GODLY WISDOM vs wordly WISDOM

CHRISTIAN CONVERSATIONS PT 2.

Fools are defined by Holman’s Bible Dictionary as: FOOL, FOOLISHNESS, AND FOLLY Translations of several uncomplimentary words which appear approximately 360 times throughout the Old and New Testaments to describe unwise and ungodly people. The words are especially predominant in the Wisdom Literature of the Old Testament. Persons who do not possess wisdom are called “fools”; their behavior is described as “folly.” The picture which emerges from the biblical material is quite simple: folly is the opposite of wisdom, and a fool is the opposite of a wise person. Both wisdom and folly are depicted as philosophies or perspectives on life. The religious person chooses wisdom, whereas the non-religious person opts for folly. Wisdom leads to victory; folly to defeat. Wisdom belongs to those who fear God, and the “fear” of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom (Proverbs 1:7). Wisdom is the essence of life. The foolish person is the one who is thoughtless, self-centered, and obviously indifferent to God.

I saw a meme about Einstein and Mr. Bean and it goes like this.

Einstein tells Bean I will ask you a question and if you don’t know the answer, you pay me $5 and if I don’t know the answer, I will pay you $500. Mr. Bean agrees. Einstein asks him “what is the distance from the Earth to the moon? Mr. Bean just reaches in and gives Einstein $5. Bean asks Einstein, what goes up a hill with 3 legs and comes down on 4 legs? Einstein searches the net, asks all of his friends and can’t find the answer so after an hour he pays Mr Bean $500. Einstein asks Bean so what does go up a hill with 3 legs and comes down with 4? Bean reaches in his pocket and gives Einstein $5.

Knowledge are wisdom are not the same. Knowledge comes from school, learning; wisdom however comes from God, the Holy Spirit.

Vance Havner once said, “If you lack knowledge, go to school. If you lack wisdom, get on your knees! Knowledge is not wisdom. Wisdom is the proper use of knowledge.”

Let us pray!

Christian Conversation

James 3:13–18

Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom. 14 But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. 15 This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. 16 For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. 17 But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. 18 And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

IV. The Need for Wisdom in Speech and Life - THE CONVERSATION—vv. 13–14

Believers with true wisdom avoid envy and selfish ambitions and produce peace and righteousness. We must, as believers, demonstrate this wisdom in our behaviors and actions.

A. A challenge to demonstrate wisdom by behavior – Living—v. 13. Show your Christianity with wisdom, meekness and good conversation.

Wise indicates someone with the moral insight and skill through their conduct and behavior.

Humility or meekness refers to having that submissive spirit – like Christy did.

Our world has turned the words submissive into something that is nasty and demeaning.

It is actually opposite the arrogant and self-seeking spirit that is so dominate in our society.

Humility is not and is

Being a doormat remaining in control

Weakness strength in putting God’s will 1st

Ignorance showing Godly wisdom

1. The wrong response—false wisdom – Lying—v. 14. Never lie! Note these three words: bitterness, envy and strife.

Bitter – acidic

Envy/Jealousy – self-promotion to the exclusion of others; not content with what God has provided

Selfish ambitions – promoting causes in unethical manners – promoting to gain

Bitterness

Remember that the envy and selfish ambitions of the religious leaders led them to deny Christ and put Him to death.

THE CONSECRATION

2. Devilish wisdom—vv. 15–16. This wisdom is earthly, sensual, devilish. This is of Satan.

James uses 3 adjectives to describe the distinct traits of false wisdom –

a. Earthly – not of heaven; not from God, from man and the ruler of the world

b. Unspiritual – natural world not the supernatural or spiritual world, mental thoughts and emotions of men – as Christians we must carefully guard our minds and mouths and use this and try to call it godly

c. Demonic – Straight from satan to corrupt relationships between each other but most importantly corrupt our relationship with God if we choose to follow it

Bitterness, jealousy, selfish ambition – lead to false wisdom – leads to disorder and vile practices.

Disorder – or anarchy, disturbing, unruly

Every vile, evil practice comes forth and comes in such that no good can come out of it

B. The right response—true wisdom – Divine wisdom—vv. 17–18.

True wisdom – divine wisdom is completely free from selfish ambitions and disorder

Eight-fold: pure, peaceable, gentle, easily entreated, full of mercy, full of good fruits, without partiality, sincere.

Pure – being free from selfishness sets the foundation for the rest of the following traits of True – God wisdom

Peaceable – no strife or disorder – no quarreling, bring fighting to an end and moving forward

Gentle – when placing demands or requirements – does it with a gentle, loving hand and not a bulldozer

Open to reason/ Easily Entreated – willingness to learn from others, knowledge that they don’t have all the answers or the only answers

Full of mercy – compassion on others, empathetic to their needs and hurts, recognizing the realness of them and willingness to help heal those

Good fruits – Jesus said several times we will be known by our fruits – Matthew 7:17 – every good tree bears good fruit, every bad tree bears bad fruit

7:20 – thus by their fruit they will be recognized

Luke 6, John 15 – all recall the same theme – Godly wisdom that is lived out will produce the fruit of Godly wisdom

Impartial – without favoritism or prejudice; not taking sides or setting some above others,

Sincere – Genuine – open, containing no falsehoods or half-truths; caring

Conforming to God’s true wisdom, His wisdom produces peace, that peace produces a harvest of righteousness.

When we live righteously before God, we will have these fruits of righteousness.

God wants us to, commands us to control our tongues. Only by doing so can we display His wisdom.

Not only does an uncontrolled tongue not bear witness to God it cannot contain His wisdom.

Principles

• God tells us to control our tongues.

• Only the grace of God can tame the tongue.

• God values humility, peace, and righteousness more than self-centered zeal and ambition.

Applications

• Control your tongue to show a mastery of your attitudes and impulses.

• Do not treasure your goals and ambitions so much that you become prideful and deny God’s truth.

• Cultivate an outlook that treasures the viewpoints and considers the needs of others.

• Ask God to help you develop true wisdom as the dominating characteristic of your life.

A tongue that is controlled, disciplined and committed can inspire others to seek God, encourage forgiveness and mercy, draw the speaker closer to the Father.

Without speaking the word unity, James is saying Genuine Faith, Faith spoken from a disciplined and controlled tongue brings about unity because it destroys strife.

How has your tongue been used this past week? Did it sow unity or division? Solidarity or strife?

Who in your life lives out true wisdom? How do that they do that? What’s the evidence?

When jealousy, envy, and selfish ambitions reared their heads out of the snake hole, how do you combat them or destroy them to continue down God’s path?

Do you truly desire Godly wisdom or is worldly, false wisdom consuming your lifestyle?