Achieving Maturity Through Wisdom & Peace

James 3.13-18

I. Introduction

A. Text

James 3:13-18

Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom. [14] But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. [15] This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. [16] For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. [17] But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. [18] And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

B. Wisdom is often thought of as only an intellectual sharpness, knowledge that is broad and deep.

1. James, however, reminds us that wisdom is seen in how it affects our lives

2. And that there is bad wisdom also.

a. Shrewd Manager

1) Luke 16:1-8, NAS95 "1 Now He was also saying to the disciples, "There was a rich man who had a manager, and this manager was reported to him as squandering his possessions. 2 "And he called him and said to him, 'What is this I hear about you? Give an accounting of your management, for you can no longer be manager.' 3 "The manager said to himself, 'What shall I do, since my master is taking the management away from me? I am not strong enough to dig; I am ashamed to beg. 4 'I know what I shall do, so that when I am removed from the management people will welcome me into their homes.' 5 "And he summoned each one of his master's debtors, and he began saying to the first, 'How much do you owe my master?' 6 "And he said, 'A hundred measures of oil.' And he said to him, 'Take your bill, and sit down quickly and write fifty.' 7 "Then he said to another, 'And how much do you owe?' And he said, 'A hundred measures of wheat.' He *said to him, 'Take your bill, and write eighty.' 8 "And his master praised the unrighteous manager because he had acted shrewdly; for the sons of this age are more shrewd in relation to their own kind than the sons of light."

b. Wise and Foolish Offer Feasts: Pr. 9.1-6; 13-18

1) Proverbs 9:1-6, Wisdom has built her house;she has hewn her seven pillars. She has slaughtered her beasts; she has mixed her wine; she has also set her table. She has sent out her young women to call from the highest places in the town, "Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!" To him who lacks sense she says, [5] "Come, eat of my bread and drink of the wine I have mixed. [6] Leave your simple ways, and live, and walk in the way of insight."

2) Proverbs 9:13-18, The woman Folly is loud; she is seductive and knows nothing. [14] She sits at the door of her house; she takes a seat on the highest places of the town, [15] calling to those who pass by, who are going straight on their way, [16] "Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!" And to him who lacks sense she says, [17] "Stolen water is sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant." [18] But he does not know that the dead are there, that her guests are in the depths of Sheol.

3. We should seek and acquire wisdom

a. Proverbs 4:7 The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom, and whatever you get, get insight.

b. Ephesians 5:15-17 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.

II. Contrast in the Origin of Wisdoms

A. Wisdom not from above (15)

1. While not explicitly stated this is "man's" wisdom

a. Like the building of the tower of Babel; that ended in failure and confusion. (Genesis 11.1-9)

b. Like King Saul putting his armor on young David to fight Goliath (2 Samuel 17.38ff).

c. Like Jesus' disciples desiring to dismiss the crowd so that they could find their own food; but Jesus' compassion fed the multitude with a few loaves and two fishes.

2. It is earthly, natural, and demonic.

a. We have three things working against us spiritually: the world, the flesh, and Satan.

1) Ephesians 2:1-3, And you were dead in the trespasses and sins [2] in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— [3] among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.

b. Distinguish between the world's knowledge and the world's wisdom

1) We have much knowledge of things and how things work: Universe, cosmos, deep inside the atom.

2) But we seem to have very little real wisdom.

3) Worldly wisdom points away from God; rejects the gospel

4) 1 Corinthians 1:18 For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

5) 1 Corinthians 1:20, Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?

6) Romans 3:18,"There is no fear of God before their eyes."

c. Natural (unspiritual)

1) Appeals to the senses, to emotion, passions and the flesh

2) Wisdom by what feels right. (But doesn't make it right.)

d. Demonic:

1) Satan's wisdom in tempting Eve

i. Genesis 3:4,5, Genesis 4:4

ii. And Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat portions. And the Lord had regard for Abel and his offering, 5 but for Cain and his offering he had no regard. So Cain was very angry, and his face fell.

B. Wisdom from above (17)

1. It is Jesus!

a. 1 Corinthians 1:30, NAS95 "30 But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption,"

b. Colossians 2:3, NAS95 "3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge."

2. It is the Word!

a. Deuteronomy 4:5,6, NAS95 "5 "See, I have taught you statutes and judgments just as the LORD my God commanded me, that you should do thus in the land where you are entering to possess it. 6 "So keep and do them, for that is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the peoples who will hear all these statutes and say, 'Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.'"

b. 2 Timothy 3:15, NAS95 "15 and that from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus."

