THE WAYS OF TRUE WISDOM

Posted by Pastor Greg Allen on September 19, 2010 under 2010 |

Preached Sunday, September 19, 2010
from
James 3:13-18

Theme: The manner in which we display our wisdom proves whether or not ours is “the wisdom that is from above.”

(Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture references are taken from The Holy Bible, New King James Version; copyright 1982, Thomas Nelson, Inc.)

The book of James was written by a pastor to fellow Christians. It’s a book that’s filled with godly wisdom and practical insight for Christian living. And at the end of the third chapter, Pastor James tells us something that we—as followers of Jesus—need to pay attention to in the particular days in which we’re living:

Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom. But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace (James 3:13-18).

Living, as we do, in ‘the information age’, the temptation may be particularly strong for people to think themselves “wise”. After all, there has never been as much information available to more people than there is today. And thanks to the variety of means of communication available through the Internet, it has never been so easy for common people like you and me to share our opinions about things with so many people around the world. The Bible tells us that, in ancient Athens, the people who were there “spent their time in nothing else but either to tell or to hear some new thing” (Acts 17:21); and we’re pretty much the same as they were—except that we can do more of it today than they could ever have imagined. With all the information we have at our fingertips—and the ease with which we can comment on this and that—it’d be pretty easy for each of us to think we’re truly “wise” and “understanding”; and that our thoughts and opinions and comments and criticisms are truly worthy of being heard.

And when I read the question that James asks at the beginning of that passage, I wonder of how tempted many of us might have been tempted to raise our hands when he asks, “Who is wise and understanding among you?”—until, of course, we hear the rest of the passage!

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Now; I believe that, when Pastor James asked that question, “Who is wise and understanding among you?”, it would have been his sincere wish that everyone of us in Christ could—with complete honesty—raise our hands. But it would not be in relation to the wisdom of this world that he would want us to do so.

Do you notice how he speaks of a particular kind of wisdom in this passage? He mentions it twice. In verse 15, he speaks of the wisdom of this world and says, “This wisdom does not descend from above . . .” and in verse 17, he carefully describes a kind of wisdom that he says “is from above”. And so, he’s not calling us to a kind of wisdom that comes from human effort, or learning, or human sources. The wisdom he’s speaking of, in fact, isn’t even considered “wisdom” in the sight of this world. Instead, he’s calling us to “the wisdom that is from above”; and that “descends from above” to us. It is, in other words, a revealed wisdom—not from man’s initiative, but from God’s. It’s a wisdom that is a gracious gift from God.

God, in mercy, has revealed truth to us. He has recorded truth for us in the pages of Scripture. And the greatest declaration of that truth is through the preaching of the gospel of His Son Jesus Christ. The apostle Paul made a clear distinction between ‘the wisdom of this world’ and ‘the wisdom of God’ when wrote;

Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. For Jews request a sign, and Greeks seek after wisdom; but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men (1 Corinthians 1:20-25).

As followers of Jesus, we’re not to be ‘disputers’ for a ‘wisdom’ that has its source in fallen man. We’re not to speak forth “the wisdom of this age, nor of the rulers of this age”; which, as Paul says, “are coming to nothing” (1 Corinthians 2:6). Instead, we are to speak what Paul calls “the wisdom of God in a mystery” (v. 7)—what James calls “the wisdom that is from above”. And as James’ words show us in this morning’s passage, the manner in which we display the ‘wisdom’ we possess proves to the watching world whether or not ours is “the wisdom that is from above”.

May God help us, dear brothers and sisters in Christ, to be a different and distinct people from the people of this world—not only in the wisdom that we display, but in the way we display it!

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Now; to really appreciate what James tells us in this morning’s passage, we need to look to the beginning of chapter 3. There, he says, “My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment” (3:1).

There was, apparently, a temptation on the part of many in the church to be thought of as wise ‘teachers’. And James warns that this is not something to jump into recklessly; because such ‘teachers’ will receive ‘a stricter judgment’ before God and must give an account for what they say. I have to tell you; that’s very frightening for a preacher! It should be! If anyone were to spout off as if they were “wise”, this warning ought to give them pause.

And it also shows one of the great misconceptions people often have about “wisdom”—that it’s primarily revealed through what someone says. Many of the people of this world believe that they display their “wisdom” by their words. That’s why so many people love to talk so much! And I believe that it’s for that reason that James goes on to write, in that well-known section of the third chapter, about the dangers of the tongue (vv. 2-12).

Wisdom isn’t shown, primarily, through what we say. In fact, the thing that is most easily shown through our abundance of words is the profound level of our own foolishness! But it’s then that, by way of contrast, James writes, “Who is wise and understanding among you?” Who among us is truly wise? Who is the real ‘expert’? It isn’t shown primarily through words. Rather, James says, “Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom.”

What a marvelous revelation this is! True wisdom—wisdom from above—isn’t a matter of what we say, but of how we live. It isn’t merely a propositional matter. It’s a practical matter. The wisest person in the room isn’t the the most eloquent talker. Rather, it’s the person whose manner of living most faithfully exhibits an obedient submission to the wisdom from God. If that standard of measurement alone were to be followed, it would dramatically reduce the numbers of people in the world who could dare claim to be wise!

