BS James 15
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Contrast in Outcomes.
Contrast in Outcomes.
Origin determines outcome. Worldly wisdom will produce worldly results; spiritual wisdom will give spiritual results.
Worldly wisdom produces trouble
Worldly wisdom produces trouble
16 For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice.
Envy, strife, confusion, evil works.
It does not appear that God was at work in that assembly.
In James 4, James would deal with the “wars and fightings” among the believers.
Wrong thinking produces wrong living.
One reason the world is in such a mess is because men have refused to accept the wisdom of God.
The word translated “confusion” means “disorder that comes from instability.”
It is related to “unstable” in James 1:8 and “unruly” in James 3:8.
Read 2 Corinthians 12:20 and you will get a description of a church that is confused.
20 For I fear that perhaps when I come I may find you not as I wish, and that you may find me not as you wish—that perhaps there may be quarreling, jealousy, anger, hostility, slander, gossip, conceit, and disorder.
Jealousy, competition, party spirit—all of these contribute to confusion.
The Tower of Babel in Genesis 11 is a good illustration of this fact.
From man’s point of view, the building of the tower was a wise thing; but from God’s viewpoint, the project was stupid and sinful.
The result? Confusion.
Confusion sets the stage for “every evil work” (James 3:16).
Evil here means “worthless, of no account.”
It reminds us of the “wood, hay, stubble” of 1 Corinthians 3:12.
12 Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw—
13 each one’s work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done.
14 If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward.
15 If anyone’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire.
A ministry operating in the wisdom of this world may appear to be great and successful, but in the day of judgment it may burn up.
5 Therefore do not pronounce judgment before the time, before the Lord comes, who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. Then each one will receive his commendation from God.
The church at Smyrna thought it was poor, but the Lord said it was rich
9 “ ‘I know your tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich) and the slander of those who say that they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.
While the “rich church” at Laodicea was declared to be poor
14 “And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write: ‘The words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God’s creation.
15 “ ‘I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot!
16 So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth.
17 For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked.
The most important thing we can do in our local churches is measure our ministries by the Word of God, not by the wisdom of men.
The many battles among Christians, the church splits, the absence of purity and peace, all suggest that something is wrong.
Perhaps that “something” is the absence of the wisdom of God.
God’s wisdom produces blessing
God’s wisdom produces blessing
18 And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.
James returned to that word, fruit.
There is a vast difference between man-made results and God-given fruit. Fruit is the product of life, and fruit has in it the seeds for more fruit.
As we share the fruit of God with others, they are fed and satisfied, and they in turn bear fruit.
The Christian life is a life of sowing and reaping.
For that matter, every life is a life of sowing and reaping, and we reap just what we sow.
The Christian who obeys God’s wisdom sows righteousness, not sin; he sows peace, not war.
The life we live enables the Lord to bring righteousness and peace into the lives of others.
What we are is what we live, and what we live is what we sow.
What we sow determines what we reap.
If we live in God’s wisdom, we sow righteousness and peace, and we reap God’s blessing.
If we live in man’s worldly wisdom, we sow sin and war, and we reap “confusion and every evil work.”
It is a serious thing to be a troublemaker in God’s family.
One of the sins that God hates is that of sowing “discord among brethren”
16 There are six things that the Lord hates, seven that are an abomination to him:
17 haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,
18 a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that make haste to run to evil,
19 a false witness who breathes out lies, and one who sows discord among brothers.
Lot followed the world’s wisdom and brought trouble to the camp of Abraham; but Abraham followed God’s wisdom and brought peace.
Lot’s decision led to “good-for-nothing works,” and everything he lived for went up in smoke at the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah.
Abraham’s decision, in the wisdom of God, led to blessings for his own household and ultimately for the whole world.
13 Blessed is the one who finds wisdom, and the one who gets understanding,