James Unhealthy, Earthly, Wisdom

 

James

Unhealthy, Earthly, Wisdom

James asked the question, look around

He is challenging everyone to examine themselves     

Who is wise and understanding among you? James 3:13

Who is wise and who is intelligent? 

The wise and intelligent will show good behavior

And their deeds or actions will be done in humility, meekness or mildness

These are the things that are evident of wisdom

James tells us to look out for the contrast in Verse 14 

Here James changes the question of “who”, to “you”

Now we are getting personal

James 3:14 …if “you”…. harbor bitter envy

and selfish ambition in your hearts,

do not boast about it or deny the truth.

All of us need to ask, “Am I wise and understanding?”

Am I being truthful with my answer or do I deny my problem?

What is the fruit of your wisdom?

 

Unhealthy, Earthly, Wisdom

 

In Acts chapter 4…

 

 We see the church in Jerusalem

had grown to about 5000 men.

 

Imagine most of these believers were Jewish

 coming from the different sects,

like the Nazarenes and the Ebiones.

 

We also know the strong differences Jesus

dealt with among the Pharisees and Sadducees.

 

So as we see the growth of the first century

church in Jerusalem and its quick growth…

 

 There were issues James had to deal with.

 

As we know when we come to Christ,

 we come with ideas and ways

that bring conflict in the church.

 

James asked the question…

 

 Look around.

 

 He is challenging everyone

to examine themselves…

      

Who is wise and understanding among you?

James 3:13

 

Who is wise and who is intelligent? 

 

The wise and intelligent will show good

behavior and their deeds or actions will be

done in humility, meekness or mildness.

 

These are the things that are evident of wisdom.

 

James tells us to look out

for the contrast in Verse 14…

 

Here James changes the question of “who”, to “you”.

 

Now we are getting personal.

 

James 3:14 …

 

If “you”…. harbor bitter envy

and selfish ambition in your hearts,

do not boast about it or deny the truth.

 

 The word “envy” means zeal.

 

 This word can be used in a favorable sense,

such as “adore”, enthusiasm or passion.

 

Or, an unfavorable sense as “jealousy”.

 

Our emotional “zeal” needs to be checked

to see if it is favorable or unfavorable.

 

“Selfish Ambition” is contention.

 

James says be truthful about what

is in you, be honest with yourself.

  

James asked the question…

 “Who is wise?

 

Why?

 

Because in all things we are to be wise.

 

In verse 15, James drops the bomb shell…

 

Such "wisdom" does not come

down from heaven but is earthly,

 unspiritual, of the devil.

 

It was a real problem in

James’ time and in ours.

 

Decisions are made from a

worldly, unspiritual position.

 

In verse 16, we see how you will

identify the fruit of earthly wisdom…

 

There you find disorder and every evil practice.

 

James not only saw this in the world around

him, but in the people in the church.

 

All of us need to ask…

 

 “Am I wise and understanding?”

 

Am I being truthful with my answer

or do I deny my problem?

 

What is the fruit of your wisdom?

 

 

Scripture Reading

 

James 3:13-16 NIV

 

13 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. 14 But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. 15 Such "wisdom" does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil. 16 For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.