Who among you is wise and understanding? Let him show by his good behavior his deeds in the gentleness of wisdom. But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart,
do not be arrogant and lie against the truth. This wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but is earthly, natural, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every evil thing. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy. And the seed whose fruit is righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace. [3:13-18]
In these verses James is identifying yet another way in which the world contrasts and conflicts with the Church…it has to do with their respective views on wisdom.
James brings this whole faith and works thing to a conclusion by asking a rhetorical question:
Who is wise and understanding among you?
To experience what James has been telling us for the last two chapters we need wisdom when…
…facing trials, troubles and temptations
…about being hearers and doers of the word
…about not showing favoritism
…about that real faith produces actions of faith
…about the power of our mouths and the damage it can cause
Have you ever thought about what makes a person wise?
Have you ever thought about what makes a person smart?
So…what does it mean to be smart…generally think of smart people who are intelligent…or knowledgeable…for example someone who is smart can easily pass exams…score good marks…and receive academic awards.…such as magna cum laude… summa cum laude or cum laude.
Google ‘what does it mean to be smart’ and you’ll find tons of articles about the topic…not surprisingly…different articles on the topic gave different perspectives but there were a few that were consistent across several articles.
Smart people are usually more curious…they have a desire to seek out new information…they have the desire to continuously evolve…have the ability to put ideas together and create solutions to problems.
Here’s something about being smart…you can be smart in one particular area but not in another…so being smart doesn’t mean you’re smart in everything.
Some people become smart by reading books or other material…have a desire to continue to learn more…whereas some are born with a higher intelligence.
SO… What is wisdom…and what is the importance in having it? …The Old Testament is broken down into five divisions…((Law…Historical writing… Poetic writing…Prophets…Wisdom)) …wisdom is one of them.
Three books in the Bible that are known as the Bible’s wisdom literature… Proverbs…Job…and Ecclesiastes.
There is abundant value in having wisdom and the Bible mentions it often… there are over 30 verses in Scripture telling us the importance in having wisdom.
Wisdom is what assists the wise person in making good judgments…a wise person has the experience and knowledge to act on a situation by making good choices…that’s why wisdom is thought of as the proper use of knowledge.
Here’s the importance in having both wisdom and knowledge…we live in the most skilled…knowledgeable and advanced generation ever… BUT…we also live in the most profane…violent…and self-seeking generation ever…a result of many having knowledge but lacking wisdom.
Keep in mind that James has been identifying those traits that reveal who is genuine in their faith…and wisdom is next on that list.
He is telling his readers that those who are truly saved…who sincerely know God…who possess a living faith, have a certain kind of wisdom that gives evidence of what kind of person they are.
In Scripture wisdom is not limited to higher intelligence…academic learning…or having superior knowledge.
Biblical wisdom is the application of knowledge with divine power in the reshaping of your life…transforming attitudes and behavior into righteousness… wisdom then in Biblical terms equals lifestyle.
That’s why it’s been said…“If you lack knowledge, go to school. If you lack wisdom, get on your knees!”
James identifies four classes of wisdom…earthly…natural …demonic… and wisdom from above. [3:15-18].
First is earthly wisdom…
Earthly wisdom appeals to the senses and the emotions.
Earthly wisdom says always follow your heart.
Earthly wisdom says love family and friends, not so much your enemies.
Earthly wisdom says the most important things in life are materialistic.
Earthly wisdom is about the here and now with little thought of afterlife.
Earthly wisdom says there are many ways to God.
Here’s what Paul says about earthly wisdom…[Col 3:1-2]
1So if you have been raised with Christ, seek the things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.”
If your life is about the here and now, then you’re living your life by earthly wisdom.
Second is natural wisdom…
In the Greek the word is unspiritual…it’s like in the movies when you call a zombie ‘undead’. They look alive but they’re not…unspiritual is like that…it’s someone who looks and acts spiritual but they’re not.
To be unspiritual is to be driven by emotions…being selfish…being driven by one’s feelings…that part of you that hungers…craves…and desires something apart from God.
The source of someone who is unspiritual is their own selfish desires…attitudes, interests…and pursuits…being driven by what makes you happy regardless of God’s desire…it’s their will, not God’s will that really matters to them.
Here’s the problem with being unspiritual…people who are unspiritual can’t receive the truths from God’s Spirit…this is how Paul explains it. [2 Cor. 2:14]
13 we do not use words that come from human wisdom, instead, we speak words given to us by the Spirit, using the Spirit’s words to explain spiritual truths.
14 But people who aren’t spiritual can’t receive truths from God’s Spirit. It all sounds foolish to them and they can’t understand it, for only those who are spiritual can understand what the Spirit means.
Unspiritual or natural wisdom ignores what God says and will eventually take you where you don’t want to go.
Third is demonic wisdom…
Here’s what demonic wisdom does…it’s a combination of earthly and unspiritual wisdom and combines the two so it sounds correct…but it will always lead you away from God.
Demonic wisdom is in a battle with Godly wisdom…it’s a wisdom that the devil wants you to be on his side when you make choices.
