Text — James 3:13-18
Subject — Wisdom
Theme — The Character of Wisdom
Proposition — The Character of Wisdom as taught by James 3 should give us insights into the type of Wisdom we practice
Purpose — Therefore having seen the Character of Wisdom in James 3 let us thank God that Jesus is our Wisdom and then pray God for a repentant heart that puts off earthly wisdom and put on heavenly wisdom
Introduction
Context
vs. 13 should be read in context with vs. 1. There the warning was of the dangers that come with being a teacher. Vs. 13, with the picking up of the theme of “wise and understanding” seems then to be a reference back to who should and shouldn’t be a teacher. The idea would be that a teacher is wise and understanding, and this section then goes into what that wise and understanding looks like.
I.) Wise & Understanding Looks Like Good Conduct
vs. 13 — In James requirement that Wisdom would be reflected by its fruits James is being consistent in his whole root and fruit theology. Remember James is the Apostle that is teaches that faith as a root produces good works as a fruit. James uses that same kind of reasoning in 3:13. Wisdom as a root produces good conduct.
In saying this James makes Wisdom to be a quality or virtue that is known by its children or offspring. If one is Wise, then that is revealed in good conduct. We notice how concrete James is here. Wisdom has hands and feet.
At this point we must realize that there must be an objective standard that is being used in order to measure the idea of “good conduct.” “Good conduct” is not conduct that is measured by good intentions, or by subjective opinions about what would be “good,” but by the clear description of what is good as set forth by the word of God. This is necessary to keep emphasizing because of our American predisposition to believe that “good” is situational relative.
At this point James turns to characterize the good conduct called for and says that Wise and understanding man will do works that are done in the meekness of Wisdom. Here we find a definitional component of Wisdom. James characterizes Wisdom as have a certain meekness about it.
“Meekness of Wisdom” — James is calling for a wisdom that does not put itself on display, is not arrogant, boastful, is not concerned about public exhibition to gain notice.
So when works are done in the “Meekness of Wisdom” there is the sense that there is not a great deal of grandstanding that is going on in order to put those works on display. The works of Wisdom are not concerned with being advertised of glorified by men.
These words then are reminiscent of Jesus’ own words
1 “Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.
2 “So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. 3 But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
Prayer
5 “And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. 6 But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
II.) Wise & Understanding does not look like
Vs. 14 is a conditional sentence that in the Greek communicates the presence of those vices that are in the conditional sentence. So, what is being said here is,
“If you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts [and I know you do] stop boasting about it and stop denying the truth.”
“Bitter envy” & “self seeking” seems to be what is contrasted with the the “the Meekness of Wisdom.”
Envy is resentful and even hateful dislike of the good fortune or blessing or position of another. That fact that James calls it “bitter” accentuates the character of envy or what envy naturally does to a person.
This idea of “bitter envy” is part of the old nature. It is the means by which old Slew-foot appealed to Eve. Satan birthed Envy in Eve with the temptation,
5 “For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”
See the resentment that Satan is creating in Eve? See how Satan is creating a hateful dislike in Eve of the position of God?
“God is keeping something from you Eve. Be ‘wise.’ Be God yourself. Make your own decisions.”
So this “Bitter Envying,” and “Selfish ambition,” is characteristic of the Old Man. However these are traits that are also accentuated by our own culture where we are largely taught that “Bitter Envying” and “Selfish ambition” are positive traits.
We are taught to envy the possession of others in the class warfare that is always being brought before our eyes. In the word “Schadenfreud” we have adopted a word that speaks of our delight at the misfortune of somebody else. We see the people fail who we are trying to replace or who we are in competition with and we have a certain Schadenfreud about their demise.
This envying tends to make comparisons between what others have and what we don’t have or it compares the attributes of others as against our own attributes. This kind of envying resents the existence of other people and is delighted when they are pulled down even if it means that the ones doing the resenting are not themselves rising. This kind of envying then values its own welfare less than it does the debasement or harm of others.
Much of what goes on in Liberation Theology and thus passes for Christianity is really just envy and selfish ambition dressed up in evening clothes.
(Cmp. Gal. 6 — “Selfish ambition — part of “Lust of the Flesh)
James then calls for a cease in boasting in this. (Out of the abundance of the heart them mouth speaks.)
James calls this “Wisdom”
Note something here. When God’s standard is ignored the result is an upside down, inside out world where good becomes bad and “Bitter envy and selfish ambition” becomes Wisdom. James calls it “Wisdom” but it is only “Wisdom” in the context of a God hating World and life view.
Earthly … unspiritual … Demonic
James offers that where this Demonic Wisdom exists there you have confusion (chaos) and every evil thing.
The reason that this is so is obvious. With Envy you have everybody trying to pull everybody else down. Nothing in human relationships or social orders can be built when you have the war of all against all. Selfish ambition likewise is a situation where everyone is trying to be God. Only confusion (chaos) can result in a world where every person is trying to be God to everyone else.
III.) Wise & Understanding Looks Like
A.) Right Oriented attitudes
Peace-loving, considerate, submissive
B.) Right Oriented action
Full of mercy and good fruit
C.) Right Oriented judgments
Impartial and w/o Hypocrisy (sincere)
Now we must close with the Gospel.
Who alone has the ability to attain the status of Wise?
Why it is only those who are clothed in Jesus Christ and who have taken Him for their Wisdom. The pagan and Christ hater will never be wise. Because they are dead in their sins and trespasses their minds are darkened and their whole existence is characterized by a futility in their thinking.
It is only Christians who have looked to Christ alone and trust him for their acceptance with God who have any hope of being sanctified unto Wisdom. It is only Christians who put no hope in their own Wisdom to find favor with God who can hope to be wise. It is only Christians who have, despite their foolishness and wickedness, who can aspire unto Wisdom.