The Wisdom of God

“The Wisdom of Peacemaking”

James 3:13-18

Introduction: The Book of Proverbs tells us: “Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom…” (Prov 4:7a). We have more knowledge at our finger tips at this moment than at any time in our history. Mary Ann volunteers in the library at Coastal Christian School and was talking recently about how “out of date” print encyclopedias can become – but with the internet, computers and smart phones, tablets and “phablets” at our command, we can quickly research mostly any topic and get at least some very up to date information on demand. But even with the explosion of readily available “knowledge,” wisdom is as hard to come by as ever.  James starts this passage asking “who is wise and understanding among you?” He is asking his readers, “Do you think you have wisdom? Show me!”  Earlier he made it clear that wisdom is desirable, it is something to be sought and prayed about: We read in James 1:5, “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.” But what does James mean by “wisdom”? Not all that we call “wisdom” is God’s wisdom.  

          The Old Testament writings have a lot to say about true wisdom. “Wisdom” from the world’s perspective is often equated with how much you know.  From God’s perspective it means knowing Him and discerning how His truth should impact your life. It forms a moral and spiritual foundation for the life God wants for us. Job 28:28 says “…And he said to man, 'Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, and to turn away from evil is understanding.'" Psalm 111:10 says “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all those who practice it have a good understanding. His praise endures forever!” Practically “wisdom” is connected with knowing and fearing God, and praising Him, while we turn away from evil. Proverbs 1:7 likewise states that “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.” I Corinthians 2:6-16 teaches about the spiritual discernment that is only found in the wisdom from above:

“Yet among the mature we do impart wisdom, although it is not a wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are doomed to pass away.  ⁷ But we impart a secret and hidden wisdom of God, which God decreed before the ages for our glory.  ⁸ None of the rulers of this age understood this, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.  ⁹ But, as it is written, "What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him"-  ¹⁰ these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God.  ¹¹ For who knows a person's thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.  ¹² Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God.  ¹³ And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual.  ¹⁴ The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.  ¹⁵ The spiritual person judges all things, but is himself to be judged by no one.  ¹⁶ "For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?" But we have the mind of Christ.”

Have you heard the phrase “it’s not what you know, it’s who you know”? In a certain sense that is true when it comes to biblical wisdom.  “Wisdom” is not simply knowing facts about God. It means knowing Him, pursuing intimacy with Him, and in the process submitting to the Spirit as He guides us in the application of God’s truth in our lives. To know Him is to love Him, and to love Him is to obey Him. Jesus said “If you love me, keep my commandments.” This is the kind of “wisdom” that James wants his readers to embrace.

The Big Idea: “True wisdom is found in knowing God and submitting to His Spirit and will result in a changed heart that pursues His peace.”

I. Godly Wisdom is evidenced by a changed life and a humble attitude (3:13). “Who is wise and understanding among you?” In the Greco-roman world in which James is writing many of the Jews of the dispersion to who James is writing no doubt had a muddled view of what constitutes true wisdom. It was an important subject in the Hebrew Scriptures to be sure, but the Greeks especially had an interest in pursuing “wisdom” as they understood it.

            “By his good conduct let him show his works…” Just as faith is evidenced by a changed life, the person who is pursuing God and His wisdom will live out the implications of faith by making wise, God honoring, choices in life. “Conduct” is a neutral term, and it can either be negative or positive.  Here he says godly wisdom will be shown by “good conduct.” “Faithful living” and “wise living” are virtually synonymous ideas for James. This is how we recognize the wise: “By his good conduct…” James is probably reflecting the Jewish perspective of “good,” based on the Hebrew word tob.  As every good thing comes from above (James 1:17), the blessing of the God of the covenant, so also good conduct, a lifestyle that reflects a covenantal relationship with God, is evident in the life of someone who is seeking God’s wisdom.

           “…in the meekness of wisdom…” The language here implies that “wisdom” is the source from which a proper, godly, “meekness” or gentleness will come. It is the “meekness that comes from wisdom.” Meekness is one of the fruit of the Spirit mentioned by Paul in Galatians 5. Meekness is not weakness, it is seeing ourselves rightly, and grasping the depth of our dependence on God. Moses was described as the meekest man on earth, yet he was clearly not weak, he was used by God to lead a nation out of bondage through the wilderness and to the threshold of the promised land. Godly wisdom will result in a sincere humility because we will understand our dependence on God for everything.  True wisdom is found in knowing God and submitting to His Spirit and will result in a changed heart that pursues His peace.

II. Worldly Wisdom is unspiritual and is marked by a carnal attitude and lifestyle (3:14-16).

           “But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth” (14).  Just as James has been giving gauges that we can check to measure the authenticity of our faith, here he gives some indications that would reveal most clearly that an individual is not embracing the wisdom that comes from above. “Bitter jealousy” and “selfish ambition” are the marks of a “fool” in biblical language, not a person walking in God’s wisdom.

        First, the phrase “…bitter jealousy…” These two words appear together only here in the entire Bible. A couple of verses earlier referred to “bitter” vs. sweet water. Psalm 64:2-4 also refers to our speech when it says, “Hide me from the secret plots of the wicked, from the throng of evildoers,  ³ who whet their tongues like swords, who aim bitter words like arrows,  ⁴ shooting from ambush at the blameless, shooting at him suddenly and without fear.” It seems to connote an attitude of jealousy or envy that is so intense it foments anger or hatred toward others.

       The attitude that is specifically characterized by bitterness is “…jealousy…” or “envy.” This reflects an attitude that Paul includes in the works of the flesh that contrast the fruit of the Spirit: We read in Galatians 5:19-21 

 “Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality,  ²⁰ idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions,  ²¹ envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these."  