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And this leads us to the first thing James tells us about the wisdom that is from above—a thing that distinguishes it dramatically from the wisdom of this world; and that is that . . .

1. IT DISPLAYS ITSELF MEEKLY (v. 13).

The world believes that wisdom is shown in the powerful, forceful, compelling way someone talks. It looks at the cleaver, witty person as “wise”. It admires someone who can verbally put everyone else in their places, and humble everyone else, and leave their opponents afraid to open their mouths.

But what if someone where to act that way rather than speak that way? What if such a person humbled other people with their fists as they did with their words? Would they be thought so wise? Wouldn’t they instead be thought of as brutish and evil? And so, James says that the person who is truly “wise” will not be the person who shows their power by beating other people down with their words; but will instead be the person who shows “by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom”.

“Meekness”, of course, doesn’t mean “weakness”. Rather, it refers to power that is brought under control and exercised gently. And true wisdom from God shows itself in a meekness of behavior that is like that of our Lord. We would all agree that the Lord Jesus was the wisest Man who ever walked the earth, wouldn’t we? Don’t we all agree that, if He had wished to, He could have shown the terrible power of His wisdom forcefully through His words, and could have left all His opponents on their knees before Him begging for mercy? But, He didn’t do so. His was a wisdom of great power that was kept under quiet control. He showed by good conduct that His own works were done in the meekness of wisdom. As Peter tells us;

. . . Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps: “Who committed no sin, nor was deceit found in His mouth”; who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously; who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed (1 Peter 2:21b-24).

Our Lord—truly the wisest of all Men—left us an example, by His own sacrifice for us, of how His own works were done “in the meekness of wisdom”. May we learn to, like Him, exhibit the kind of “wisdom from above” that displays itself meekly and in humble reserve.

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A second thing we learn about true “wisdom from above” is that . . .

2. IT IS FREE FROM SELF-INTEREST (vv. 14-16).

Those who speak from the wisdom of this world aren’t really concerned with advancing the interests of others. They are ultimately only concerned with how their display of wisdom might advance themselves in the eyes of everyone else. They don’t want anyone else to express wisdom ‘better’ than they could do it. They are jealous to have the intellectual spotlight shine on them. They want to be thought of as ‘the last word’ on the subject.

But notice what James says; “But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth” (v. 14). What a shock this must be to those who think themselves “wise” by this world’s standards! So much of the debates and disputes of this world are primarily motivated by those two things—bitter envy and self-seeking! And yet, James is saying that those who have such things in their hearts should neither boast in themselves that they are wise, or continue to lie against the truth!

The “truth” of the matter, as he tells us in the next verse, is that, when our boasted ‘wisdom’ is accompanied by such things in our hearts, it shows that our wisdom does not descend “from above” and isn’t really wisdom at all. A wisdom that springs from envy and self-interest is not from God. Instead, as James tells us, it “is earthly, sensual, demonic” (v. 15). It has its focus on that which is concerned with this passing world rather than on the eternal kingdom of Jesus Christ. It has, as its operating principle, the flesh rather than the Holy Spirit. And it has its source in the devil—the mortal enemy of our souls. Can you see, in James’ words, those three great things that are hostile to our entire life of faith before God?—the world, the flesh, and the devil? All three have their part in “wisdom” that is motivated by hostility toward others and exaltation of self.

And look at what such ‘wisdom’ produces. James goes on to say, “For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there” (v. 16). That’s the ‘fruit’ of such wisdom! And doesn’t that pretty much characterize the atmosphere when the people of this world share their “wisdom” with one another in just about every meaningful arena of concern?—confusion and every evil thing?

Once again, let’s look to our Lord. No one was greater than He. No one else had a greater right to be considered “first”. No one else had a greater right to protect His own interests. And yet, instead, He humbled Himself and became the Servant of our needs. He told His disciples;

“You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those who are great exercise authority over them. Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant. And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave—just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many” (Matthew 20:25b-28).

May we, like our blessed Savior, learn to display the “wisdom from above” that is free from self-interest and motivated by genuine love for others.

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James goes on to tell us another thing about “wisdom from above”; that . . .

3. IT IS GRACIOUS IN MANNER (vv. 17).

The so-called ‘wisdom’ of this world is anything but gracious! It is motivated by envy and self-interest; and so, it is often rude and harsh, and all-too willing to leave its victims flat on the ground. “But,” James tells us, “the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy” (v. 17).

Now; look closely at James’ words. Note how says that the wisdom from above is first “pure”. In other words, there is nothing of bitter envy and selfish ambition in it. It has no hidden agenda. It does not rely on putting someone else down in order to lift oneself up. And note also how he says that it is first pure—that is, before anything, and as a matter of first priority, it is pure with respect to ourselves. It starts with the standard of purity within our own hearts before it presumes to be anything meaningful to anyone else.

