Ironically our first parents, Adam and Eve, stumbled at the point of wisdom. Tempted by Satan to eat of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, they disobeyed God by reaching for a wisdom that was not theirs to have. They believed that if they obtained this wisdom they would be on equal footing with God. They believed obtaining this wisdom meant becoming even like God Himself.
The Bible says, “So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate (Genesis 3:6).” And this one act of disobedience brought sin to the entire world (Romans 5:12-21).
Reviewing the actions of Adam and Eve is helpful to us in our study of James’ text. We have by nature an inclination to chase after a wrong kind of wisdom, a godless wisdom, a counterfeit wisdom, a wisdom that “does not descend from above” but rather from below, a wisdom that is “earthly, sensual, (and) demonic.”
This is the kind of wisdom we have “by default.” It is part and parcel of our sin nature. Therefore, apart from regeneration and conversion, we will give expression to this wrong kind of wisdom through our words and deeds. What is within us by nature manifests itself outwardly. Here’s how James puts it in James 3:13-18:
13 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom.
14 But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth.
15 This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic.
16 For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there.
17 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.
18 Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.
Recalling the context of James’ teaching on the tongue aids us in our reflection upon the source of wisdom. You will recall from the last post James’ pointing out the inconsistency of the way in which we use our tongues. With our tongue “we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God’s likeness (verse 9).” And James illustrates this inconsistency by encouraging us to consider a natural spring from which flows two kinds of water, both good and bad.
The reason two kinds of water flowing from one source is absurd is precisely because spring water can flow from only one source. Applied to the use of our tongues, the source of our words flows from the “source” of our hearts. Our words are a reflection of what is inside us.
Jesus taught this in Luke’s Gospel. He said, “Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks (Luke 6:45).” The tongue reveals what is in the heart. Or, to paraphrase a bit from Mark’s Gospel, “It’s not what goes in your mouth and into your stomach that defiles you, but rather you are defiled by what comes from your heart, and out of your mouth (Mark 7:15).” What we say is an evidence of what is in our heart. Our words reflect our heart.
So James turns now to this matter of wisdom. He writes about two kinds of wisdom each of which flows from one kind of heart or the other. He describes both a biblical wisdom and an unbiblical wisdom, a heavenly and earthly wisdom. The heavenly wisdom flows from a heart that has been changed by God. The other kind of wisdom is a wisdom that flows from a godless heart, an unchanged heart, a heart James actually describes as demonic. James doesn’t pull any punches!
Let’s endeavor to consider the kind of wisdom James says we should have, “wisdom that is from above,” a biblical wisdom, or heavenly wisdom. Let’s consider three characteristics of this heavenly wisdom.
It is Displayed by Good Conduct
Biblical wisdom is displayed or shown by the Christian’s conduct. Put another way, “Heavenly wisdom is not so much what one knows, but how one lives.”
This makes sense given James’ emphasis on the practical expression of our Christian faith. We recall that this letter is a letter of action, a letter about living out the faith. James says, “Don’t be merely a hearer of the word, but a doer of it.” James is like someone from Missouri, the “Show Me” state! He wants us to show our faith, display it, live it out. Heavenly wisdom is displayed by good conduct.
James ask, “Who is wise and understanding among you?” Perhaps some listening to the public reading of James’ letter would raise their hands in response. If so, we would expect James to say, “Put your hands down. You can prove you are wise and understanding by the way you live.” To quote James precisely: “Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom.”
The word “good” translates a Greek word that describes something beautiful. It is the same word found in our English word “Calligraphy,” beautiful writing. In a sense, then, James is saying, “Do you want to know how you can tell whether someone has biblical wisdom? They are the ones who live beautiful lives before others. The way they speak is beautiful and edifying. The way they act is beautiful, the way the look at you, the way they look at others, they live beautiful lives.”
You don’t have to have physical beauty to live a beautiful life before others. Similarly, there are a lot of people who have physical beauty, but the way they live is ugly.
Remember that James is not teaching that an unbeliever is put in right standing with God by his conduct. He is not teaching that one is saved by his works, earning God’s favor and approval through good works. James is addressing those who have already embraced the gospel. He is writing to those who know that they cannot earn God’s favor because—in Christ—they already have it. And that is what motivates them to live out the Christian life, a beautiful life.
This godly wisdom is distinguished from what is best described as a counterfeit wisdom, a wisdom that is not “from above,” but is rather a godless wisdom from below.
It is Distinguished from a Godless Counterfeit
James describes this godless, counterfeit wisdom. He says, “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.”
This earthly wisdom is the wisdom Satan wants us to embrace. He desires that we exchange heavenly wisdom with un-heavenly wisdom, a wisdom that focuses on self. If this is the kind of wisdom we have we should not “boast and lie against the truth.” In other words, if we possess earthly wisdom we have absolutely nothing to brag about.
