Wisdom from Above

• 1^st – Who is wise… vs. 13
  • 1^st – Having WISDOM…
    • Command for WISDOM…
      • James opened up with a command to ask for WISDOM – James 1:5
      • If any of you lack WISDOM – [σοφία] – the question was a STATEMENT…
      • SINCE we do not have WISDOM – we must ASK [imperative] the Lord for it…
      • And when we do the Lord WILL [indicative] – give it to us!
    • Who is WISE…
      • Who is wise and understanding among you…
      • Here we are asked the question – who is WISE and has UNDERSTANDING among you…
      • WISE – [σοφὸς] – speaks of someone who has WISDOM [σοφία] …
      • UNDERSTANDING – [ἐπιστήμων] – only here NT – speaks of being an EXPERT…
      • Together – those who have asked God for WISDOM – and therefore are WISE…
      • Should be EXPERTS – have UNDERSTANDING – in the things pertaining to the LORD!
    • Being an EXPERT…
      • Being an EXPERT means we DO – rejoice in TRIALS – obey the ROYAL Law…
      • Have FRUIT that shows our FAITH – and guard our WORDS…
      • Yet so often – what we KNOW is true – is NOT what we DO!
      • Often when people are given INSTRUCTIONS – being given WISDOM…
      • The common answer – sometimes before the instructions are even complete – I KNOW!
      • As if what is being stated is the most obvious thing…
      • Yet – it is an amusing response – because if they KNEW…
      • Then why are they not doing it – knowledge of what to do it NOT enough!
  • 2^nd – Showing WISDOM…
    • The CHALLENGE…
      • Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom!
      • SHOW it [imperative] – is the command for anyone who says they have WISDOM…
      • SHOW it – through good CONDUCT – [ἀναστροφή] – their BEHAVIOR…
      • BEHAVIOR – that is seen in good WORDS – that reveal a good HEART – James 3:2
      • But not just WORDS – someone who is WISE must show it in their WORKS!
      • The proof we UNDERSTAND – lies in good FRUIT – James 2:20
    • The EVIDENCE…
      • Tying these together – good WORKS and WORDS show we are WISE!
      • A person who SAYS they know how life works…
      • But live in a way that where there is NO good WORDS and NO good WORKS …
      • They are NOT telling the truth – no matter what they say!
      • But if we are WISE – meaning we really do UNDERSTAND how life works….
      • We will come in MEEKNESS to Jesus who gives us WISDOM…
      • The result will be that our lives are filled with good WORDS and good WORKS!
  • 3^rd – Defining WISDOM…
    • There are only TWO sources for WISDOM – from ABOVE / or not from ABOVE…
    • ANY wisdom that is not from the Word of God – is NOT from ABOVE!
    • We are given TWO descriptive lists – to compare OUR lives to…
    • Revealing which WISDOM we are following – answering if we are truly WISE!

