3:13 Who is wise and
understanding among you?
Let him show by his good conduct that his deeds are done in gentleness
of wisdom.
3:14 But if you have
bitter jealousy and selfish
ambition in your heart, don't boast and don't lie against the truth.
3:15 This wisdom is
not that which comes down
from above, but is earthly, sensual, and demonic.
3:16 For where
jealousy and selfish ambition
are, there is confusion and every evil deed.
3:17 But the wisdom
that is from above is
first pure, then
peaceful,
gentle,
reasonable,
full of mercy and good fruits,
without partiality, and
without hypocrisy.
3:18 Now the fruit of
righteousness is sown
in peace by those who make peace.
CROSS REFERENCES (kjv)
vs 13 Pr 11:2 "When pride cometh, then cometh shame: but with the
lowly is wisdom." Pr 15:33 "The fear of the LORD is the instruction of wisdom;
and before honour is humility." Luke 18:9 "And he spake this parable unto certain which
trusted
in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others:" 1Pe 5:5 "Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the
elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with
humility:
for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble." vs 14 Gal 5:19 "Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which
are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness," 1John 1:8 "If we say that we have no sin, we deceive
ourselves,
and the truth is not in us." Php 2:3 "Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory;
but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves." vs 15 1Co 3:19 "For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with
God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness."; vs 16 1Co 3:3 "For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among
you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as
men?" vs 17 Php 4:8"Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true,
whatsoever
things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are
pure,
whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if
there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things." vs 18 Mt 5:9 "Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be
called
the children of God."
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
vs 13 What is an example of a deed done in humility?
vs 14 Even if bitter envy and selfish ambition seems to be innate
with
us, what does this verse command so as to avoid the out working of
such?
Notice the relationship between this concept and 1Jn 1:8-10.
vs 15 What is an example of the "earthly wisdom" that he is
referring
to? What, for example, is unspiritual about the modern philosophy of
democratic
capitalism?
vs 16 How does envy and selfish ambition naturally lead to disorder?
(Consider, for example, the outcome of having an organization run by
people who are envious and have selfish ambitions)
vs 17 If you were trying to determine if God wanted you to do a
particular
thing, how might you turn these 8 characteristics of "heavenly wisdom"
into questions?
Examples:
pure: Is there anything sinful about this?
peacable: Will this cause unnecessary disharmony or bring
reconciliation?
considerate: Will this unnecessarily hurt other peoples
feelings?
submissive: In doing this, am I being submissive to the proper
authorities?
full of mercy: Am I showing due concern for those who are worst
off than myself?
full of good fruit: What good things will result in this action?
impartial: By this action, am I showing undue partiality?
sincere: Is this action consistent with my real beliefs?
Comments
Humility and Good Deeds - Evidence of Wisdom
James 3:13 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.
James had discussed a misconception about faith. Now he is
discussing a misconception about wisdom. Although he had just spoken on
the control of one's tongue, godly wisdom is not simply characterized
by
what one says. From a Biblical standpoint, a wise person is not simply
one who says wise things. But rather true wisdom is revealed by one's
lifestyle,
by deeds done in humility.
Wisdom and even spiritual knowledge can bring prideful boasting as
Jeremiah
writes, "Let not the wise man boast of his
wisdom or the strong
man boast of his strength or the rich man boast of his riches." Jer
9:23 It
is quite common even in the Christian community for those with
reputations
as wise teachers and speakers to unwisely develop such pride, which is
why James speaks of humility here. It's one thing to teach wise
applications
of faith, but it often takes humility to actually apply them to life.
People who are truly wise are also humble, having an honest evaluation
of themselves. "Do not think of yourself more
highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober
judgment:" Rom 12:3 Conversely "with
humility
comes
wisdom." Pr 11:2b That is, the humble are
teachable. Not only so, but humility results in good deeds. If a person
is humble he will be involved in doing good deeds. Indeed, humility is
the most essential of all character qualities upon which the whole
Christian life depends.
However while many will claim to have lived a "good" life, in fact a
good life, good conduct, good behavior is defined by the deeds they
have done in the humility that comes from wisdom. Many who are viewed
as "good" people in fact do "good" deeds not out of humility, but out
of pride, like the Pharisees of whom Jesus said, "Everything
they
do
is
done
for
men to see" Mt 23:5 Therefore "Be
careful not to do your ‘acts of righteousness’
before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from
your Father in heaven. 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 men. " Mt 6:1,2a So we should
do good for the right reason - doing good because it is the good thing
to to; doing right because it is the right thing to do.
Earthly Ambitious Wisdom
James 3:14,15 But if you harbor
bitter envy and selfish ambition in your
hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. Such "wisdom" does not
come down from heaven but is earthly,
unspiritual, of the devil.
Boasting of that which we envy and of our selfish ambitions is worldly
wisdom. It is of the devil. Yet it may appear in subtle ways even among
Christians. James provides a practical example in chapter 4 concerning
those who boast, "Today or tomorrow we will go
to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make
money." James 4:13 He goes on to say of such boasting, "All such boasting is evil." James 4:16
That's the truth, though there are those who would deny this truth.
