James is an incredible of practical godliness. It is a letter written to churches scattered and Christians who have been dispersed and found their lives changed. It is a letter written to Christians by the Lord Jesus Christ’s brother, James and is full of deep theological reminders of who they are in such trying circumstances.
James also goes into matters of the heart. What happens within your heart? Are you one who boasts in your exaltation or in your humiliation? Are you one who shows partiality in in your dealings? How do you relate to God in these matters of the heart?
In James 2, we read in James how so much of our faith can really only be seen and in some sense proven by our works, and so much of our works reveal themselves in our words. Our tongue, that tiny member — that fleshly organ between the jaws — James describes as a world of unrighteousness, a tiny spark and a tiny flame that is able to set a blaze of great forest.
Do you know how to tame your tongue? In James 3, James told us that a solution is not within, but without. Help must come from outside and help must come through God's word.
Having spoken of works and words, he then turns to wisdom.
What do we think of wisdom? Often we are seeking very practical wisdom. We seek wisdom to navigate day-to-day circumstances. Perhaps it’s a work situation — how do I get my boss to recognise my efforts so that I can be promoted? How do I know that I am in the right job? And maybe more broadly, what relationships should I pursue? What hopes and aspirations should I have?
God's word is here to tell us that there are two kinds of wisdom. What do you see when you seek for wisdom? As we come before God's word, ask that He would humble our hearts and help us to know rightly which of the two wisdoms that He describes in James 3 that we are actually pursuing.
(A) Demonic wisdom breeds hypocritical pride (Jas 3:13-16)
When you want to seek wisdom, who do you think of? Perhaps it’s someone you can trust? Or some of us might think of crowdsourcing. In our day and age, we might also turn to AI.
What then do you make of this rhetorical question and answer — Who is wise and understanding among among you? James goes on to state that this is not merely by words, but works — to show by good conduct in the meekness of wisdom (Jas 3:13).
In our world, we understand the function of wisdom as one that helps us to navigate grave situations for great gain. When we encounter difficult situations, we seek to obtain the best possible outcome. In this sense then, wisdom can look like a million and one different things.
But here, James says something interesting. Wisdom is seen by the good works of the wise in the meekness of wisdom. Why meekness as this defining quality? We think back to what our Lord Jesus Christ said in the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5:5. There, He pronounces a blessing on the meek — “Blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the earth”. How does this work? Meekness as a quality conveys a posture of humility and an openness to submission. And yet, how can the meek inherit the earth? Let’s see what other parts of Scripture says.
The prophet Jeremiah is instructive. In Jeremiah 9:23-24, he brings a word from the Lord to the wise and the strong and the mighty and the rich of this world. The reason why meekness is precious and constitutive of true wisdom is because meekness is the attribute of anyone who knows what it is like to really know God. When you know that you are but a creature and there is a Creator, when you know that you are wretched and there is one who is holy, when you know that left to yourself you are dead but there is one who can make you alive when you know that you are deficient and there is One who is abundant, when you know that God is God and you are not, the only posture that can rightly proceed from that is meekness.
As Proverbs 9:10 tells us, the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. If you desire to know true wisdom, then it is not just about how you can navigate grave situations for great gain in this life, but it is how he can navigate grave situations for great gain before God. If God really is God, then your trajectories, your interpretation of what's happening right now, your figuring out your own heart, your workplace, your everything will be lived in the light of him. And the only posture of those who want to navigate life rightly before such a God is meekness.
That is why James makes it absolutely clear to us from the get go — the one who is wise and understanding will show it with their meekness. Wisdom, then, is not special knowledge that only the select posses but it is common. It is common because all of us can be humbled before the mighty hand of God. And if you desire it, you can have it.
But before he goes on to tell us how we can have it, he tells us what it clearly is not.