• 2^nd – Earthly WISDOM … vs. 14-16
  • 1^st – Three examples… vs. 14
    • Bitter envy…
      • If [SINCE] you have bitter envy…
      • BITTER – 2x in NT – here and in – James 3:11
      • Where it is used to compares WORDS to bitter water – context suggesting bitter WORDS!
      • ENVY – [ζῆλος] – can almost be spoken into English – zealous…
      • The word literally means to boil over – like a pot of scalding hot water!
      • Too often we can be zealous to share our bitter words…
      • Inspired by some hurt – we neglect to think of the impact of our WORDS…
      • If we are boiling over with bitter WORDS – we show we are NOT wise!
    • Self-seeking…
      • Self-seeking in your hearts…
      • SELF-SEEKING – means to promote yourself…
      • The word was used by Aristotle to describe running for POLITICAL office!
      • As we come to election time – we see how politicians PROMOTE themselves…
      • Large caravans of vehicles – that ultimately clog up roads – causing traffic…
      • Not in an effort to HELP others – it is SELF-SEEKING – they want the position…
      • Their SELF promoting results in deep divisions – strife and contention!
      • If we are ONLY concerned about ourselves – willing to do ANYTHING to get what we want…
      • And do not care who we HARM – our WORKS show we are NOT WISE!
    • Boasting…
      • Do not [imperative] boast and lie against THE [article] truth…
      • What is THE truth – our WORDS and WORKS reveal who we are…
      • If we BOAST that we are WISE – but our WORDS and WORKS contradict us…
      • Then we are LYING and trying to suppress the TRUTH!
      • There is a LOT of debate right now on GENDER – and IDENTITY – SOGIE…
      • The WISDOM of the world argues – there is nothing wrong with homosexuality…
      • People can be whatever makes them feel happy – not tied to antiquated stereotypes!
      • Judges 21:25 – “Everyone did what was right in his own eyes.”
      • The WISDOM of this world is trying to HIDE the TRUTH…
      • They do not want to be accountable to a CREATOR – so they try and deny the creation!
      • The TRUTH is God created TWO kinds of people – MALE and FEMALE – Genesis 1:27
      • The TRUTH is God created marriage – one MAN and one WOMAN – Genesis 2:18
      • Romans 1:18 – “The wrath of God is revealed against all… who suppress the TRUTH.”
      • The world is NOT ignorant – NO man has an excuse – Romans 1:20
      • Men KNOW God exists – and KNOW what He expects – but willfully CHOOSE to ignore it…
      • They go so far as to LIE about what they know – because they PREFER their SIN!
      • They try and AVOID anything to do with God – some even try and DENY God exists…
      • Because by DENYING God – they can FOOL themselves into denying their SIN!
      • Psalms 14:1 – “The fool has said in his heart – NO God.”
  • 2^nd – Three sources… vs. 15
    • Not from ABOVE…
      • This wisdom does not descend from above…
      • Those who are full of BITTER words – are marked by SELF-SEEKING works…
      • Those who BOAST against THE truth – LIE about the LORD…
      • Are NOT inspired by God – their inspiration comes from an entirely different place!
    • EARTHLY…
      • EARTHLY – comes from the dirt – a contrast to coming from heaven…
      • The common convention today is – if you want to be WISE then go to college…
      • Yet more often than not today – universities are turning out fools…
      • Because the WISDOM they teach is NOT from the Bible / instead it is EARTHLY…
      • The students are taught there is no right or wrong – it is all relative…
      • There is no SIN – as long as you think it is ok – it is good!
      • Romans 1:21 – “Professing to be wise [σοφὸς] – they became fools.”
      • Do not mistake this WISDOM – for being WISE – universities are filled it…
      • But it is EARTHLY – and if we listen – it will blind us to our need for Jesus…
      • That is NOT from above – it is FOOLISH – because it keeps us from God!
    • SENSUAL…
      • SENSUAL – [ψυχικός] – to be governed by the NATURAL mind…
      • PSYCHOLOGY – means the study of the psyche – natural mind [ψυχή]
      • On the surface – there appears to be some WISDOM in PSYCHOLOGY …
      • But at its core it denies that God is the solution – or that even He exists…
      • And will try to discredit the sufficiency of God to overcome problems!
      • I Corinthians 2:14 – “The natural man [ψυχικός] does not receive the things of the Spirit of God – for they are foolishness to him…”
      • The world does not label PSYCHOLOGY as RELIGION – but it is…
      • It is the RELIGION of MAN – teaching we are the GOD of our lives!
      • Why is it then we think getting counsel from Psychiatrics will help…
      • Perhaps we should ask – before we give them our problems – how is your life…
      • All they have to offer is sensual WISDOM – which can never make us WISE!
    • DEMONIC…
      • DEMONIC – only here NT – from a demon / or demon like…
      • Speaking of the ultimate source of the WISDOM from below – satan…
      • Satan HATES God – and therefore he also HATES the WISDOM from God…
      • He fills the world with ways to make people THINK they are WISE…
      • In a continuous battle to keep people from God!
      • There are countless ways we can be DECEIVED into thinking we are WISE…
      • It might be a FALSE religion – that makes us FEEL GOOD…
      • Or an EDUCATION – job – that tells us we are GOOD…
      • Or a PSYCHIATRIST who assures us we will be GOOD…
      • The source of all of them is EARTHLY wisdom – meant to DECEIVE – inspired by satan!
      • Matthew 7:13-14 – “For wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it.  Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.”
  • 3^rd – Two results… vs. 16
    • Confusion…
      • For where envy and self-seeking exist – confusion!
      • When the WISDOM of the WORLD reigns…
      • Envy and self-seeking – James 3:14 – will also be there causing CONFUSION…
      • CONFUSION – to NOT be established or have a good foundation!
      • I Corinthians 14:33 – “God is not the author of CONFUSION [same word] but of peace…”
      • But people who REJECT God – and put their TRUST in the WISDOM of this world…
      • End up building their life on an UNSTABLE foundation…
      • And when the storms of life come – their foundation crumbles…
      • They are left CONFUSED – bewildered – as to why they are standing in ruins!
      • Matthew 7:26 – “Like a foolish man who built his house on the sand…”
    • Evil things…
      • Every evil thing are there…
      • EVIL [φαῦλος] – 4x in NT – wicked as a term of contrast…
      • A VERY inclusive statement – essentially EVERYING not of God will be there…
      • Because in the absence of light – darkness is what ends up reigning!
      • We see a world around us – undeniably it has lost its way…
      • Statistics on depression / suicide / violent crimes – have an exponential increase…
      • Growing up there no mass shootings in schools…
      • What has happened to our society – we have embraced EARTHLY wisdom!
      • Where we teach people there is no God – morality is relative…
      • And the only hope we give to them is vain PSYCHOLOGY – that can only mask the problem…
      • How do they handle the conviction of sin in their hearts – they AVOID the LIGHT…
      • The world spirals into the depths of depravity – where every EVIL thing abounds!
      • John 3:20 – “For everyone practicing evil [φαῦλος] hates the light and does not come to the light – lest his deeds should be exposed.”