God tells us that earthly wisdom…natural wisdom…and demonic wisdom are how we can become captivated by the world…[Col 2:8]
Don’t let anyone capture you with empty philosophies and high-sounding nonsense that come from human thinking and from the spiritual powers of this world, rather than from Christ.
James then tells us the consequences of these three types of wisdom is that they produce contention…confusion…and corruption.
Natural wisdom produces contention…you’re going to have more arguments… more conflicts and more controversy because these three are the root cause of bitter jealousy and selfish ambition.
For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist there is disorder [16]
James mentions jealousy and selfishness three times in connection with these three types of wisdom.
In the Bible there are two types of jealousy…there is good jealousy and bad jealousy.
Good jealousy refers to an attitude toward something that belongs to you and is being taken away…that’s the kind of jealousy God has.
Paul writes about God’s jealousy
…I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy [2 Cor. 11:2].
…(I) will not tolerate your affection for any other god [Ex 20:5].
Bad jealousy on the other hand is a jealousy that has no concern for the feelings or welfare of others…bitter jealousy will lie…steal…cheat …slander… manipulate or deceive in order to keep or get back what they thought was theirs.
James says natural wisdom also produces selfish ambition…again ambition can be good or it can be bad.
In a good way ambition is that trait that causes us to strive towards some kind of success or goal…it’s the willingness to stay committed even in the face of adversity or failure.
BUT…Selfish ambition says… ‘I will do or say anything in order to get my way’ …it will nag…complain…gripe…or do whatever is necessary in order to get what it wants.
BUT…at the same time it can also be nice…kind…polite…generous…and helpful in order to get what it wants…selfish ambition approaches life and says…’The end justifies the means.’
When you’re operating out of natural wisdom your needs become the driving force behind what you do…your decisions begin to revolve around you and how your feel…when someone begins to think like that there will eventually be contention and controversy in their home…work…and among friends…people will eventually begin to feel used by you rather than loved by you.
In addition James says where there is jealousy and selfish ambition, there you will find disorder…referring to instability and confusion.
When you find a life…a marriage…a home…a relationship…a church…or a nation that is unstable…in disarray…and in confusion you will find jealousy and selfish ambition…the reason…they are operating out of natural wisdom.
The third thing James says results from natural wisdom is corruption…which is summed up as…evil of every kind.”
Evil of every kind…that’s pretty generic…what are the specifics?…Paul describes them in Galatians [5:19-21].
the deeds of the flesh are evident which are immorality…impurity …sensuality…idolatry…sorcery…strife…jealousy…outbursts of anger…disputes…dissensions…factions…evil and drunkenness
There is a warning attached to these types of immoral activities…people too often think ‘well just a part of living’ but God says… I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.
So in contrast to all this there is the wisdom that comes down from God… This is the second time that James has made reference to the wisdom that comes down from above…back in [1:17] he writes:
Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights
There are 3 points about God’s giving in this verse.
…FIRST…God gives only good gifts
…SECONDLY…God only gives perfect gifts
…THIRDLY…Good and perfect gifts come from only one source…God
In the English we miss the true meaning of this verse when we assume that ‘good’ and ‘perfect’ are synonymous…they are closely related but not identical.
The English translation ‘Every good gift and every perfect gift’ is incorrectly translated…it fails to reveal the difference between ‘good’ and ‘perfect.’
In the Greek there are 2 different meanings:
FIRST the phrase ‘every good gift’…refers to the manner of giving.
SECOND is in the phrase ‘every perfect gift’ which refers to what is given.
SO…one signifies the act of giving…every good act of giving…and the other is what is given…perfect gifts….Combining them together‘every good gift given that we have is an undeserved gift from God …given as a result of unconditional love.
Whereas the phrase ‘every perfect gift’ refers to what is given… everything we touch… feel…see…or hear is a gift God gives of His own free will…a gift we did not make…or buy…or deserve.
BUT what about those times when God gives us difficult trials…troubles…and even disciplines us?
It ties back to [1:2] and how we are to receive what has been given…even if they don’t seem to be good we are to ‘Consider it all joy when encountering various trials’.
Here’s the key to considering it all joy when encountering trials…
Don’t ask how to get out of your trials.
Ask what to get out of your trials.
The trials God gives us when we persevere is the spiritual maturity that is produced in us.
Already talked about the wisdom that comes from below…it’s natural…earthly… and demonic…the other type of wisdom comes from above.
In verse [17] James lists eight traits or characteristics of true wisdom that come down from above.
First pure…then peaceable…gentle or considerate…reasonable…obedient (used only here in the N.T)…full of mercy and good fruits…impartial…and without hypocrisy…That’s a lot of stuff.
But that’s what God wants to give every Christian…and here’s the prescription: let him ask of God [1:5]…the character of God is that He is a giving God…He gives generously…liberally…purely…sincerely…and freely.
Here’s the key…He gives to all generously [1:5]…in His sovereign grace He chooses to be generous to all…and here’s the blessing.
You do not have to worry that God will scold you for asking Him for wisdom.
You do not have to worry that God is too busy to help you.
You do not have to worry God may mock you for not knowing how to face life’s trials.
You do not have to worry God will become irritated because you ask for the same thing.