"The Test of True Wisdom!"

James 3:13–18 CSB

Who among you is wise and understanding? By his good conduct he should show that his works are done in the gentleness that comes from wisdom. But if you have bitter envy and selfish ambition in your heart, don’t boast and deny the truth. Such wisdom does not come down from above but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where there is envy and selfish ambition, there is disorder and every evil practice. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peace-loving, gentle, compliant, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without pretense. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who cultivate peace.

Our passage begins with a good question:

(v.13a) – “Who among you is wise and understanding?”

“…understanding” – from ἐπιστήμων (epistimon) – the only time this word is used in the NT. In classical Greek, it meant, “an expert.”

His question flows from the conversation of BOTH the responsibility of the teacher, and the necessity of taming the tongue.

James also provides the ANSWER: (v.13b) – “…By his good conduct he should show that his works are done in the gentleness that comes from wisdom.”

Which is an interesting way of answering his question! He uses a WAY/END and a MEANS/END in the same sentence!

The WAY/END (or the HOW) is “…good conduct”

The GOAL is to “…show that his works,” which connects back to the theme of demonstrating true faith through one’s works(2:14-26)!

The MEANS/END is “…comes from the gentleness (meekness) that comes from wisdom.”

Although, this may seem a complex way to state this, the result is that there can be NO DOUBT as to the meaning of James in this passage!

IN THE remaining verses of our passage (vv.14-18), James provides a CONTRAST between EARTHLY wisdom and HEAVENLY wisdom!

The QUESTION: “Which wisdom will you use?”

This week and next, we will look at the operation, origin, and outcomes of both, with the GOALof making you all “experts” in wisdom!

I. WORLDLY WISDOM! – (3:14-16)

A. The OPERATION of Worldly Wisdom – (v.14)

Four characteristics of worldly wisdom of are given:

1. “…bitter envy”

This person is angry and jealous, always wanting what others have!

James will deal with this further in (4:1-2)

William Barclay provides an insightful comment:

You can tell what a man’s relationship with God is by looking at his relationship with other people. If a man is at variance with his fellowman and if he’s a quarrelsome, competitive, argumentative trouble-making creature, he may be a diligent church attender, he may even be a church office-bearer, but he’s not a man of God. If a man is distant from his fellowman, it is good proof that he is distant from God. If he is divided from his fellowman, he divided from God.

2. “…selfish ambition”

Anger and jealousy leads to self-seeking!

The word used here was used in the NT times for a politician who was canvassing for his job! It later came to mean, ‘a party spirit.’

In CONTRAST to the wisdom of God, this wisdom has a hidden agenda!

NOTE that both characteristics are “…in your hearts” – (The ROOT determines the FRUIT)!

Philippians 2:3 CSB

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility consider others as more important than yourselves.

3. Proud Arrogance – “…don’t boast”

Pride loves to BOAST—to brag!

(2 Corinthians 10:12-18)

4. Deceitful Actions – “…and deny (ESV, be false) with the truth.”

Do you see the PROGRESSION?

Selfish ambition leads to a party spirit, or an attempt to elevate oneself. To be elevated, arrogant boastingmust be utilized. Boasting inevitably leads to deceit and lying!

B. The ORIGIN of Worldly Wisdom – (v.15)

Wisdom consists of having insight and expertise in order to draw conclusions that are correct!

An old proverb sums it up this way: “Foresight is better than hindsight, but insight is best!”

However, James tells us the best insight the world can offer is “…earthly, unspiritual, demonic.”

1. Earthly Wisdom! – (1 Corinthians 1:20-21; 2:1-5)

From the BEGINNING, man has been trying to reach up to God by his own wisdom, but as Paul explains in the book of Romans, it has always backfired!

(Romans 1:20-21)

Even Christians must fight the temptation to build their lives on the foundation of the world’s wisdom – (Colossians 2:8)

Do you want to know where worldly wisdom is first mentioned in the Bible? (Genesis 3:4-6)

2. Unspiritual Wisdom!

The Greek word is “ψυχική (pseuke),” which means, natural or soulish. It contrasts with spiritual, and therefore the ESV translates it, “unspiritual.”

Dr. James Boyer says there are four things that are always true of the natural man:

1) He has a LIMITED NATURE! His spirit is dead and therefore, he cannot respond to God!

2) He has a prejudiced disposition! The things of God are not welcome in his life!

3) He has a distorted judgment! The things of God are moronic to him!

4) He has inadequate abilities! Like a blind man in an art gallery, he lacks the ability to even examine spiritual things.

3. Demonic Wisdom!

The use of the word, “demonic” settles once for all the source of the world’s wisdom!

(Ephesians 2:1-5)

C. The OUTCOME of Worldly Wisdom – (v.16)

1. CONFUSION – “…there is disorder”

Where the wisdom of the world operates, the result is instability, chaos, and convulsive conditions!

2. EVIL – “…and every evil practice.”

“evil…”– lit. ‘worthless’ or ‘good-for-nothing!’

II. HEAVENLY WISDOM! – (3:17-18)

A. The ORIGIN of Heavenly Wisdom – (v.17a) – “But the wisdom from above…”

Cf. (v.15) – “Such wisdom does not come down from above…”

James uses a present tense participle to make his point: “Wisdom is coming from above…”

It’s not a onetime allotment—it is a steady flow from God to His children that just keeps coming!

(James 1:5, 17)

NEXT WEEK…

B. The OPERATION of Heavenly Wisdom – (v.17b)

C. The OUTCOME of Heavenly Wisdom – (v.18)