III. Contrast in the Operation of the Wisdoms

A. Wisdom from man is defective (14, 16)

1. Bitter jealousy: the spirit of self-devotion.

2. Selfish ambition:

a. Vincent: Thus it comes to be applied to those who serve in official positions for their own selfish interest, and who, to that end, promote party spirit and faction.

b. RWP: a pushing forward for personal ends, partisanship

c. This wisdom extols as virtues such qualities as: Power, Position, Privilege, Prestige

3. Arrogance; lying against truth

4. Begins in the heart!

a. While these attitudes may never manifest as actions per se, they are the roots of other adverse actions.

B. Wisdom from God is perfect.(17)

1. Pure

a. Answers to the heart!

b. Undefiled by the world, by the flesh, by Satan

c. James 4:8, NAS95 "8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded."

d. 2 Corinthians 11:3, "But I am afraid that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds will be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ."

2. Peaceable

a. Romans 12:18, NAS95 "18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men."

3. Gentle

a. "Sweet reasonableness"

b. Moderation without compromise; gentleness without weakness

4. Reasonable

a. Easy to live with and work with

b. Yielding to persuasion

5. Full of mercy

a. Full of = controlled by

b. Luke 6:36, NAS95 "36 "Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.

c. Good Samaritan

6. Full of good fruits

a. Faithful people are fruitful: fruit of the spirit

7. Unwavering

a. Singleness of mind; opposite of wavering (1.6)

b. Decisive and not afraid depending on God's wisdom; not wisdom of world, men

8. Without hypocrisy

a. Sincerity of heart in all these things

b. Not doing them just because we must

c. But because of whom we are!

IV. Contrast in the Results of Wisdoms

A. Wisdom not from above (16)

1. Disorder

a. Disorder due to instability

b. JFB: literally, "tumultuous anarchy": both in society (translated "commotions," Lu 21:9; "tumults," 2Co 6:5), and in the individual mind

2. Every evil thing

B. Wisdom from above (13, 18)

1. Show it

a. Good behavior

b. Deeds

c. Gentleness of wisdom

2. Power under control

3. "Knowledge is proud that she has learned so much, Wisdom is humble that she knows no more."

4. Peace and Righteousness

a. James 3:18, NIV "18 Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness."

V. Wisdom From Above Leads to Peace.

A. Immature Christians War and Battle (1-3)

B. Quarrels and conflicts

1. Quarrels: a war; a fight, a battle; a dispute, strife, quarrel

2. Conflicts: a fight or combat.

C. The Source:

1. Pleasures: "desire for pleasure".

2. Exemplified:

a. You lust do not have commit murder

b. You are envious-cannot obtain-fight and quarrel

3. The Result: commit murder; fight and quarrel: Wrong Actions.

4. Why don't they have?

a. Don't have because you don't ask.

1) Remember all good gifts come for the Father: James 1.17

b. Ask, don't receive- wrong motives (heart is not right!)

c. Wrong Praying

1) Because the prayers are for selfish motives

D. This is why people are often at war with one another.

1. Every war or angry disagreement has people who are first at war within him or her!

a. Why is this so?

b. Why are people at war within themselves?

VI. Mature Christians Are At Peace Because Are… (4-12)

A. In a covenant with God not Friendship with the World (4-5)

1. Adulteresses- an allusion to spiritual idolatry!

2. Friendship with the world: enmity with God

1) Matthew 6:24, NAS95 "24 "No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth."

B. Humble not Proud (6-10)

1. God gives greater grace

a. These people wanted things, pleasures, but they were looking at what others had

1) These things were not given freely

2) Rather they had to fight and war to obtain them!

3) God's friendship would free give them!

C. Law Doers not Law Givers (11-12)

1. Do not speak against one another

2. Judging is God's Job!

VII. Conclusion.

A. What kind of wisdom do we want?

1. If earthly, then no effort is necessary

a. Just do what the world tells you

b. Just do what feels right

2. But if heavenly, then we must be diligent

a. To seek such wisdom from God

b. To demonstrate such wisdom by our conduct

B. What kind of wisdom do we have?

1. Look at the condition of our own lives and the lives of those closest to us.

a. If we see turmoil, trouble and confusion, the wisdom not from above is leading.

b. If we see peace and righteousness, the wisdom from above is leading us.

2. Examine your own heart carefully: Who is wise and understanding among you?

3. Proverbs 3:13, NAS95 "13 How blessed is the man who finds wisdom And the man who gains understanding."

Ron Herring

Modified from Dave Stewart