And if I may say again, what a wonderful insight into true wisdom that is! So often, when we think of expressing our “wisdom”, we do so in the manner of this world—that is, we mean it to be for someone else. We tell others what they ought to do, or inform them of what they ought to believe, or instruct them of what they ought to be. But here, James makes the first step in true wisdom to be a matter of looking in the mirror. We must make sure that first—before we look into the lives of anyone else—it is pure in us! May God help us to make sure that, as a matter of first importance, there is no envy and self-interest in our expression of wisdom!

And then, after calling us to make sure it’s truly ‘pure’ in us, James calls us to give attention to the manner in which it’s expressed to others. In fact, it’s only after we have made sure it’s pure in our own selves that we’re really qualified to speak it to anyone else as we should. He gives us seven virtues of “wisdom from above” in terms of other people. He says that it is “peaceable” or “peace-loving”; that is, that it seeks to promote peace rather than stir up conflict. It is “gentle” or “considerate”; that is, it’s never harsh or rude, but is polite and respectful in its treatment of others. It is “willing to yield”; that is, it’s characterized by dignified reasonableness that’s willing to give a full hearing to ‘the other side’ of the argument—and to even admit it when it has seen things wrongly. It is “full of mercy”; that is, it is ruled—in a prevailing way—with a desire to do what it can to avoid harming or demeaning the other person. It’s also full of “good fruits”; that is, it seeks not only to do no harm to the other person, but is guided by a desire to actually bring about their good. It is “without partiality”; that is, it’s unwavering and unbiased in its commitment to truth. And finally, it’s “without hypocrisy”; that is, it does not try to pretend to be what it is not, nor seek to protect an impressive image of itself in the eyes of others.

Again, our Lord is our model in all this. His words of wisdom where characterized by graciousness. The Bible tells us that even people who were offended at His teaching nevertheless “bore witness to Him, and marveled at the gracious words which proceeded out of His mouth” (Luke 4:22). Even those who were sent to arrest Him came back without Him; saying, “No man ever spoke like this Man!” (John 7:46).

May we be like our Lord; and may the graciousness with which we speak to others show that ours is the wisdom that is from above.

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James tells us a final truth about this wisdom from above; and that is that . . .

4. IT ADVANCES ITS CAUSE IN PEACE (v. 18).

Wisdom from above is not idle. It actively seeks to advance righteousness. But because it is from above, it doesn’t need to advance itself as the wisdom of this world would do. As James says; “Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace” (v. 18).

You see; everyone who speaks from the standpoint of some kind of wisdom—whether it is the wisdom of this world, or the wisdom from above; whether aligned to truth or not—at least believes that they are pursuing some kind of concept of “righteousness”. Even if someone, in the fallible wisdom of this world, were to argue for the legitimacy of some kind of sinful practice, they would be doing so out of a belief that they were pursing “justice” for those who wish to practice it. But so often, the people of this world seek to advance their concept of “righteousness” through harsh expressions of their “wisdom” that force or compel people to accept its conclusions. And as James tells us in 1:20, “the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God”.

Instead, James tells us that “the fruit of righteousness”—that is, true righteousness before God that the wisdom from above would approve—”is sown in peace by those who make peace”. The wisdom from above doesn’t advance its cause through harshness and combativeness. Rather, it’s patient; and is willing to be sown “in peace”. What a difference there is in this between the wisdom of this world and the wisdom from above!

Once again; there’s no better example to look to than our Lord. As God tells us in Isaiah 42:1-4 concerning His Son Jesus Christ;

“Behold! My Servant whom I uphold,
My Elect One in whom My soul delights!
I have put My Spirit upon Him;
He will bring forth justice to the Gentiles.
He will not cry out, nor raise His voice,
Nor cause His voice to be heard in the street.
A bruised reed He will not break,
And smoking flax He will not quench;
He will bring forth justice for truth.
He will not fail nor be discouraged,
Till He has established justice in the earth;
And the coastlands shall wait for His law” (Isaiah 42:1-4).

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So then; there are two kinds of wisdom in operation in this world: there is the artificial ‘wisdom’ that has its source in this world, and there is the true wisdom that descends from above. And the manner in which we display the ‘wisdom’ we have proves whether or not ours is “the wisdom that is from above”.

Let’s conclude by asking ourselves two questions. First, let’s ask, “Which wisdom am I listening to and following? Is it the wisdom of this world?—the fallible that has its source in fallen man and that is coming to nothing? Or is it the wisdom that is revealed to fallen man?—the true wisdom that is from above?” And second, let’s ask, “If I say I am following God’s revealed wisdom, then do I display it in a way that shows that it truly is the wisdom from above? Does the way I display God’s wisdom conform to the manner in which Jesus Christ displayed it?”

May God help us, dear brothers and sisters, to display the true wisdom of Jesus Christ—and in the manner in which He Himself displayed it. May God help us to be a different and distinct people from the people of this world—not only in the wisdom we follow, but in terms of its manifest ways in our lives.