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7. Wisdom (James 3:13-18)
Let me start with a story:
One evening, an angel appears at a church meeting and tells the pastor that because of his unselfish and exemplary behaviour, the Lord wants to reward him – he can choose from infinite wealth, infinite wisdom, or infinite beauty. Without hesitation, the pastor chooses infinite wisdom.
“Done!” says the angel and disappears from view. Now, all the church members look toward the pastor, who sits surrounded by a faint halo of light. Then, one of the deacons says to him, “Let is have some words of wisdom – go on, say something.” The pastor looks at the leaking roof, the paint peeling from the walls, the failing heating system and says, “You know, I really should have taken the money!”
As we heard earlier in the service, in the First Book of Kings, Solomon is given a similar opportunity and he, too, chooses wisdom. We’re told that ...
10 The Lord was pleased that Solomon had asked for wisdom. 11 So God replied, “Because you have asked for wisdom in governing my people with justice and have not asked for a long life or wealth or the death of your enemies—12 I will give you what you asked for! I will give you a wise and understanding heart such as no one else has had or ever will have!
In Israel, wisdom was valued above everything and, as we again take a look at the Letter of James, we see that the brother of Christ, also, emphasises the need for wisdom. But how do we recognise wisdom?
First, let’s take ...
The wisdom test (v.13)
Most people – including you and I – would probably consider themselves to be pretty wise ... we might not say so out loud, but inside we think we know what’s what. In verse 13, James writes:
If you are wise and understand God’s ways, prove it by living an honorable life, doing good works with the humility that comes from wisdom.
Or, to put in a slightly more straightforward way: if you are truly wise, your wisdom will be demonstrated by good deeds and sensible behaviour.
Here, James is revisiting one of his earlier points from the letter: if you remember, he declared that a Christian’s faith is proven by his, or her, actions – and, just as faith without action is worthless, a wisdom which isn’t expressed in the person’s conduct is not a godly wisdom at all. In the Book of Proverbs, it says:
A fool finds pleasure in evil conduct, but a man of understanding delights in wisdom. (Prov. 10:23)
No-one whose life is marked by ungodly behaviour should ever be regarded as having godly wisdom – the two things cannot co-exist. So, if you want to ascertain how wise someone is, first consider their everyday conduct. There are plenty of people these days who present themselves as some sort of guru and who seek to pass on their ‘wisdom’ to others through TV programmes, DVDs, books, training courses, and the like – they will try to convince you that their philosophy, their approach to life, will revolutionise yours.
Don’t be taken in by mere words and glossy presentation, but take a look at their lives: if they are not living godly, moral lives, if they are self-seeking and self-promoting, then their ‘wisdom’ is worthless.
This makes it clear that there are two different types of wisdom: there is the false wisdom, which is the wisdom of the world; and there is true wisdom, which is the wisdom that comes from God.
Let’s look first at ...
False wisdom (vv. 14-16)
Worldly wisdom is based upon human understanding, human standards and human objectives – and, as we must all know from our own experience, these are always imperfect, always flawed. You see, worldly wisdom makes the human being the source of authority – it doesn’t recognise God’s sovereignty, God’s will, or God’s truth – and that’s a recipe for disaster!
Psalm 111 is quite clear on this subject:
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow His precepts have good understanding.
Fear of the Lord comes with recognising who God is. He is the Creator of all; all things in heaven and on earth and throughout the universe are wholly dependent upon Him; He has perfect power and complete authority. The proper response to God is fear – fear in the form of a sense of abject unworthiness, a sense of absolute awe, an attitude of total respect and worship. Look how Isaiah responded when he saw God in His heavenly throne room – he said:
“My destruction is sealed, for I am a sinful man and a member of a sinful race. Yet I have seen the King, the Lord Almighty.”
Now, that is fear of the Lord – Isaiah recognises who God is, acknowledges His power and sovereignty, and realises his own inadequacy. Only fools would ignore God’s authority – wouldn’t they?
And yet, we see it happening around us all the time, people who are so wrapped up in themselves and their own desires that they fail to bow before God. Their foolishness is demonstrated by the jealousy and selfish ambition that’s evident in the way they live their lives. Oh yes, on the face of things, they may seem to be successful people: people who have gone far in life because of their drive for self-gratification, for wealth, power and influence; people who always want more, who want to have better than everyone else they know. But they are motivated by a worldly wisdom that has its origin not in God, but in the devil. They are not serving the purposes of God, but playing into the hands of Satan.
The wisdom they live by is not wisdom at all, but complete foolishness – a false wisdom that will be their undoing.
Yet, on the other hand, there is ...
True wisdom (vv. 17-18)
James describes the nature of true wisdom in verse 17:
But the wisdom from above is first of all pure. It is also peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others. It is full of mercy and good deeds. It shows no favouritism and is always sincere.
True wisdom originates with, and in, God and He bestows it upon all who put their trust in Jesus Christ, His Son, and build their lives upon Him. Remember how Jesus teaches the people about wisdom, using this parable:
“Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse because it is built on bedrock. But anyone who hears my teaching and doesn’t obey it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand. When the rains and floods come and the winds beat against that house, it will collapse with a mighty crash.”
