Introduction:
We like to consider ourselves wise. But James
3:13-18 warns us that just because we think we are wise,
does not mean we are. There are two kinds of wisdom—one of them
is from above and the other is not. The reason we need to study
this passage is found in vs.
18. James says, “And a harvest of righteousness is sown
in peace by those who make peace” (ESV). Our goal is to bear
fruit that glorifies God (John
15:8). If we will succeed, we must abolish earthly wisdom
and live in godly wisdom.
Discussion:
I.
“But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition
…” (James
3:14).
A.
“… bitter jealousy…”
Acts
13:45 is a great example of this kind of action. When the
Jews saw Paul’s success, envy entered their heart, they started
blaspheming, contradicting and opposing his preaching. According
to Matthew
27:18, the Jewish leaders crucified Jesus out of envy.
Those with ungodly wisdom want what others have and it angers them
that God has given someone else “their” blessing. They cannot
stand that someone else has greater influence. They do not like it
when someone else gets credit. They hate for someone else’s
plans to be adopted. They can hardly admit it when someone else
has more ability than they do. Because of this, they will grumble,
criticize and even slander others. Some will go so far as to
sabotage someone else’s work. Envy goes from bad to worse, even
leading to directly attacking others. How many of you remember the
shock we had when we learned that Olympic hopeful Tonya Harding
was involved in the January 6, 1994 attack on her possible
teammate, Nancy Kerrigan. Considering that example, can you
envision how bad things can become in a church if even just one
person is acting with ungodly wisdom out of jealousy?
B.
“… and selfish ambition …” Not only can the one
with ungodly wisdom not stand it when anyone is “ahead” of
them, they are constantly working to move themselves ahead. This
word is sometimes translated “contentious,” because the
selfishly ambitious is constantly contending, that is, competing,
with others. To this person, there is only so much out there and
if you have some of it, they lose some of it. They want most of it
for themselves. They want to push themselves forward. They want
their plans to be followed. They want their opinions to be adhered
to. They want their interests to be addressed. They think that if
people would just listen to them, then everything would be
alright. They want you to hear their advice and be in awe of their
wisdom. Ultimately, they want to run the show and their concern
for the interests of others goes only so far as to let others know
what their interests really ought to be. Paul says this type of
attitude must not be among us (Philippians
2:3-4).
II.
“But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable,
gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial
and sincere” (James
3:17).
A.
“… pure …” That is, it is undefiled and unsullied.
Godly wisdom works without hidden agendas and ulterior motives.
What you see is what you get. Godly wisdom does not apply
techniques to manipulate. Godly wisdom is pure and purely
motivated.
B.
“… then peaceable …” The goal of godly wisdom is
peace. The primary goal is peace with God. We do not allow sin to
go unchecked because that does not make for peace with God, in
fact it makes enmity with God (James
4:4). Then secondly, peace among the brethren. The actions
of godly wisdom are not designed to stir up contention, but to
avoid it. The actions of godly wisdom are not designed to put
people in their place, but on a pedestal. Those with godly wisdom
do not strive to bring everyone on to their path, but rather
pursues a path of peace with everyone.
C.
“… gentle …” This term can best be understood by
seeing how it is used elsewhere in contrast. In I
Peter 2:18, Peter told servants to submit to their
masters, whether they were gentle or harsh. Godly wisdom is
gentle; it is not harsh, abrasive, abusive, vindictive or
vengeful. In Titus
3:2, Paul said Titus was to teach Christians not to be
brawlers (KJV) or contentious (NASB) but gentle. Godly wisdom is
gentle, it does not criticize, pick fights, draw battle lines, set
up sides or attack. Godly wisdom acts in kindness, blessing,
honoring and praising others. When problems arise it acts with
unfeigned humility, looking to keep self from sin as well (Galatians
6:1).
D.
