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Nov 20, 2016

Wise Up!

Wise Up!

Passage: James 3:13-18

Preacher: John Repsold

Series: James

Keywords: godly wisdom, humility, impartiality, peace, relationships, submission

Summary:

This passage contrasts the way our culture, world and sinful self tend to view wisdom verses what godly wisdom is and how it works out in life's relationships. Wisdom is primarily about right and righteous relationships with God and others.

Detail:

Wise Up!

James 3:13-18

November 20, 2016

 

Anybody got their heart set on being a…FOOL???

I’ll assume that the rest of us…all of us (?)…would rather live life with as much WISDOM as possible?  Good.  I like to hang out around wise people. 

            Wise people are different from “smart” people. Smart people may have a high I.Q.  They may be able to ace all the exams in school.  They may not even have to study. 

ILL:  As a sophomore in college at Pacific Lutheran University, there was a fellow on my dorm floor who fit this category. Bob, was his name He was literally brilliant.  He never studied for a single test…and he aced ALL of them…usually with a hangover from the party he’d been to the night before. He pulled a 4.0 every semester.  In fact, he admitted to me that he was bored with his classes (physics, chemistry and biology) even though he was double-majoring in a couple of THE most difficult majors possible.  He was a premed guy…like I had been my 1st year of college, only to realize that wasn’t going to happen with my grades! 

            While brilliant, Bob was a FOOL.  Oh, he was well liked by the girls.  He was funny to be around.  He was a party animal.  But according to God’s definition of a wise man, he was disqualified on about every level—morally, relationally and certainly spiritually.

Q:  So what is the difference between WISDOM & SMARTS/ INTELLIGENCE? 

[Open answers.] 

Wisdom, according to God’s word at least, has to do with the ability to live life in a sinful, flawed world in such a way that both God, you and others are blessed by your actions.   Notice a few components of that definition:

  • Wisdom takes place in an imperfect, fallen world. While we can all hope for heaven, in this life we need to learn to live around evil and brokenness.  The fool never learns how to be personally good and righteous while living in and around evil.  Wisdom takes all that into account…and does so successfully.
  • Wisdom has to do with the right relationship with God. “The fool has said in his heart, ‘There is no God.’” (Psalm 14:1.)  Since God is all-wise, he’s the source of all true wisdom. Trying to find wisdom for life apart from God is like trying to find the solution to exhaustion without sleep.  Good luck with that!

You may look very financially successful in this world, but without true wisdom, you will look like a fool before God and all eternity.  Remember the parable of the rich farmer who had such bumper crops that he decided to tear down his barns and build bigger ones to hoard more grain wealth?  God called him a “fool” because he had neglected his soul-life with God.  He was not “rich towards God.” I hope no one here is in that boat!

  • Wisdom has to do with right relationships with people. If you read the best book on wisdom ever written, the O.T. book of Proverbs, and follow its instruction, you will be one of the most successful people relationally in the world.  Wisdom is largely about how we relate to others…or even IF we should relate to them at times.  When we relate to them in wisdom, they will be blessed.  When we don’t, they probably won’t want to be around us very much…unless it is to bother, attack or kill us. 
  • Wisdom has to do with living life in a way that blesses US (the ‘liver’) now and A wise person gets to eat the fruits of his wisdom.  Life works better.  They don’t engage in self-destructive thoughts or behavior.  It doesn’t mean they won’t have difficulties or suffering or persecution.  But if or when they do, they will have the joy of knowing they are living life well before God and others. 

Today we are in James 3:13-18.  It’s all about WISDOM.  So, according to the admonition in James 1:5 that we should PRAY if we lack wisdom, let’s start this study today by doing just that! 

[PRAY]

Read 3:13-18-- 13 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.14 But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth.15 Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. 16 For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.

17 But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. 18 Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness. 

Anybody ever experienced conflict in a church?  No, never, right?!  We’ve got SO much to argue and divide over. [See PowerPoint slide #7.]  [Also #8--This cartoon might describe your feelings about churches and conflict if you’ve ever served on a board.]