James wants his listeners to guard against bitter jealousy and selfish ambition (Jas 3:14). This reveals a proud heart and these are the very opposite of meekness
James also calls out an action. He speaks of boasting and being false to the truth (Jas 3:14b). The truth that they are being contrary to is what wisdom actually is. He begins by asking who is wise and understanding among you. Some among them might have assumed that they were wise and understanding. Then James goes on to say that if they find pride in their heart, they are not to boast about being wise, for in so doing, they tell a lie about what true wisdom is and are being false to the truth. If they have such things raging in their heart, all their boasting is a hypocritical act. They do not actually have true wisdom.
James seems to be using harsh language that no one would naturally want to associate themselves with — bitter jealously, selfish ambition. But isn’t it true that there is something of that lurks inside all of us in performance bonus season? Or when you hear of how well your friend has done on the stock market. Is God’s word practical and useful in the real world?
James cautions us to be very clear about how we we think about and live out true wisdom. James wants us to be clear about what true wisdom is. The thing that is worse than a terrible sinner is the sinner who thinks that they are a saint and boasts that they are so.
Psalm 36:1-2 helps us to see what characterises the sinfulness of the wicked — there is no fear of God before their eyes. In their own eyes, they flatter themselves too much to hate or detect their own sin. And it is a dangerous thing to harbour such thoughts within your heart and then to boast about it as though it were true. That blindness of pride will sweep you over before you are aware.
James cautions us to be on guard. What will it look like on the other hand, to work out your life with the opposite of such pride and selfish ambition? What would it look like to work out your life with a delight and a joy in the welfare of the other person that you meet, to desire their good more than your own? Going into the world with such a mindset might cause one to be branded a fool and laughed at. But friends remember that it is because Christians are not like the world, and it is a good thing in the eyes of the Lord. It is a far better thing to receive the mockery of the world, to not harbour such bitter jealousy and selfish ambition, to desire the good of another and to be able to take joy in the success and the welfare of another
Why is that the case? James reveals the source in James 3:15-16. The source is described in three ways. Firstly, it is earthly and belongs to this passing world. It is good, but only for this time, for this life that soon fades away. Secondly, it is unspiritual. Its mind is set on on things that are not profitable at all. It does not care for the things of God and cares only for the things of this world. Paul describes it in a similar fashion in Philippians 3:18-19. Thirdly, at the heart of it, it is demonic. Ultimately, this matters because such foolishness and false wisdom has a very clear source. It is that same Edenic sin, the first sin that was sold and packaged nicely with Adam. It is the same sin that said, “Wouldn’t it be a good thing if you could just be like God? Isn't God just not such a good god because He doesn't let you be exactly like Him?” James describes it for us in clear terms that that we might know its true nature. It may be good for something, but all it is good for in the light of eternity’s values, and our God Himself, all it is good for is like a lipstick on a dying pig.
James not only helps us to see the source of this wisdom, but also its fruit (Jas 3:16). With such jealousy and selfish ambition, there will be disorder, which is the same word for “unstable” in James 1:8, where James speaks of the double-minded man. It is also the same word for the “restless” tongue in James 3:8 as James speaks of the unruliness of the tongue.
Paul also writes about how this sort of disorder should not be characteristic of life in the church in 1 Corinthians 14. Paul speaks about how the church is to practice and order itself, especially in light of spiritual gifts that are meant to build the church up. All things should be done in an orderly manner for God is a God of order and not disorder.
And friends, we do know this to be true. Think of the world that we live in. Yes, there there are things that we should thank God for and celebrate and be happy about but really, what longstanding, lasting good has come out of a world that says that the individual matters the most? What good has come out of a world where everyone is told that they should be king? What good have we done with all of our technological advances, big skyscrapers, well-organized cities, knowledge, wisdom and enlightenment? What have we done for abortion rates, worsening inequalities?
Demonic wisdom breeds hypocritical pride, and from there comes disorder and every vile practice. We must be clear about it, recognize it, then pray and ask that God will keep you from the hypocrisy of boasting as though all the immediate earthly unspiritual success you have is of any true good and reflective of any true wisdom. At the end of the day, it is of its father the devil.
