Introduction.
Today knowledge is exploding; Textbooks and encyclopaedias
are behind the times, soon after they have been published.
The computer age continues
to advance at such a tremendous pace that technology
is outdated with each passing month. But, in the midst
of this increased knowledge, wisdom is practically
nonexistent.
Friends few people would
argue that the incredible leap in knowledge has been
paralleled by a corresponding leap in the common sense
wisdom, not to mention spiritual and moral wisdom.
If anything, man's understanding
of what he is doing and why he is doing it seems to
decrease as his practical knowledge increases. Why aren't
people any better?
In chapter 3 James shows
the tremendous power and potential of the tongue and
draws attention to the fact that our words reveal our
character. Consistent with his emphasis in this letter,
James shows that the real test of true, godly wisdom
lies in a person's conduct. A person may be very intelligent
and almost a genius in their particular field but still
lacks real wisdom.
Prov
4:7 Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore
get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.
The word "Wisdom"
is often used in a careless way today but its origin
in history is vastly different. Put at its highest,
wisdom is nothing less than one of the attributes of
God.
Job
12 -13 With the ancient is wisdom; and in length
of days understanding. With him is wisdom and
strength, he hath counsel and understanding.
God has complete knowledge
of everything; all His actions are perfect and His judgement
is infallible.
DR.
H.B. Smith has called God’s wisdom "that
attribute of God whereby He produces the best possible
results with the best possible means".
Wisdom from above is
something that we ought ever to seek, for there is a
vast difference between the wisdom of men and the wisdom
of God.
Sir
Isaac Newton -- As a blind man has no idea of
colours, so we have no idea of the manner by which the
all-wise God perceives and understands all things.
In these verses James
contrasts heavenly wisdom with earthly wisdom the wisdom
of the World with the wisdom of the Word.
Speaking
of Earthly wisdom James says
James
3:15 This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is
earthly, sensual, devilish.
Speaking
of Heavenly wisdom
James
3:17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure,
then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be entreated,
full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and
without hypocrisy.
1.
The Origin of Wisdom
True wisdom comes from
above and has the marks of godliness upon it, but false
wisdom comes from below. Whatever does not come from
God is destined to fail, no matter how successful it
may seem at the time. There are many example of the
folly of mans wisdom recorded in the Bible.
A.
In Gen.11: 1-9 The building of the Tower of |Babel
seemed a good idea to men but it ended in failure and
confusion.
B.
Abraham thought that it was a good idea, in the
time of famine, to go down into Egypt for help, but
the outcome proved otherwise. This experience turned
him into a liar, he almost lost his wife and he caused
plagues to come on Pharaoh and his household.
C.
King Saul thought that it was a wise thing to
put his own armour on David, but God had other plans.
One stone would be enough to kill Goliath and give Israel
the victory.
The origin of man’s
wisdom is earthly, sensual and devilish. Man’s
wisdom is drawn from his three enemies, "the world,
the flesh and the Devil".
How wonderful and blessed
it is for the Believer to realise, in days of confusion,
when difficult decisions have to be made, that there
is a higher power available, Grace that is sufficient,
and there is Wisdom from on high.
Rom
11:32 For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that
he might have mercy upon all.
Rom
11:34 For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who
hath been his counsellor?
James
has already urged his readers.
James
1:5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that
giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not;
and it shall be given him.
A. The Challenging Question. v 13
"Who
is wise and endued with knowledge among you"? I
think that James had in mind those who were pushing
themselves forward into positions of prominence in the
Church. Those who sought to be teachers and were loudest
in self esteem.
In the day of James as
in ours, there were those who thought that they excelled
in wisdom. Nowhere does the Bible say that a person
with a high IQ—is super spiritual or ranks higher
than anyone else. But it is the responsibility of ever
Christian to appropriate the truth Man’s wisdom
comes from reason; God’s wisdom comes from revelation.
God’s people have
never had so many study aids to help them to understand
what God is saying from His word. Example—commentaries,
concordances, study books, audiotapes, video ministry.
Yet there are so many
spiritual dwarfs’, underdeveloped Christians. It
is even more tragic, when some of them have made their
way to the Pulpit to teach others.
C
H.Spurgeon. Was looking out of his hotel window,
watching people who were coming to draw water from the
pump in the street.
After a period of time,
he noted a man, who had come to the pump a number of
times.
Later Spurgeon discovered
the reason why this man was at the pump so often; he
was the local water seller, who distributed water to
others. This was why he had to come back to the source
of the water, time and time again.
So it is with Christian
teaching, we can only share with others what we have
received from the source of supply. How we need to go
often to the Origin of wisdom, to the Lord and His precious
word.
B. The Clear Distinction. V 13
"Let
him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness
of wisdom.
James exhorts those who
are wise, and "endued with knowledge," or
understanding, to demonstrate it in their conduct, and
behaviour.
