’s reward for those who seek His wisdom out of a pure heart.

Example - Solomon asked the right thing. God answered him.

1 Kings 3:12 NASB95

behold, I have done according to your words. Behold, I have given you a wise and discerning heart, so that there has been no one like you before you, nor shall one like you arise after you.

1 Kings 4:29–34 NASB95

Now God gave Solomon wisdom and very great discernment and breadth of mind, like the sand that is on the seashore. Solomon’s wisdom surpassed the wisdom of all the sons of the east and all the wisdom of Egypt. For he was wiser than all men, than Ethan the Ezrahite, Heman, Calcol and Darda, the sons of Mahol; and his fame was known in all the surrounding nations. He also spoke 3,000 proverbs, and his songs were 1,005. He spoke of trees, from the cedar that is in Lebanon even to the hyssop that grows on the wall; he spoke also of animals and birds and creeping things and fish. Men came from all peoples to hear the wisdom of Solomon, from all the kings of the earth who had heard of his wisdom.

1 Kings 5:12 NASB95

The Lord gave wisdom to Solomon, just as He promised him; and there was peace between Hiram and Solomon, and the two of them made a covenant.