“…open to reason…” Those who have godly wisdom are
not so bound up in their own opinions that they cannot listen to
others. If someone presents a reasonable case, they will listen
and even change. They recognize in many cases there are a variety
of ways things can be done. It doesn’t just have to be their
way. Perhaps the greatest key to being open to reason is an ear to
listen. Before judging someone else’s motives or drawing
conclusions about their actions or purpose, those with godly
wisdom listen and listen well.
E.
“… full of mercy …” Note two passages that help
explain this phrase. In Matthew
12:7, Jesus said that because the Pharisees had ignored
mercy, they had condemned the guiltless. There are some, who
strive to find fault with everyone and everything. But those with
godly wisdom look for what is right. They still address sin.
However, they do not try to color everything as sin so they can
find fault with others for not doing things their way. In Luke
10:37 a lawyer explained that the Good Samaritan had been
merciful to the wounded Jew. Those with godly wisdom are full of
mercy, that is, full of kindness and goodness. Their goal is not
to inflict wounds, but to heal them, strengthening others and
making them better.
F.
“… good fruits …” We know people by their fruit (Matthew
7:16). If the fruit is a fig, the tree is a fig tree. If
the fruit is a grape, then it is a grape vine (James
3:12). Those with godly wisdom are full of good fruit. We
will see love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness,
faithfulness, gentleness and self-control in all their actions and
in their relationships (Galatians
5:22-23). We will see actions and results that coincide
with this fruit all around them.
G.
“…impartial…” Those with godly wisdom exhibit all
of the above qualities to everyone with whom they come in contact.
They act in the meekness of wisdom toward the poor and the rich,
the black and the white, the beautiful and the ugly, the sinner
and the saint, the friendly and the unfriendly, the weak and the
strong, the young and the old, those who can repay and those who
cannot. They make no distinctions, but treat all people with the
same attitude.
H.
“… and sincere …” Those with godly wisdom act in
this way because they want to. They do not have to fake it. They
have worked so it is natural and sincere. Paul made this same
point in Romans
12:9 teaching us to let our love be without hypocrisy. In
another sermon, perhaps we can examine Romans
12:9-21 to see what love without hypocrisy looks like. For
now, simply read what it says. This is a picture of those with
godly wisdom in action.
III.
“… do not boast and be false against the truth. This is
not the wisdom that comes from above, but is earthly, unspiritual,
demonic.” (James
3:14).
A.
“… do not boast and be false against the truth …”
This statement, I believe, highlights the great danger in all of
this. Most of the jealous and selfishly ambitious are hardly aware
that they are anything less than wise. They are certain of their
wisdom and understanding. But their boasting is a lie. That is,
their claim to wisdom is not true. Because what they have is not
wisdom at all.
B.
“… but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic.” Their
wisdom is not godly wisdom, but earthly. And those following this
wisdom are as the men described in Philippians
3:18-19. Their wisdom is sensual. And those following this
wisdom are like the people described in Jude
16-19. Their wisdom did not descend from God above, but is
demonic ascending from the very pits of hell. We must be objective
and honest with ourselves, examining ourselves to be certain that
we show wisdom by our good conduct (James
3:13).
IV.
“For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there
will be disorder and every vile practice” (James
3:16).
A.
If self-deception about this is so easy and commonplace,
then we must determine a way to examine ourselves. This verse
implies the way. Examine the fruit in and around your life.
Throughout the book of James, we read of some of the confusion and
evil that exists when we are jealous and selfishly ambitious.
Though not all of these examples are given in the direct context
with the verses we have studied, I believe we can see their
connection to the ideas and principles of the passage. And, above
all, be honest, if you see any of these things in your life, then
you have envy and self-seeking that you need to get rid of.
B.
Consider James
1:13. Do you blame God or anyone else for your sins (or
even your failures)? The jealous and selfishly ambitious are
masters at shifting the blame for their conduct. When something
goes wrong, do you naturally figure out how it is somebody
else’s fault? Be honest.
C.