The churches that James wrote to were experiencing conflict (we will see more of this next week in 4:1-2). When James writes in 3:14, “But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth.” this conditional clause indicates that it was true. James was not addressing a hypothetical situation that might arise in the future, but rather a real situation that already existed. We could functionally translate it, “But since you harbor envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not be boasting or denying the truth about it!”

Rivalries and splits are nothing new to church history… unfortunately.  And sadly, pastors are some of the worst offenders when it comes to “envy” and “selfish ambition.”  You haven’t seen selfish ambition cloaked in piety until you’ve been to a pastor’s conference!  Everyone is talking about how BIG their church is or how FAST their budget is growing or how GRAND their building program is.  Since this chapter began warning about the desire to become a teacher in the church, I’m guessing James had some pretty specific churches and pastors in mind when he wrote this warning. 

But his admonition isn’t limited to just preacher types like me.  It applies to every believer.  James is showing us here that God’s wisdom will lead to harmonious relationships, be they in your marriage, your school or your church. He’ll contrast it with worldly “wisdom” that inevitably leads to conflict. But the truth is the same for all of us:  GODLY WISDOM LEADS TO GREAT RELATIONSHIPS

James now sets his trap… and then springs it! He asks (3:13a), “Who is wise and understanding among you?” What leader or teacher or professor type doesn’t like to think that they are just a little bit wiser or smarter than their average colleague? We all do, don’t we?   We love to have people ask us for advice and counsel.  We think, “Certainly they wouldn’t have asked me if they didn’t recognize that I’ve got some wisdom to offer.”

But here is one of the differences between human and godly wisdom.  Human wisdom might be content just to give a good reply, a good speech, a good “word of advice.” 

But James tells us that godly wisdom has to do with a godly life.  Good counsel has to do with good character and good actions.   “Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. 

Here’s the 1st quality of real wisdom:  HUMILITY

            What’s the relationship between humility and, say, conflict and strife?  NOTHING…or at least inverse.  We can’t always avoid conflict and strife.  But the older I get, the more I see that humility has more to do with good relationships than just about anything.  I’ve never met a truly humble person, living out of that humility, who is frequently in open, angry conflict with others.  But people lacking humility not only see everything black and white with no gray in between; they see themselves as always right and others as usually wrong. 

            I can’t point to a single time in my life where I’ve gotten into a conflict that got ugly or hurtful because I was humble.  I might have been hurt or angry or tired…but not humble. 

Other versions translate this word “gentleness” or “meekness.” It is one of the beatitudes (Matt. 5:5) and it is part of the fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:23). The Greek word did not envision a mild, weak person who is just a timid milk toast.  Rather, it’s the image of a tamed horse, which is powerful, but submissive to its master.

A meek person may be a very strong leader.  Moses is described as the meekest man on the earth (Num. 12:3, LXX), yet he was a world-class leader. Jesus described Himself as meek (Matt. 11:29), and yet He powerfully confronted the religious leaders and drove the money changers out of the temple. Unfortunately, neither “gentleness” nor “meekness” really communicate the true meaning of the Greek word here.  Try “graciously strong” or “humbly powerful.” 

APP:  So think about a conflicted relationship you may be in.  Maybe it’s a family member or a friend, a roommate or a coworker.  Every one of those situations will probably benefit from increased humility on your part, right?  I’m not advocating you let people run roughshod over you.  But humility that comes from God usually can find a way to deescalate heated conversations and bring peace where there is growing pressure.  [PRAY for greater humility/gentleness in this relationship.]

From giving the first symptom of godly wisdom, James switches immediately to a list of markers for “wisdom” that is “worldly, unspiritual, demonic” (vs. 15). 

            But before we look at them, notice the adjectives used here.  They aren’t exactly weak words. “Demonic” is not an adjective you want to throw around lightly…especially related to “wisdom.”  But there IS such as thing as “demonic” wisdom” just as there is “unspiritual” and “worldly wisdom.”  When we engage in this type of wisdom, we usually think it’s “good” wisdom.  Just what are the markers of this counterfeit wisdom?