One of the ways James describes this earthly wisdom is by describing it as “Self-seeking in your hearts.” Self-seeking connotes the idea of “selfish ambition,” an ambition with little to no regard for others. It is a willingness to be divisive, or to divide a group, to marginalize or alienate others in the interests of one’s own desire for power or prestige.
This is much the way the world operates. We see it in business, in politics and, unfortunately even in religion. Too often there is a willingness to split the group in order to achieve what one person wants. And the sense is, “I really don’t care how this affects you all, I’m going to do this because it is what I want.”
James concludes his description of this “wisdom that does not descend from above” stating: “For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there.”
Such is the chaotic disorder of earthly wisdom. It is in diametrical opposition to godly wisdom. It is a godless counterfeit. Rather than manifesting an upward and outward focus upon God and others, earthly, un-heavenly wisdom manifests an inward focus upon self. It is unbiblical.
What have we learned thus far about biblical wisdom? It is displayed by good conduct and it is distinguished from a godless counterfeit. Finally:
It is Defined by Godly Characteristics
James concludes his exposition by giving no fewer than eight characteristics of heavenly wisdom. He states, “But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield…”
What James has written thus far seems to go against the grain of the American spirit, doesn’t it? “Willing to yield.” We’re a proud nation of rugged individualists! Of course, I share that proud heritage. At the same time, however, if we are followers of Jesus then we are Christians first and Americans second.
If we follow Christ we will live out our faith in a way that often, if not usually, goes against the grain. He who is wise is always “willing to yield” out of deference and respect for others.
Derek Prime, pastor for many years in Edinburgh Scotland, made a statement once about the Christian’s willingness to yield. As he and a younger minister were on their way to an important meeting at the church, a meeting were there was going to be a number of varying opinions, Prime remarked: “It’s one thing to know your mind, it’s another thing to have your mind made up.”
1If we have our “minds made up” before we ever enter into a meeting, whether it’s a meeting of a group, or a one-on-one meeting, and we enter into that meeting with a smug, self-assured, “I know I’m right” sort of spirit, then even if we are right, we’re in no position ever to learn anything. To have a spirit that is “willing to yield” means we humble ourselves and are teachable and willing to learn something.
When I was ten years old our family moved from California to Georgia. It was at the end of my 5th grade year and I was getting acclimated to my new school. I had learned to play trumpet in California and felt I was pretty good. So as I made my way to my first band practice in Georgia I was really disappointed. The band was not assembled by ability, but by grade. I remember thinking, “Man, this is pretty pathetic. I need to be in the 6th or 7th grade band.” To make matters worse, while I was “first chair” in California, my new band director automatically assigned me to the fourth part. The part was well beneath my ability and I remember being frustrated, feeling like I had fallen to a new low. After practice I approached my new band director and said, “I’m sorry Mr. Brown, but in California we were playing stuff a lot harder than this and I’m used to playing first part.” I remember well his sobering reply. He said, “A really good trumpet player will play any part assigned him.”
Sometimes God forces us to learn how to yield! Biblical wisdom means we have humility, we’re teachable.
James continues to describe this wisdom from above as, “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.”
Those who make peace—peacemakers—are those who reap a harvest of righteousness. So again, biblical wisdom is not about self, it’s about others.
One of the keys to being a peacemaker is found in the preceding verse where James says that biblical wisdom is “full of mercy and good fruits.” If you are full of mercy then you can extend mercy to others. You have a limitless supply of mercy.
When another Christian hurts you, you’ve got plenty of mercy to give out. A helpful parallel is a verse to which we have previously referred; Ephesians 4:32: “Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another just as God has forgiven you in Christ.” Because God has shown you mercy, so can show mercy to others.
Christ’s atonement for our sins puts us in a position to forgive the offenses of others. Because of the gospel Christians can affirm confidently: “God has forgiven all of my sins, all sins past, present, and future. I am justified, declared righteous. I am no longer guilty of all sin, including my future sins.”
If this is true, and it is, think about how your forgiveness applies to your forgiving others. We are quick to think about how God’s grace and mercy applies to us individually, but think about how God’s grace and mercy also applies to other Christians with whom you may find yourself at odds.
In other words consider how God’s forgiveness of another Christian’s sins may include His forgiveness of that person’s sin against you. So if—because of Christ—God forgives that person’s sin against you, should you not also forgive that person’s sin against you?
This is a major key to overcoming bitterness. Whatever hurt that Christian may have inflicted upon you—or may yet inflict upon you—consider it a sin for which God has forgiven him at Calvary. God forgives him just as He forgives you. You then, also forgive him based upon Christ’s atoning sacrifice.
What About You?
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How does popular wisdom of the world differ from God’s wisdom?
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Are you “willing to yield” or teachable?
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How can God’s forgiveness of your sin move you to forgive those who have hurt you?
Gersom Clark
Godly wisdom is unpopular in this world but definitely the right one.