(B) Heavenly wisdom blooms a harvest of righteousness (Jas 3:17-18)
Thankfully, there is another sort of wisdom. It is the wisdom that comes down from above and the first defining quality of it is that it is pure (Jas 3:17a).
Now, we might have a complicated relationship with the idea of purity. But here, James is trying to show us that there is something untainted and defiled from God that is pure, and it is a good thing. This is the sort of wisdom that comes from God.
In James 1:5, James calls us to ask God if we lack wisdom, for He is a God who gives generously to all. As you survey the state of your heart and you recognize that there is a lusting after earthly wisdom, turn to God and ask Him for a better wisdom. God’s word tells us that He lovingly grants it o us without reproach, when we let us ask with sincerity and in faith, or with humility and meekness.
Such wisdom is possible. because it comes down from our God who does not change (Jas 1:17). It is on this note of hope that we should consider the wisdom that comes down from above.
It is given to us through the Spirit and we see how it changes the way we live and relate to others. It is not hard to see that it is similar to the fruit of the Spirit that Paul writes about in Galatians 5:22-23.
To be peaceable, one sees a fire and desires to make sure that it is put out. When witnessing conflict, one desires to bring about reconciliation. And it is marked by a certain gentleness in doing so — with consideration and patience. To be wise is also to be open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits. We tend to think of mercy as some sort of like inward disposition but James makes it clear that it is compassion in action. It is worked out, seen and known and there is something sweet, nourishing and tangible that comes out of it. Wisdom is also impartial, and the sin of partiality was cautioned against in James 2. True wisdom is so unlike the wisdom of this world.
Consider praying about these! If you feel like your prayer life is boring commit these things to your heart and pray about these things. God gives them to us generously without reproach.
How is such wisdom known? Where can it be seen? The more we think about it, friends, the more we realise that the world will not call this wisdom. Yet, the nearness of this wisdom to us and the the living breathing proof that God has given it to us is in it Christ Himself. The more we think of all of these qualities in many ways, in many ways, they remind us of our Saviour. As Paul writes, Christ is the wisdom of God. This is the mystery of God's wisdom, the mystery of the cross that Christ should suffer for the lost, so that the fool might shame the wise and all the glory might go to Christ. There is much that we can think about concerning how the wisdom of God is displayed on the cross in such a fashion.
The wisdom of God shows itself mightily and powerfully at the cross which brings about our peace in a manner that is completely impartial, full of mercy and good fruits. The cross shows us a gentle Saviour who is near to us and dear to us. The more you know Christ, the more you know what wisdom looks like. Look to Christ, not just at the cross, but look also at the resurrected Christ who ascended and is not seated at the right hand of God.
The final fruit is a harvest of righteousness that is sown in peace by those who make peace (Jas 3:18). This is a righteousness marked by right living before God, that is really nothing less than the entire list of qualities that we had read about. Those who pursue such wisdom and apply uch wisdom in peace will see a great harvest.
In Ephesians 3:7-10, we see that God designed for His wisdom to be displayed through the church. Therefore, pray that this harvest of righteousness will be seen in your church and give thanks when you see such fruit. Pray that God will let this wisdom be plainly, clearly, powerfully known and felt. If you are not a part of a local church, we encourage you to speak with us!
Make no mistake that earthly wisdom wars against the church. Even the gates of hell themselves war against it. There might even be days, perhaps even right now when it feels as though the church has anything but the display of God’s manifold wisdom. Instead of peace, there is disorder. Instead of gentleness, there is harshness. Instead of mercy and good fruit, it feels like very opposite, full of disrepair. But even in those moments we entrust the worst of our circumstances and the bleakest of our nights into our sovereign God's hands.
By the cross, that foolish instrument, the despicable instrument in the world, He has shown the wisdom of this world to be foolishness. He has made the fool, wise. He is still at work in our churches, the churches that we try to love. Pray that Christ would be formed in you and that He will be known in those local bodies that we gather in.
What sort of wisdom are you drawn to? What sort of wisdom do you possess? May you desire to know more of God’s wisdom revealed in Christ.