Heavenly Wisdom vs Earthly Wisdom

Admit our addictions

To begin, let us examine ourselves. Without exception, we as humand beings, have addictions. We must accept this as true in order to go further in this study. It is when we get caught up in catering to our addictions, to our fleshly nature that we begin to have major issues. Walking in the flesh vs. walking in the Spirit. It is almost like we are two different people—as if there are two of us tied up together. The Bible recognizes this dual nature in each of us. One part yearns for good, and the other part is drawn toward corrupt desires and animal passions.

Romans 7:19–21 KJV 1900

For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.

Earthly wisdom

The Bible describes a kind of “worldly” wisdom that justifies destructive behavior and leads to disorder, instability, and confusion.

James 3:13–18 KJV 1900

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. But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. 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. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.

Beware - be aware (take notice of)

We must beware of this type of earthly wisdom, which is characterized by jealousy and selfishness. As we just read, James tells us: “For jealousy and selfishness are not God’s kind of wisdom. Such things are earthly, unspiritual, and demonic. For wherever there is jealousy and selfish ambition, there you will find disorder and evil of every kind” (James 3:15-16).

Most of the time we are not even conscious of what’s happening. We are so accustomed to just living like we’ve always lived that we aren’t aware or cognizant of how much our flesh and the enemy is controlling us.

Fasting helps to bring awareness and focus to Spiritual things. When we push back the plate, when we spend additional time in prayer, when we make a conscious effort to focus on Him, then we begin to realize and the begins to lift. God help us tonight to become more aware!

Where is our focus?

This kind of thinking (earthly wisdom) causes us to focus on what others are and have. It makes us envy others so much that we are always dissatisfied. It is easy to become so consumed by our own desires that we become inconsiderate of others, often hurting the people we love. This type of wisdom is inspired by the Devil and will lead to our ultimate destruction, since Satan’s “purpose is to steal and kill and destroy” (John 10:10).

John 10:10 KJV 1900

The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

Refocus

Once our awareness is awakened, then we must purposfully act to REFOCUS on heavenly things. If our thoughts are still dominated by jealousy and selfishness, we need to ask God to replace our earthly wisdom with his heavenly wisdom. We can trust him to change our mind and our life.

This refocusing can start now, it can begin tonight, Lord, Jesus awaken our hearts, open our eyes, remove the scales that we might see in the Spirit and become aware of You and Your plan, Your purpose, Your will, Your direction.

James 3:17 KJV 1900

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.

Heavenly wisdom

James 3:17 says that heavenly wisdom is marked by certain characteristics:

purity (clean motives, not motivated by selfeshness, but by a desire to please God)

peace (promoting harmony and not disunity and discord)

gentleness (without harshness and anger)

easily intreated (1. to ask (a person) earnestly; beg or plead with; implore. 2. to make an earnest request or petition for (something)

mercy (compassion or forgiveness shown toward someone whom it is within one's power to punish or harm)

good fruit (love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance)

Galatians 5:22–23 KJV 1900

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

impartiality (equal treatment of all rivals or disputants; marked by fairness)

not hypocritical (characterized by behavior that contradicts what one claims to believe or feel)

Where is our focus?

As the church, God is leading us back to the original, Book of Acts lifestyle and experience. We cannot rely on earthly wisdom to acheive heavenly goals. We cannot be servants of God and use the tools of flesh or of the enemy of our souls.

Let our focus be on pursuing heavenly wisdom and aligning with Biblical truth. In lifestyle, in speech, and in practice!