As we ABIDE in Jesus – and the FRUIT of our lives shows them a better way!

3^rd – Wisdom from above… vs. 17-18

1^st – Holy life… vs. 17

BUT – the wisdom that is from above is first [truly] PURE…

BUT – in contrast to the WISDOM of the world – is the WISDOM from ABOVE…

The FIRST – [truly] PURE [ἁγνός] – HOLY – to be set apart for God!

The KEY attribute of someone who has the WISDOM from ABOVE – they are HOLY!

There are many pots…

II Timothy 2:20-21 – “In a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay, some for honor and some for dishonor. Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter – he will be a vessel for honor – sanctified [PURE] and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work.”

I think a lot of people are baffled at why the Lord does not use them more…

The better question is – how much of ourselves do we give to the Lord to be used…

There is no limit to what God desires to do with our lives – Ephesians 3:20

But we can limit what God does with our lives – by which WISDOM we follow in life…

Do we choose the WISDOM of this world – living for ourselves…

Or are do we have the WISDOM from above – purpose in our heart to be set apart for God!

2^nd – The FRUIT… vs. 17

SEVEN attributes…

What does a HOLY life look like – a life FULL of the WISDOM from ABOVE…

We are given SEVEN additional attributes to DESCRIBE it!

1 – PEACEABLE – we have peace in our lives – not anxious or tormented

Life tends to throw challenges / PROBLEMS our way…

We spend much of our time worrying about those PROBLEMS …

The PROBLEMS is worrying about our PROBLEMS does not help – it makes things worse!

Proverbs 12:25 – “Worry weighs a person down…”

WORRY is the opposite of PEACE – we WORRY because we do not have the PEACE of God…

But a life set apart for God – is PEACEABLE – and there is nothing to worry about!

John 14:27 – “Peace I leave with you – My peace I give to you – not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled – neither let it be afraid.”

2 – GENTLE – meaning we are not harsh – with our WORDS or ACTIONS…

3 – Willing to YIELD – only here NT – it means we are compliant / not argumentative…

4 – Full of MERCY – we are NOT judgmental of others – but instead give GRACE…

5 – Good fruit – the WORKS that come from our life show our heart for God…

Going back to the example of the tree – you know what it is by the fruit…

Luke 6:44 – “Every tree is known by its fruit.”

6 – Without PARTIALITY – referencing back to James 2:4 – we are loving towards ALL…

7 – Without HYPOCRISY – we are genuine in our actions…

The word hypocrisy come from the Greek stage – those who wore MAKS…

The idea was who they looked like on the outside – was not who they really were!

We are not trying to be someone we really are not on the inside – two faced!

A familiar list…

This list is very similar to the FRUIT of the SPIRIT – Galatians 5:22-23

FRUIT is NOT something we create – it is the result of a connection – John 15:4

Meaning we will have the WISDOM from ABOVE – the FRUIT of the SPIRIT…

When we are CONNECTED to Jesus – as we ABIDE in Him!

3^rd – Sowing SEED… vs. 18

The fruit of righteousness is sown [passive] in peace – by those who make [active] peace!

Those who live their lives by the WISDOM from ABOVE – sow seeds of righteousness…

NOTE – their SOWING [passive] is the result of them living their lives in PEACE [active]!

Meaning the solution to the lost world we see around us – full of EARTHLY wisdom…

A lost WORLD that is NOT wise – CONFUSED – full of every EVIL thing…

Is simply to show them the alternative – the WISDOM from ABOVE…