When we boast of our selfish ambitions in life by which we hope to make
a name for ourselves, such boasting is evil. When we express our envy
of others or boast of our accomplishments so others may envy us, such
boasting is of the devil. For "What do you have
that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast
as though you did not?" 1Cor 4:7 (But rather gained it
from your own efforts) For God gives the ability and the
opportunity, but not equally to all. Thus it is not wise to boast of
that which the world boasts. "The world through its wisdom did not knowGod"1Cor 1:21b So "Let not the wise
man boast of his wisdom or the strong man boast of his strength or the
rich man boast of his riches, but let him who boasts boast about this:
that he understands and knows me, that I am the LORD, who exercises
kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight,"
declares the LORD. Jer 9:23,24
A Correlation between Disorder and Envy
James 3:16 For
where
you
have
envy and selfish ambition, there you find
disorder and every evil practice.
When people are only focussed on their own selfish ambitions
there exists disorder because there's lack of cooperation due to a lack
of
love for one another. This same word "disorder" is translated
"confusion" is the verse which says, "God is not
the author of confusion but of peace" 1Cor 14:33, in
which Paul is instructing the church with regards to an orderly
assembly of the believers - the prophets speaking in turn, women being
silent, and so forth. The Christian community should be characterized
by cooperation born of an absence of envy and selfish ambition.
"Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain
conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each
of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the
interests of others." Php 2:3,4 Even of seeking one's
own honor the Bible says, "It is not good to eat
too much honey, nor is it honorable to seek one’s own honor." Pr
25:27 Christians need to evaluate their ambitions in life. The
Christian life is not about making a name for yourself.
Envy can drive a person to commit atrocities. Do you know that it was
out of envy that Jesus was handed over to be crucified? Even Pilate
recognized that fact. "For he knew it was out of
envy that they had handed Jesus over to him." Mt 27:18
But "Love does not envy, it does not boast, it
is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking" 1Cor
13:4b-5a
So while "At one time we too were foolish,
disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and
pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one
another." Titus 3:3, let that not be the case anymore.
Characteristics of Heavenly Wisdom
James 3:17,18 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 raise a harvest of righteousness.
There are those who see wisdom as coming from
inside the person. And there are those who see it as coming from
outside
the person, through experience and science. But there is another view
of
wisdom. There is a wisdom that comes down from above. This is often a
different
kind of wisdom than others speak of.
Heavenly wisdom primarily deals with relationship and is primarily
characterized by purity in two ways. First with regards to truth, and
secondly with regards to holiness. All other characteristics of such
wisdom are contingent up this one - purity.
The wisdom from above seeks to promote peace between man and
God.
And in this way promote peace between people. True wisdom does not seek
conflicts unnecessarily. In contrast, "If anyone
teaches false doctrines and does not agree to the sound instruction of
our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching, he is conceited and
understands nothing. He has an unhealthy interest in controversies and
quarrels about words that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil
suspicions and constant friction between men of corrupt mind, who have
been robbed of the truth." 1Tim 6:3-5
The wisdom from above knows how to behave appropriately,
considerately, and fairly. Considerateness is particular relevant to
those in authority. Peter
formerly wrote, "Slaves, submit yourselves to
your masters with all respect, not only to those who are good and
considerate, but also to those who are harsh." 1Peter 2:18
Submissive is particular relevant to those under authority. So to be
peace-loving will involve being considerate on the one hand and being
submissive on the other.
The wisdom from above is full of mercy. "Mercy" being: kindness or
good will towards
the miserable and the afflicted, joined with a desire to help them.
Pr 29:7"The righteous care about
justice for the poor, but the
wicked have no such concern."
The application of true wisdom is good fruit. Such a person
will raise a harvest of righteousness. "The fruit
of the righteous is a tree of life, and he who wins souls is wise." Pr 11:30 And also "No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but
painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and
peace for those who have been trained by it." Heb 12:11 Those who respond
appropriately to discipline are wise.
The wisdom from above is impartial in that it is free from prejudice
of which James spoke more extensively on this in James
2:1-13, and its reasoning is free from preconceived notion,
presumptions that are often stumbling blocks to theologians.
It is sincere, without hypocrisy. This is to be contrasted with
the
"wisdom" of the Pharisees whom Jesus rebuked as hypocrites,
particularly
in Matthew 23. With heavenly wisdom, there is a consistency between
what
one says and what one does. It is not a "do what I say and not what I
do"
type of wisdom. It is also honest and straight forward.
"Now he who supplies seed to the sower and
bread
for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will
enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. You will be made rich in
every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us
your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God." 2Cor
9:10,11.
JAMES 3:13-18
RAP
3:13 You think you're wise and you understand
But maybe you're living in dreamland
Show me you're your works done in humility
Or maybe you're just talk'n vanity 14 But if selfish envy fills you're heart
Don't tell it to me nor from the truth depart 15 Such wisdom's not from God it's from the devil 16 It ends in disorder, it's not on the level 17 But the wisdom from above is pure as snow
It's peaceloving and considerate, don't you know
Submissive and merciful, full of good fruit
Impartial, sincere, you can't dispute 18 Sow in peace and reap a harvest of right
Selfish envy will end up without any light.
JAMES 3:13-18
RAP