BS James 14
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Contrast in Operations
Contrast in Operations
(James 3:13–14, 17)
The wisdom from above, God’s wisdom, operates in a different way from the wisdom that is “earthly, sensual, devilish.”
Since they originate from radically different sources, they must operate in opposite ways.
What are the evidences of false wisdom?
What are the evidences of false wisdom?
Envy (v. 14a).
Envy (v. 14a).
14 But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth.
This word carries the meaning of selfish ambition and zeal.
The wisdom of the world says, “Promote yourself. You’re as good as the other candidates, maybe better! The wheel that squeaks the loudest gets the grease.”
Sad to say, there is a great deal of selfish, carnal promotion among God’s people.
Even the Apostles argued over who was the greatest in the kingdom.
It is easy to go on an ego trip under the guise of spiritual zeal.
The Pharisees used their religious activities to promote the praise of men.
We ought to be zealous in the things of the Lord, but we must be sure that our motives are right.
The wisdom of this world exalts man and robs God of glory.
“That no flesh should glory in His presence” (1 Cor. 1:29).
Is our zeal for the Lord spiritual or carnal?
Do we rejoice when others succeed, or do we have secret envy and criticism?
Do we feel burdened when others fail, or are we glad?
When the wisdom of the world gets into the church, there is a great deal of fleshly promotion and human glorification. Beware!
Strife (v. 14b).
Strife (v. 14b).
14 But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth.
This word means “party spirit.”
It was used by the Greeks to describe a politician out canvassing for votes. The world’s wisdom says, “Get all the support you can! Ask the people in the church if they are for you or against you!”
Of course, this spirit of self-seeking only creates rivalry and division in the church.
3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.
Boasting (v. 14c).
Boasting (v. 14c).
14 But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth.
Pride loves to boast, and nothing is prouder than the wisdom of men.
There is a way to report blessings so that God gets the glory, but there is also an approach that gives men the praise.
It is tragic to see mutual admiration societies among God’s people.
In 2 Corinthians 10, when Paul was forced to boast about his ministry, he was careful to give God the glory.
12 For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.
“Of course, we shouldn’t dare include ourselves in the same class as those who write their own testimonials, or even to compare ourselves with them! All they are doing, of course, is to measure themselves by their own standards or by comparisons within their own circle, and that doesn’t make for accurate estimation, you may be sure”
When God’s wisdom is at work, there is a sense of humility and submission, and you want God to get all the glory.
You have no desire to compare yourself with any other Christian, because you see only Christ—and compared with Him, all of us still have a long way to go!
Deceit (v. 14d).
Deceit (v. 14d).
14 But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth.
“Lie not against the truth.” The sequence is not difficult to understand.
First, there is selfish ambition that leads to party spirit and rivalry.
In order to “win the election” we must resort to boasting; and boasting usually involves lies!
A man’s life is not read in his press releases; it is read by the Lord in his heart.
5 Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God.
What a relief it is to turn to the evidences of true spiritual wisdom.
What a relief it is to turn to the evidences of true spiritual wisdom.
Meekness (v. 13).
Meekness (v. 13).
13 Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom.
Meekness is not weakness; it is power under control.
The meek person does not selfishly assert himself.
The Greek word was used for a horse that had been broken so that his power was under control.
The meek person seeks only the glory of God and does not cater to the praises of men.
The truly wise person will show in his daily life (conversation means “behavior”) that he is a child of God.
Attitude and action go together.
Purity (v. 17a).
Purity (v. 17a).
17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.
“First pure” indicates the importance of holiness.
God is holy; therefore the wisdom from above is pure.
The idea behind this word is “chaste, free from defilement.”
God’s wisdom leads to purity of life. Man’s wisdom may lead to sin.
There is a spiritual purity that results in a chaste relationship with the Lord (2 Cor. 11:3); and there is a worldliness that makes the person a spiritual adulterer (James 4:4).
Peace (v. 17b).
Peace (v. 17b).
17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.
Man’s wisdom leads to competition, rivalry, and war (James 4:1–2); but God’s wisdom leads to peace.
It is a peace based on holiness, not on compromise.
God never has “peace at any price.”
The peace of the church is not more important than the purity of the church.
If the church is pure, devoted to God, then there will be peace.
17 And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever.
The church can never have peace by sweeping sins under the rug and pretending they are not there.
Man’s wisdom says, “Cover up sin! Keep things together!”
God’s wisdom says, “Confess sin and My peace will keep things together!”
same true for the home: Peace comes from holiness.
Gentleness (v. 17c).
Gentleness (v. 17c).
17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.
It carries the meaning of moderation without compromise, gentleness without weakness.
The gentle person does not deliberately cause fights, but neither does he compromise the truth in order to keep peace.
Compliance (v. 17d).
Compliance (v. 17d).
17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.
God’s wisdom makes the believer agreeable and easy to live with and work with.
Man’s wisdom makes a person hard and stubborn.
The compliant person is willing to hear all sides of a question, but he does not compromise his own convictions.
He can disagree without being disagreeable. He is “swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath” (James 1:19).
Many people think that stubbornness is conviction, and they must have their own way.
Mercy (v. 17e).
Mercy (v. 17e).
17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.
To be “full” of something means to be “controlled by.”
The person who follows God’s wisdom is controlled by mercy.
36 Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.
God in His grace gives us what we do not deserve, and in His mercy He does not give us what we do deserve.
Our Lord’s Parable of the Good Samaritan illustrates the meaning of mercy.
For a Samaritan to care for a Jewish stranger was an act of mercy.
He could gain nothing from it, except the blessing that comes from doing the will of God; and the victim could not pay him back. That is mercy.
Good fruits (v. 17f).
Good fruits (v. 17f).
17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.
People who are faithful are fruitful.
God’s wisdom does not make a life empty; it makes it full.
The Spirit produces fruit to the glory of God.
The lawyer in Luke 10:25–37 was willing to discuss the subject of neighborliness, but he was unwilling to be a neighbor and help someone else.
God’s wisdom is practical; it changes the life and produces good works to the glory of God.
Decisiveness (v. 17g).
Decisiveness (v. 17g).
17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.
The word suggests singleness of mind and is the opposite of “wavering” (James 1:6).
When you lean on the world’s wisdom, you are pressured from one side and then another to change your mind or take a new viewpoint.
When you have God’s wisdom, you need not waver; you can be decisive and not be afraid.
Wisdom from above brings strength from above.
Sincerity (v. 17h).
Sincerity (v. 17h).
17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.
The Greek word translated hypocrite in our New Testament means “one who wears a mask, an actor.”
When man’s wisdom is at work, there may be insincerity and pretense.
When God’s wisdom is at work, there is openness and honesty, “speaking the truth in love” (Eph. 4:15).
Wherever you find God’s people pretending and hiding, you can be sure the wisdom of this world is governing their ministry. “Religious politics” is an abomination to God.
“Faith is living without scheming.”
conclusion
conclusion
There is quite a contrast between the operation of God’s wisdom and the operation of the wisdom of this world.
It would be profitable for church officers and leaders to evaluate their own lives and their ministries in the light of what James has written. While the local church is an organization, it cannot run like a buisness.
God’s ways and God’s thoughts are far above us!
12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.