Simply put, James is
saying, "One cannot practice what one does not
possess!"
1.
The Origin of Wisdom
2
The Outworking of Wisdom
James is saying, "if
you claim to have wisdom and understanding then let
me see the evidence".
The impact of what James
is saying comes across forcefully the phrase; "
Let him show," Remember what he said in
James
2:18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have
works: show me thy faith without thy works, and I will
show thee my faith by my works.
If a man claims to have
Faith, let him display it! If a man claims to have wisdom
let him display it in the way he lives. For the true
test of wisdom is works and not words alone. True wisdom
and understanding begin with a proper relationship with
God and are displayed by the evidence of the new life.
Verse13
Amp. (Who is there among you who is wise and intelligent?
Then let him by his noble living show forth his good
works with the unobtrusive humility, which is the proper
attribute of true wisdom)
A.
Wisdom from above is Genuine.
Christianity is not just
a collection of good ideas or the performing of religious
ceremonies. Christianity is to control every fibre of
our being, and our actions, producing a good life that
brings glory to God.
Christian wisdom, according
to God’s standard, finds expression in one’s
daily course of life and conduct.
Jesus exhorts--
Mat 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they
may see your good works, and glorify your Father which
is in heaven.
As
someone has said, "The trouble with so many
Christians is that they are suffering from spiritual
measles. Their lives display a mixture of spirituality
and carnality, which display a lack of wisdom. God wants
His people to be pure, bowing in submission to His revealed
word, that His wisdom may pervade the whole life.
A.
Wisdom from above is Genuine.
B.
Wisdom from above is Gentle V13
Indicates that works
are done with meekness of wisdom. (AMP) (with the unobtrusive humility, which is the proper attribute
of true wisdom)
True wisdom is clothed
with humility. Paul said to the Church at Philippi
Phil
1:27 Only let your conversation be as it becometh the
gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or
else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye
stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together
for the faith of the gospel;
He said to the Church
at Corinth.
2
Cor 10:1 Now I Paul myself beseech you by the meekness
and gentleness of Christ,
Jesus has left an example
for us to follow. He is the personification of Heavenly
wisdom.
Even when men hurled
insults at Him He did not retaliate. When He suffered
He made no threats. He entrusted Himself to the one
who judges justly.
What a perfect example
of true wisdom, the Master, in His humility has left
for His people to follow. He committed His cause into
the hands of the Father.
How contrary we can behave,
because of the lack of Heavenly wisdom, and fail to
commit our way unto the Father.
Dwight
Lyman Moody-- A man can counterfeit love, he
can counterfeit faith, he can counterfeit hope and all
the other graces, but it is very difficult to counterfeit
humility.
A.
W. Tozer ---- Because Christ Jesus came to the
world clothed in humility, he will always be found among
those who are clothed with humility. He will be found
among the humble people.
Verses 14-15 James speaks of a Wisdom
that is earthly (read)
1.
The Corruption Described.
Now we have the evidence
of false wisdom. Bitter envying—jealously, selfish
ambition. Strife in your hearts –contention "Glory not, and lie not against the Truth". Do
not take pride in these things and lie against the truth.
The
heart of man’s problem is the problem of man’s
heart
James
exposes the folly of false wisdom as he highlights the
connection between the fruit and the root. Outward actions
are the result of inward attitudes.
Bitter envy, self-seeking,
self-boasting, and self-promotion are the expression
of man’s wisdom. The wisdom of which James is now
speaking is Secular, Sensual and Satanic.
The wisdom of the world
says "promote yourself" you are as good if
not better than others. Even among the Lord’s people
there is a great deal of selfish, carnal self-promotion.
The Apostles argued over
who was going to be the greatest in the kingdom.
The Pharisees used their
activities to promote the praise of men.
It is important that
the believer is zealous in the things of God, but we
must be sure that our motives are right. The Wisdom
of this world exalts man and robs God of Glory
The Apostle Paul says
to the Church at Corinth...
1
Cor 1:17 For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach
the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross
of Christ should be made of none effect.
He then exhorts them.
He
that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord"
We must ever examine
our hearts, to make sure that our zeal and our service
for the Lord is, spiritual and not carnal. Simply put
the wisdom of the world cares only for itself, and the
things of the world
1.
The Corruption Described.
The wisdom of the world
originates in the secular and in the sensual, it is
earthly, and it ignores the spirit. Worldly wise men
are those who mind earthly things. Christians are to
seek those things, which are above.
2.
The Correction that is Needed
Col
3:1 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things
which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand
of God.
Col
3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all
wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms
and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in
your hearts to the Lord.
The wisdom of the world
finds its origin in Satan and not in God. Satan is the
power behind the wisdom of the world, and satanic thinking
pervades much of man’s thinking today.
