James 3:13-18

COMMENTS

Some days, as I read the passage for the day, the Spirit floods my mind with thoughts and words.  And then, there are days like today when He, apparently, wants me to do some digging.

NOTES

The heading in my Bible for this section is “Two Kinds of Wisdom”.  James describes the first as “earthly, unspiritual, of the devil” (verse 15), and he describes the second as wisdom “that comes from heaven” (verse 17).  As I read those descriptions, I became a little confused because I didn’t consider the first one to be wisdom at all.

As I pondered and evaluated my reactions, I slowly came to realize that, even though I don’t always live it out, I’m looking at this passage as I was taught to look at it:  from a godly perspective.  But there’s another perspective:  a worldly one.  From the human, secular, non-Christian point of view, each of us should look out for himself:  “If I don’t look out for #1, who will?”  In that frame of reference, “envy and selfish ambition” (verse 14) are perfectly acceptable, even wise, because I’m all that really matters.  If that’s the case, it’s a good thing; and it’s wise to “boast” about it (verse 14).  (Note that the untamed tongue shows itself again here!)

However, God (through James) dares to challenge that statement.  He offers another point of view:  true wisdom comes from heaven (verse 17).  Instead of being envious and selfish, it is “pure, peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere” (verse 17).  In other words, godly wisdom is the exact opposite of earthly wisdom.  That should not shock us; everything about God is the opposite of Satan.  (Remember, earthly wisdom was described in verse 15 as being “of the devil”.)

Paul addressed this same conflict.  Here’s what Paul had to say about how the ungodly man looks at godly wisdom:

“The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.” 

(1 Corinthians 2:14)

Then, Paul addresses the believer:

“Do not deceive yourselves.  If any one of you thinks he is wise by the standards of this age, he should become a ‘fool’ so that he may become wise.  For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God’s sight….”  (1 Corinthians 3:18-19)

I have a choice—every day, many times a day.  Which type of wisdom will I choose?  Will I be envious and selfish; or will I be pure, peace-loving, considerate, merciful—all those things that James described?  If I choose “the wisdom that comes from heaven”, then He can use me.  I can be one of His peacemakers:

“Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness.” 
(James 3:18)

That’s the kind of wisdom I want.  That’s who I want to be.