Wisdom of the Age or Wisdom of God?

The Test for Wisdom is displayed through behavior and attitude (James 3:13)

Explanation: James continues to focus on the health and well-being of the Christian church. He has a pastor’s heart and he is encouraging the faithful and he is bringing correction to the troublemakers. He is speaking to those who are experiencing division within the family caused by members who play favorites, gossip and slander, and who talk about being spiritual, but don’t practice what they preach.

James is going to promote godly wisdom as the solution to the problems that are being faces. He has to distinguish between godly wisdom and earthly wisdom because their are different kinds of wisdom.

He begins this section by asking another rhetorical question. This one is aimed at those who most definitely considered themselves to be very wise indeed. James is going to set forth a test that will reveal who is actually being wise and who is actually being deceived.

Illustrate: joke about the plane ride with only a pilot, Billy Graham, Henry Kissinger, and a backpacker. The plane is going to crash and the pilot gives the order to bailout. Problem is only 3 parachutes. The pilot shows the others how to put the chute on, and then jumps. Kissinger tells the other two since he is the wisest and smartest man in the world, he is entitled to one. He straps one on and jumps. Billy Graham tells the hiker to take the last chute since he is ready to meet Jesus. The hiker just smiles and tells Billy, “Let’s both go. The world’s smartest man just jumped out of this plane with my backpack.”

Argument: The danger is real, and we need to be aware of the possibility of self-deception. A person’s spiritual status can be known, and it is definitely something God wants us to be confident about.

“These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that he may know that ye have eternal life” (1 John 5:13)

James gives the answer up front: genuine believers will display a consistent lifestyle of moral behavior along with meekness of wisdom (v. 13)

Professing believers who live by the wisdom of the age are deceiving themselves (James 3:14-16)

Explanation: James immediately throws out a caution. He knows that the ones who are causing problems won’t easily admit they are the problem. These are the very ones who will be quick to boast about how wise they are. If others would just listen to them, there wouldn’t be problems!

James is helping them by showing them how they can see the truth. He declares that if a church member is filled with bitter envying and strife, he or she is off the track. The word envy refers to “a self-oriented desire to possess things that are not really ours.” (Moo, commentary on James). Moo goes on to say “some who pride themselves on their wisdom and understanding are displaying a jealous bitter partisanship that is the antithesis of the humility produced by true wisdom.”

Illustrate: Hitler displayed this to the max. He thought he was smarter than his generals and made some very bad decisions. He surrounded himself with those who agreed with him because he didn’t want to hear the truth.

Argument: My point is not to compare nominal Christians with Hitler. He is in a class by himself. But, even on a much smaller and humane scale, there are those who simply think they are smarter and wiser than others, and their life will reflect these negative traits.

There are many Church members who are living according to the spirit of the Age - the mindset that it’s all about you. It’s the message of Oprah: just do you, let other people worry about themselves. It is about getting ahead any way you can because your way is way more important than anyone else. If getting your way may cause a church split or cause some to leave, so be it - probably didn’t need them anyway!

Application: Jesus is the Head of the Church and He is our role model. He is the One who “though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant” (Phil 2:6-7)

Does your life line up more with His, or does your life reflect a constant striving to get your own way?

Genuine believers who live by godly wisdom will influence others for righteousness (James 3:17-18)

Explanation: James counters the earthly demonic wisdom with the godly wisdom that has its source from above. This type of wisdom is described with purity and gentleness. This wisdom leads to peace, not division or strive.

James is giving the congregation the answer to the problems they are facing. Some would be leaders are causing division and strife with the ultimate destination of chaos. James is calling these folks out as people who don’t belong to Jesus.

Note what he is NOT telling the other members to do. He is NOT telling them to talk bad about them, NOT telling them to try to get even, and he is NOT telling them to do anything that would smirch their own character.

Instead, James is admonishing them to be gentle and meek and peaceful. Meekness is not a character trait in high demand these days. Meekness is looked down on, meekness is for the “nice guys” and they are the ones who finish last.

Illustrate: Given the choice between Steve Urkel from Family Matters or Jason Bourne, most of us are going with Bond.

Argument: Not a fair choice because being a bumbling, likable idiot who can’t do anything right is not being meek. The definition of meekness is strength under control. Jesus was the strongest man around - He cleaned out the Temple not once, but twice! He had the power and ability to call down a legion of angels while He was being crucified. He had the power, but He restrained it for the greater good - God’s glory and our salvation.

It is most often actually harder to refrain from trying to get your way. I mean, how hard is it too lose control and throw a temper tantrum. Speaking from experience, it’s actually pretty easy to lose your witness.

We would do well to remember what Jesus said in the Sermon on the Mount: “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth” (Matt 5:5)

Close: As I bring this message to a close I want you to think about the influence you are having on others. As genuine believers in the Lord Jesus are you sowing the seeds of peace with your words and actions? Consider the impact if each of us put the needs of others before our own; consider the result if you pursued the agenda of God rather than the so-called American Dream; consider the outcome if you increased in your godly wisdom, regardless of the world’s thoughts.