0810 TWO KINDS OF WISDOM

AUGUST 10 = JAMES 3

TWO KINDS OF WISDOM

The third chapter of James begins with a dozen very practical verses about controlling the tongue. I hope to address that topic in a sermon form this Sunday. But the rest of the chapter has equally practical instruction about two kinds of wisdom. Let’s explore what our older brother James has discovered on the subject of wisdom.

Do you remember the story Jesus told of the shrewd business manager who was being fired by his master? He went to each of his master’s customers and reduced their debts to his master. That way, when he was fired, he would find himself in the good graces of each of those folks. He was dishonest, but he was also shrewd. Jesus applied the story to our heavenly journey. Be sure to use earthly things in order to win eternal friends who will welcome you into heaven.

Was that business manager wise? It depends on how you measure wisdom, I suppose. Business savvy might be considered a form of wisdom. But I think we would agree that the most clever business practices are not what we would call “heavenly wisdom.” What gets us ahead in the worldly sphere is not what generates a close relationship with the Holy one. 

So, what would be the marks of wisdom that comes from above? Here’s what James says:

“Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. 

Wisdom from above is marked by “A good life,” which includes deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. Which, in turn, makes this a circular sentence that sort of defines “a good life” as deeds done in the humility that comes from the above-mentioned wisdom. In any case, “wisdom” leads a person to live a good life. Wisdom does not seek a dark path, marked by mistruths, broken rules, empty promises and a long line of broken relationships. A good life is lived by a person who does good to others and submits to what might be called the rules of life.

Wisdom also is seen in humble deeds. If you are humble, you will be wise, and if you are wise, you see clearly that you are not the only person on the planet who deserves special attention. A deed done in pride might be one that is selfish, or steps on others, takes from others, unfairly claims credit, and always seems to serve self above others. But a deed done in humility is much more likely to be done anonymously, to help others without drawing attention to self, to be motivated by wanting to serve and help others. In short, a person who is a “taker” is unwise, while a “giver” is wise.

Then James elaborates further:

But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. 

Bitter envy happens when a person who is a taker in life sees that others have received already, especially when it was an unfair handout. Envy is an awful emotion to feel. But bitter envy feels downright wrong. And selfish ambition is like the same motivation, but before the bitterness of disappointment. Selfish ambition still puts myself on my own throne, to pursue my wants. Ambition is not the problem here. Not if you make it your ambition to lead a good life, for example. But ambition that is selfish leads a person to to plan as a “taker,” and then to make basic life positions that promote self.

Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. 

God is the one who invented the earth. And if you are learning so-called wisdom from an “earthly, unspiritual and demonic” resource, it will not go well in the first place. But the “wisdom” itself was not handed down from above. Your daily accomplishments were “under the sun,” as Ecclesiastes says. But heavenly wisdom was not begun by you. You have merely tapped into self-serving behavior. Earthly wisdom notes who gets credit for something, and then does a thing, but for selfish reasons.

For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice. 

James is saying that you can tell if a person has earthly motives for doing whatever they do, because their lives are an endless parade of disorder and every evil practice. 

Solomon discovered something about this as he sought wisdom. Here is what Solomon observed: “And I saw that all toil and all achievement spring from one person’s envy of another. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.” Ecclesiastes 4:4

What if you had a chance to win the lottery for $500M. If you were guaranteed a winning number, would you play? I suspect any of us would, if the chance is perfect that you would win.

But what if the prize for the lottery for today was righteousness? You are guaranteed a winning ticket! And all you have to do to buy your ticket is to give out peace! 

Here’s how James says it:

But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.”

Heavenly wisdom does not come from within us, with our envy and our selfish ambitions. There is no place for self-serving pride in the wisdom that comes from above.

You can tell Spirit-led deeds by recognizing the fruit that come from it. It is pure—not selfish ambition or disorder, but unity. 

Then wisdom that comes from the Spirit is peace-loving. Not disorder, not arguments, but honoring the peace, even among the most needy among us. The spirit leads us to be considerate of others. The Spirit causes us to honor our leaders by being submissive to them, following the rules, imitating their example. The Spirit’s wisdom is seen in our deeds being full of mercy. Undeserved favor. Withholding judgment under the sun to give room for God to judge. The Spirit guides us to bear fruit in our lives that we cannot get by mere earthly wisdom. We become marked by love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Heavenly wisdom is likewise impartial, not judgmental, and sincere. We don’t say one thing to someone’s face and something else behind their back.

All of this is today’s application of what James has to say about wisdom. Get it from above, not from yourself. When you do, you will be a peacemaker who sows in peace in order to reap a harvest of righteousness. Amen.