This began back in the
Garden of Eden. Eve made her choice to disobey God.
Gen
3:6 And when the woman saw that the tree was good
for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes,
and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she
took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also
unto her husband with her; and he did eat.
Eve choose the wisdom
of the World and the result was the same as James describes
in James 3:16 For where envying
and strife is, there is confusion and
every evil work. A heart filled with jealousy
and ambition produces problems of many kinds.
Permit worldly wisdom
to creep into the Assembly of God’s people, and
you have opened the door for every kind of satanic opposition,
which will stem the tide of spiritual growth.
To be forewarned is
to be forearmed.
God’s wisdom does
not allow for envying, strife and confusion. 1 Cor 14:33 For God is not the author of confusion, but
of peace, as in all churches of the saints.
Let us ever remember
that Christians have three great enemies. The World
- Earthly The Flesh - Natural The Devil
- Demonic
Instead of bringing people
together, they drive them apart. Instead of producing
peace, they produce strife. Instead of producing a fellowship,
they produce a disruption in personal relationship.
The Church needs to be
on guard. The world by its wisdom knew not God, and
its world’s wisdom that rejects the Gospel of God
today.
For
the Preaching of the cross is unto those that perish
foolishness.
But the wisdom that
comes from hell will never get a soul near heaven Man’s
wisdom says I'll believe
it when I can see it, hear it, smell it, or touch it!"
The Wisdom of man will
come to nothing but God’s wisdom will endure forever.
A
late Hollywood film star said, not long before he died:
"I did everything I could to get to the top of
the tree, but when I got to the top I found that there
was nothing there!"
The wisdom of the world
is good for nothing. The wisdom of the world is inherited
through our sinful nature. We do not have to teach children
worldly wisdom for they are born with it. The greatest
need we have in the world today is wisdom from God.
1.
The Origin of Wisdom
2.
The Outworking of Wisdom
3.
The Outcome of Wisdom v 17,18
In contrast to wisdom
that is earthly, James now describes the outcome of
wisdom that is heavenly. Solomon said, in
Proverbs 2:6: "For the Lord giveth wisdom; out
of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding."
James is going to use
eight different adjectives to describe heavenly, or
Word wisdom. However, he draws specific attention to
one, and says that this wisdom is, before it is anything
else, it is "first pure.
This
Wisdom from Above is pure, because it's origin
is pure.
- Purity—indicates
Holiness.
God is Holy and
therefore the wisdom from above is holy, in contrast
to man’s, which is sensual. Jesus is our wisdom
and in Him are hidden all the treasures of wisdom
and knowledge. This wisdom is undefiled and free
from the corruption that characterizes ungodly wisdom.
It is free from selfishness and the determination
to have one's own way.
This Wisdom from Above is
- Peaceable.
Man’s wisdom
leads to competition, contention and war James
4:1,2 but God’s wisdom leads to peace.
A pure person will
be one who promotes peace. Jesus said,
Mat
5:9 Blessed are the peacemakers: for they
shall be called the children of God.
The wisdom that comes
form above brings peace with God, peace with ourselves,
and peace with others. Peace of heart grows out
of purity of heart. Real peace does not come before
purity, purity comes before peace.
3.
Gentleness. This also is wisdom from above.
It displays courteousness and reasonableness. Heaven’s
wisdom is gentle, not harsh or critical or inconsiderate
of others. Such wisdom is a rare commodity today.
The gentle person
does not deliberately cause fights, but neither
does he compromise the truth in order to keep the
peace.
It
was said of Abraham Lincoln—"had he was
a man of velvet steel"—This is
a good description of gentleness.
- Full of Mercy---
Jesus said Mat
5:7 Blessed are the merciful: for they shall
obtain mercy.
Luke
6: 36 Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also
is merciful. Judge not, and ye shall not be judged:
condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive,
and ye shall be forgiven
4.
Full of Good Fruits. –
While the wisdom of the
world results in perversion, the wisdom from above results
in productivity. Jesus reminds us that His disciples
will be known by their fruits. Matt 7:20
The wisdom from above
is Peaceable, not Perverted! The wisdom from above is
Gentle, not Grievous! The wisdom from above is Full
of Mercy, not Full of Murmuring! The wisdom from the
above is Good Fruit, not Bad Fruit!
The wisdom from above
is Without Partiality, not With Prejudice! The wisdom
from the Word is Without Hypocrisy, not With Hypocrisy!
Hypocrisy comes from an old actors term, a man with
many faces.
CONCLUSION
This type of wisdom from ABOVE has an affect
upon us
James
3:18 And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace
of them that make peace.
He who sows peace will
reap peace. The wisdom that comes from above can change
our lives. It can make us pure, peace loving, patient
and productive.
Happy
is the man that findeth wisdom,
and
the man that getteth understanding. Prov 3:13
|