Wisdom is connected to salvation. That is, it is inexorably linked to gaining everlasting life: only those who have godly wisdom (that is, faith in Christ) and who are ready for when Jesus returns will be safe – remember the story of the wise and foolish young women and their lamps.
And how is our wisdom to be recognised? By the extent to which we respect and obey our Saviour’s teaching. Verses 17 and 18 are very reminiscent of the Beatitudes:
James writes, “the wisdom from above is first of all pure”; and, of course, Jesus had said, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.” The Christian is made pure by God through a belief in Jesus Christ as Lord.
Then, James writes that godly wisdom “is also peace loving, gentle at all times and willing to yield to others”, reflecting Jesus’ assertion that “blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.” In other words, you will recognise a wise person by their general demeanour.
And James also says that true wisdom “is full of mercy and good deeds”, just as Jesus had said that “blessed are the merciful, for they shall be shown mercy.” The wise are forgiving to those who wrong them and compassionate to those who are in need.
The wisdom we’re talking about here is not something we can produce ourselves, not something we can learn about from books, but comes only through a trusting relationship with God, which is marked by submission to His authority and obedience to His will. It is also something that we should pray for: rather than riches, popularity, or good looks, we should be choosing to pray for wisdom, first and foremost, because that is how we can best serve God.
Conclusion
So, how can we make use of this teaching in our everyday lives?
Well, first of all, we should be applying the wisdom test to those who are telling us what to do, or who are claiming to be able to change our lives. Remember, a person’s wisdom will be shown through his or her conduct: those whose lives are riddled with immorality do not have godly wisdom and should not be followed; whereas, those who are trying to do God’s will – maybe not always succeeding, but who have a godly heart – we should listen to. These may not be the most good-looking people with the most charismatic personalities, but it’s their faith in God that counts. We can apply the wisdom test to politicians, church leaders, to life-style gurus – to anyone who seeks to influence us in any way.
We might also apply the wisdom test to ourselves: only if we are God-focused, rather than self-obsessed can we be truly wise. As we centre our lives upon God and upon Christ’s teaching, He will transform us, providing us with wisdom from heaven.
How do we centre our lives in such a way? By spending time with God in prayer every day and, if possible several times a day. We also centre our lives upon God by reading the Bible regularly and systematically, and by trying to practise what it tells us.
Let me close with a couple of verses from 1 Corinthians chapter 1:
The message of the cross is foolish to those who are headed for destruction! But we who are being saved know it is the very power of God. As the Scriptures say, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise and discard the intelligence of the intelligent.”
Let me start with a story:
One evening, an angel appears at a church meeting and tells the pastor that because of his unselfish and exemplary behaviour, the Lord wants to reward him – he can choose from infinite wealth, infinite wisdom, or infinite beauty. Without hesitation, the pastor chooses infinite wisdom.
“Done!” says the angel and disappears from view. Now, all the church members look toward the pastor, who sits surrounded by a faint halo of light. Then, one of the deacons says to him, “Let is have some words of wisdom – go on, say something.” The pastor looks at the leaking roof, the paint peeling from the walls, the failing heating system and says, “You know, I really should have taken the money!”
As we heard earlier in the service, in the First Book of Kings, Solomon is given a similar opportunity and he, too, chooses wisdom. We’re told that ...
10 The Lord was pleased that Solomon had asked for wisdom. 11 So God replied, “Because you have asked for wisdom in governing my people with justice and have not asked for a long life or wealth or the death of your enemies—12 I will give you what you asked for! I will give you a wise and understanding heart such as no one else has had or ever will have!
In Israel, wisdom was valued above everything and, as we again take a look at the Letter of James, we see that the brother of Christ, also, emphasises the need for wisdom. But how do we recognise wisdom?
First, let’s take ...
The wisdom test (v.13)
Most people – including you and I – would probably consider themselves to be pretty wise ... we might not say so out loud, but inside we think we know what’s what. In verse 13, James writes:
If you are wise and understand God’s ways, prove it by living an honorable life, doing good works with the humility that comes from wisdom.
Or, to put in a slightly more straightforward way: if you are truly wise, your wisdom will be demonstrated by good deeds and sensible behaviour.
Here, James is revisiting one of his earlier points from the letter: if you remember, he declared that a Christian’s faith is proven by his, or her, actions – and, just as faith without action is worthless, a wisdom which isn’t expressed in the person’s conduct is not a godly wisdom at all. In the Book of Proverbs, it says:
A fool finds pleasure in evil conduct, but a man of understanding delights in wisdom. (Prov. 10:23)
No-one whose life is marked by ungodly behaviour should ever be regarded as having godly wisdom – the two things cannot co-exist. So, if you want to ascertain how wise someone is, first consider their everyday conduct. There are plenty of people these days who present themselves as some sort of guru and who seek to pass on their ‘wisdom’ to others through TV programmes, DVDs, books, training courses, and the like – they will try to convince you that their philosophy, their approach to life, will revolutionise yours.
Don’t be taken in by mere words and glossy presentation, but take a look at their lives: if they are not living godly, moral lives, if they are self-seeking and self-promoting, then their ‘wisdom’ is worthless.