So “…bitter envy…” does not come from a heart walking in wisdom.  It is paralleled here with “selfish ambition” and “boasting”. It seems to picture the attitude “it’s all about me.” My comfort, my  accomplishments, what I know. Me, me, me.

          James says it plainly: “This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic” (15). In John’s language the world, the flesh and the devil are the source of the human wisdom that does not submit itself to God. He describes this with three adjectives…

·        “…earthly…” It is of this world system, not from God. Human wisdom is exactly what Paul was describing in I Corinthians 2. It exalts human reason over divine revelation. Proverbs twice warns “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death” (Proverbs 14:12; 16:25). Earthly wisdom, worldly wisdom, is not wise at all.

·        “…unspiritual…” The antonym of “spiritual” is carnal. This refers to the fallen human nature. Because the natural man is infected by sin, he is “unable to understand the things of the Spirit of God, they are foolishness to him…” (I Cor 2:14). The way of wisdom is to seek and to obey the God-breathed, Spirit inspired, words of Scripture.

·        “…demonic…” It is the kind of thinking that the enemy would delude us with – “…it is set on fire by hell…” Earthly, human wisdom, wisdom of the world, is inspired and encouraged by the Enemy whose goal is our destruction. The enemy does not mind our pursuit of knowledge, as long as he can convince us to leave God out of the equation.  That is the perspective of secular science. How can we explain the universe without reference to God and the supernatural? It can observe a lot of true things but falls short because it denies God who created and sustains all things! It tries to put human reason in the place of the God who is.

        “For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice” (16).

·        “Jealousy” and “self-ambition” are both “self-centered” concepts. Rather than showing interest in sowing seeds that will lead to peace and righteousness, i.e. that salvation and spiritual growth of people around me, I am more focused on making them look bad so I’ll look good. That kind of attitude doesn’t come from God.

·        “…there will be disorder and every vile practice…”  Chaos, or anarchy, rather than order. Evil, rather than the “good things” that God desires to give to his children.

True wisdom is found in knowing God and submitting to His Spirit and will result in a changed heart that pursues His peace.

III. Godly Wisdom is accompanied by a pursuit of holiness and a desire for peace (3:17,18). Warren Wiersbe said that when it comes to wisdom, origin determines outcome. Worldly wisdom will produce worldly results, spiritual wisdom will produce spiritual results.

 “But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial…” (17). Does this sound a bit like the “fruit of the Spirit”? It should. In the same passage where the apostle Paul tells the Ephesian believers to be “filled with the Spirit” he also says,

“Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, ¹⁶ making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.  ¹⁷ Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is...” (Eph 5:15-17). 

And in the very next verse he says to “be filled with the Spirit.” Wisdom from above is spiritual wisdom, it seeks God, and seeks to live in this world empowered by Him for the mission He has entrusted to us.

Notice that this divine wisdom is “…first, pure…”  God is “holy”. His people should live wisely, that is pursue the life He wants for us as we seek Him and His will for us. That means choosing God over the world, the flesh and the devil. These other characteristics reflect spiritual maturity, the Spirit-filled life God wants for us: 

 “…then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere [lit., “…without hypocrisy…”] (17). 

We very easily resort to wearing masks around each other. We want to appear strong even when we are struggling. That is arrogance, pride. We are made for community. We are designed to “bear one another’s burdens.”  That is wise living.  This kind of wisdom, wisdom from above, can be honest, transparent, sincere.

“And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace” (18). One of the things James is reflecting on as he writes seems to be the “beatitudes” that Jesus taught. Here we are reminded “Blessed are the peacemakers…” Remember that James is writing to Jewish believers of the dispersion. It’s hard to imagine them hearing the word “peace” without thinking of the Hebrew term “shalom” that lies behind it. It is not just the absence of conflict but it is the blessing of the good life God intends for His people, the people of the covenant. Paul describes the way of sinners in rebellion against God in Romans 3:10-18…

"None is righteous, no, not one;  ¹¹ no one understands; no one seeks for God.  ¹² All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one."  ¹³ "Their throat is an open grave; they use their tongues to deceive." "The venom of asps is under their lips."  ¹⁴ "Their mouth is full of curses and bitterness."  ¹⁵ "Their feet are swift to shed blood;  ¹⁶ in their paths are ruin and misery,  ¹⁷ and the way of peace they have not known."  ¹⁸ "There is no fear of God before their eyes."

       Notice that these sinners in rebellion against God have not known the way of peace (v.7) and have no reverence for God (v.18). Where does wisdom begin? With the fear of the Lord (Prov 1:7, etc.).  Paul goes on in Romans to say we have peace through faith (5:1) and we  are to pursue what makes for peace and mutual edification (14:19). And by our lives and by our testimony we sow seeds of peace in hearts of those in our sphere of influence, the mission field to which we have been sent.

What is God saying to me in this passage? “True wisdom is found in knowing God and submitting to His Spirit and will result in a changed heart that pursues His peace.”

What would God have me to do in response to this passage? How do we make wise decisions? It all starts not with what you know, but who you know. “The fear of the Lord…” is the foundation for true wisdom. If God is who he claims to be, his Word has absolute authority in my life – or it better! If it is my heart’s desire to know and love God, it should be my desire to obey Him. Jesus said “If you love me, keep my commandments.”   As we seek God’s wisdom the fruit will be evident in our lives, our priorities are different than those of our neighbors. Yet God will use us to sow seeds of peace if we are willing and available. Think about that.    AMEN.