Who is wise among you?
Reading James 3:13-18
Introduction
- A terribly disturbing week – examples
- What James speaks about is highly relevant
- Earthly wisdom
- If you leave God out – you get a terrible result
- Heavenly wisdom
- By comparison: pure, peace loving, gentle, willing to yield, merciful, good fruits
- No greater contrast
- Earthly wisdom
- The question from v13 – Who is wise and understanding among you?
- Who in the Church has this wisdom from God?
What about us?
- Do we have bitter envy or self-seeking? – examples
- Our conduct will demonstrate our wisdom (v13)
- Do people see the fragrance of Christ in us?
- Jesus teaches that wisdom is to hear and respond to the word of God
- Explanation of salvation from the Gospel
- In gratitude you live for Him and people see your good deeds
- Two types of people – those who hear Jesus’ word and obey and those who do not obey
- Are you listening to and doing the word of God?
- There is a difference between knowledge and wisdom – example
- James exhorts us to examine our life
- Do not speak/lie against the truth – the word of God
What is true wisdom?
- First described as what it is not (false/worldly wisdom) and then what it is
- Worldly wisdom – earthly, unspiritual, devilish (v15)
- Earthly
- We thank God for common grace – examples
- In terms of lifestyle there is only way to live
- James 1:5 exhorts us to ask for Godly wisdom
- Unspiritual/sensual
- Leaves God out of the picture
- Liberalism
- Devilish/demonic
- The devil is a liar and deceitful
- The devil is an usurper and full of pride
- Jealously and unrivalled ambition (v16)
- Examples
- Earthly
- Heavenly wisdom (from above) – pure, peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, merciful and good fruit (v17)
- Pure
- In Jesus Christ – the only pure man
- God is Holy
- Not twisted / no ‘white’ lies
- Peaceable / gentle / willing to yield – all heart characteristics
- Example
- We are to seek peace / be peacemakers
- We are to submit/yield to one another
- Merciful and good fruit – actions of the wise
- Example of David
- Without partiality and hyprocoisy
- Do we show predujice?
- Are we sincere?
- These attributes exemplified in the Beautitudes
- Pure
The contrast between heavenly and worldly wisdom
- Earthly wisdom causes confusion and evil (v16b)
- Example
- Heavenly wisdom brings peace and righteousness
- Unity with God’s people
- Good relations with others
- A harvest of righteousness
- To bring blessing to those around us
Closing Remarks
- Reading Prov 3:13-18