This makes it clear that there are two different types of wisdom: there is the false wisdom, which is the wisdom of the world; and there is true wisdom, which is the wisdom that comes from God.
Let’s look first at ...
False wisdom (vv. 14-16)
Worldly wisdom is based upon human understanding, human standards and human objectives – and, as we must all know from our own experience, these are always imperfect, always flawed. You see, worldly wisdom makes the human being the source of authority – it doesn’t recognise God’s sovereignty, God’s will, or God’s truth – and that’s a recipe for disaster!
Psalm 111 is quite clear on this subject:
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow His precepts have good understanding.
Fear of the Lord comes with recognising who God is. He is the Creator of all; all things in heaven and on earth and throughout the universe are wholly dependent upon Him; He has perfect power and complete authority. The proper response to God is fear – fear in the form of a sense of abject unworthiness, a sense of absolute awe, an attitude of total respect and worship. Look how Isaiah responded when he saw God in His heavenly throne room – he said:
“My destruction is sealed, for I am a sinful man and a member of a sinful race. Yet I have seen the King, the Lord Almighty.”
Now, that is fear of the Lord – Isaiah recognises who God is, acknowledges His power and sovereignty, and realises his own inadequacy. Only fools would ignore God’s authority – wouldn’t they?
And yet, we see it happening around us all the time, people who are so wrapped up in themselves and their own desires that they fail to bow before God. Their foolishness is demonstrated by the jealousy and selfish ambition that’s evident in the way they live their lives. Oh yes, on the face of things, they may seem to be successful people: people who have gone far in life because of their drive for self-gratification, for wealth, power and influence; people who always want more, who want to have better than everyone else they know. But they are motivated by a worldly wisdom that has its origin not in God, but in the devil. They are not serving the purposes of God, but playing into the hands of Satan.
The wisdom they live by is not wisdom at all, but complete foolishness – a false wisdom that will be their undoing.
Yet, on the other hand, there is ...
True wisdom (vv. 17-18)
James describes the nature of true wisdom in verse 17:
But the wisdom from above is first of all pure. It is also peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others. It is full of mercy and good deeds. It shows no favouritism and is always sincere.
True wisdom originates with, and in, God and He bestows it upon all who put their trust in Jesus Christ, His Son, and build their lives upon Him. Remember how Jesus teaches the people about wisdom, using this parable:
“Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse because it is built on bedrock. But anyone who hears my teaching and doesn’t obey it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand. When the rains and floods come and the winds beat against that house, it will collapse with a mighty crash.”
Wisdom is connected to salvation. That is, it is inexorably linked to gaining everlasting life: only those who have godly wisdom (that is, faith in Christ) and who are ready for when Jesus returns will be safe – remember the story of the wise and foolish young women and their lamps.
And how is our wisdom to be recognised? By the extent to which we respect and obey our Saviour’s teaching. Verses 17 and 18 are very reminiscent of the Beatitudes:
James writes, “the wisdom from above is first of all pure”; and, of course, Jesus had said, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.” The Christian is made pure by God through a belief in Jesus Christ as Lord.
Then, James writes that godly wisdom “is also peace loving, gentle at all times and willing to yield to others”, reflecting Jesus’ assertion that “blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.” In other words, you will recognise a wise person by their general demeanour.
And James also says that true wisdom “is full of mercy and good deeds”, just as Jesus had said that “blessed are the merciful, for they shall be shown mercy.” The wise are forgiving to those who wrong them and compassionate to those who are in need.
The wisdom we’re talking about here is not something we can produce ourselves, not something we can learn about from books, but comes only through a trusting relationship with God, which is marked by submission to His authority and obedience to His will. It is also something that we should pray for: rather than riches, popularity, or good looks, we should be choosing to pray for wisdom, first and foremost, because that is how we can best serve God.
Conclusion
So, how can we make use of this teaching in our everyday lives?
Well, first of all, we should be applying the wisdom test to those who are telling us what to do, or who are claiming to be able to change our lives. Remember, a person’s wisdom will be shown through his or her conduct: those whose lives are riddled with immorality do not have godly wisdom and should not be followed; whereas, those who are trying to do God’s will – maybe not always succeeding, but who have a godly heart – we should listen to. These may not be the most good-looking people with the most charismatic personalities, but it’s their faith in God that counts. We can apply the wisdom test to politicians, church leaders, to life-style gurus – to anyone who seeks to influence us in any way.
We might also apply the wisdom test to ourselves: only if we are God-focused, rather than self-obsessed can we be truly wise. As we centre our lives upon God and upon Christ’s teaching, He will transform us, providing us with wisdom from heaven.
How do we centre our lives in such a way? By spending time with God in prayer every day and, if possible several times a day. We also centre our lives upon God by reading the Bible regularly and systematically, and by trying to practise what it tells us.
Let me close with a couple of verses from 1 Corinthians chapter 1:
The message of the cross is foolish to those who are headed for destruction! But we who are being saved know it is the very power of God. As the Scriptures say, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise and discard the intelligence of the intelligent.”
Seek the wisdom that comes from heaven and be wary of the worldly wise!
Amen.
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