Consider James
1:19. Do you have trouble listening? Are you quick to
start talking? The jealous and selfishly ambitious have trouble
listening because they want you to hear their solutions more than
they really want to hear your problems. So they have trouble
bridling their tongues (James
1:26). Do you find that you dominate conversations with
your opinions and think-so’s? Do you say most of the things you
think? Have you ever justified that feeling by saying that you are
just trying to be honest? Be honest.
D.
Consider again James
1:19. Do you get angry easily? The jealous and selfishly
ambitious are quick to get angry because it infuriates them when
others disagree. They just cannot understand why other people do
not listen to what they are saying and see things their way. Do
you spend a lot of time upset with others or getting on to others?
Be honest.
E.
Consider James
2:1-4. Do you treat different groups of people
differently? Is there a group that you treat with respect and awe,
while you condescend to the opposite group? The jealous and
selfishly ambitious butter up to people they believe will give
them advantage or to people that they deem are part of the
“in” crowd. Others, however, are unimportant and do not need
the same respect and proper treatment. Do you act one way with one
group and another way with others? Do you treat your spouse,
children or parents with less respect than others? Be honest.
F.
Consider James
2:15-16. Do you provide lots of advice but have trouble
giving people what they need to help them? The jealous and
selfishly ambitious love to give people advice and tell them
things will be better, but they do not like sacrificing their own
things. Do your actions fall short of your words? Do you struggle
sacrificing in order to benefit others? Be honest.
G.
Consider James
3:9. Do you curse people? What about James
4:11? Do you speak evil of your brother? Or James
5:9? Do you grumble against your brethren? The jealous and
selfishly ambitious find it hard to say much good about people,
especially those who disagree with them. When you talk about other
people, do you spend more time talking about what they do right
and what they are good at? Or do you find yourself highlighting
their faults and flaws? Do you have trouble hearing someone else
receive a compliment? When you do hear someone complimented, is
your natural reaction to explain why they really aren’t “all
that”? Do you spend much time explaining why someone else’s
flaws are goofing things up in your family, neighborhood,
workplace or church? Be honest.
H.
Consider James
4:1. Do you find that you are repeatedly in some conflict
or another? The jealous and selfishly ambitious are typically at
odds with somebody because they constantly contend with those who
disagree with them. And, as earlier mentioned, the jealous and
selfishly ambitious rarely see their own fault but can shift the
blame for the conflict to others. Do you ever notice that a lot of
the conflicts in your family, workplace or congregation seem to
have a common denominator—you? Be honest.
I.
Consider James
4:1, 3. Do you spend much time thinking about all the
things that you want? No, it is not wrong to have desires, but the
jealous and selfishly ambitious gauge most situations and
decisions based upon what they will get out of it and how it will
make them look good. They spend a great deal of time thinking
about how to get what they want and how they will enjoy it when
they get it. Do you get upset when the way that most benefits you
is not chosen? Do you get upset if the plan does not highlight
your strengths? Does it bother you when whatever is done makes
someone else look good or benefits them more than you?
J.
Consider James
5:19-20. Do you get upset when those who have sinned
against you repent and are accepted back into the fold? The
jealous and selfishly ambitious have trouble accepting the
repentant because the envious (like the Prodigal’s brother)
think the repentant got away with something and it just isn’t
fair. Because of that feeling, the jealous and selfishly ambitious
do not spend much time trying to bring the sinner back into the
fold, especially if the sinner did something to them. Too often,
they want that person to pay for what they have done. Do you spend
more time talking about someone’s sins than doing anything about
it?
Conclusion:
“Who is wise and
understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his
works in the meekness of wisdom.” Let us all examine
ourselves—not everyone else—and be certain that what we do is
in the meekness of wisdom. Let us keep the pestilence of jealousy
and selfish ambition out of the vineyard and produce the fruit of
righteousness by which our Father will be glorified.
Glory
to God in the church by Christ Jesus
Franklin
Church of Christ
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