The first traits of godless “wisdom” are jealousy and ambition.  Look at verse 14.  Yes, there are important adjectives attached to those two words.  Not all jealousy or ambition is bad.  Healthy jealousy protects a marriage from unhealthy intrusions.  Godly ambition can lead to great kingdom work for the glory of God.   

  1. But BITTER JEALOUSY doesn’t want to protect something good someone else has; it wants to possess something good someone else’s has. And the fact that the jealousy is “bitter” makes it clear that this isn’t something that should characterize someone living by divine wisdom.

            The adjective “bitter” here was just used by James back in vs. 11 of “bitter water” from a spring.  It’s not life-giving or relationship-protecting.  It usually flows like water out of a heart muddied by jealousy. 

ILL: Over the past 3 months, I’ve been working through a reoccurring conflict issue with one of my siblings.  Just this week, we were able to take the better part of a day to really talk things through and try to get some genuine resolution.  One of the things the Lord revealed to me was that I had let a legitimate jealousy become bitter. 

  • Explain my desire in earlier years to have my mother come live with us, or at least in Spokane, so that our children would have more memories with their only surviving grandparent.
  • For various reasons, that didn’t happen…and I began to resent that and pin the failure of that on my sibling.
  • The result was that I began to build bitterness that would erupt in anger and do great damage.

That’s not godly nor wisdom.

APP:  Is God speaking to you about some desire to enjoy someone or something that has gone from godly to greedy?  That is growing in bitterness that may be evidenced by avoidance or anger or gossip or any host of unhealthy emotions and behaviors? 

            Ready to call it worldly, unspiritual or demonic? 

Trait #2 of counterfeit wisdom:  SELFISH AMBITION/ Self-seeking.  Vs. 14--“But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth.”

            This verse is the only time this word is used in the Bible.  In fact, you can hardly find it in Greek writings outside of the Bible.  Aristotle uses it to describe the narrow partisan zeal of factional, greedy politicians in his own day.  Wow!  It’s so hard to find partisan zeal or personal greed in today’s political landscape, isn’t it! J

            How many ruptured relationships have their roots in selfishness?  Think about divorces.  Of the dozens and dozens I’ve watched happen, I don’t know a single one where selfishness of one or both parties didn’t enter in. 

  • If a marriage gets destroyed by some addictive behavior like drugs or alcohol, that’s selfishness.
  • If a marriage melts down due to infidelity, that’s definitely selfishness.
  • If a marriage ends because of growing resentment or unmet needs or unwillingness to change, those all have their roots in “wanting it my way”…selfishness.

How often do people leave a church because they aren’t getting what they want?  That’s selfishness.

How often do churches split because one leader/pastor/faction of the church doesn’t get what they want?  That’s selfishness. 

            We all have a natural pull to fight for “what WE want.”  But that isn’t of the Spirit or godly wisdom. 

APP:  Where or in what relationship are you tempted to fight for what YOU want?  Demand what YOU want?  How much of self is in the conflict you may be experiencing?  Want to ask God to free you of that?  

The final trait of worldly wisdom is the FRUIT it bears:  DISORDER & EVIL.  (Vs. 16)

16 For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.

When Paul exhorted the Corinthians about the problems in their assembly, he said (1 Cor. 14:33), “God is not a God of confusion but of peace….” The word “confusion” is the same Greek word that is here translated “disorder.” The opposite, the spiritual fruit of divine wisdom, is peace among God’s people.  It’s pretty easy to tell the difference between disorder and peace, between confusion and calm. 

Now James shifts to the positive side of the wisdom spectrum:  Godly Wisdom.

17 But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. 18 Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.

Trait #1 is…PURE.

James underscores the primacy of purity when he writes, “first of all pure.” Without purity, it is not wisdom from above! The Greek word means to be unmixed, unalloyed, or untainted by any impurity. In the context here, it especially has the sense of being free from any jealousy or selfish ambition. In other words, it is focusing on our motives. WHY do you want wisdom?  To bless others or get ahead?  To bring honor to God by helping others advance ahead of us OR to get ahead of others so I look good? 

VISUAL:  [Slide of a jar of pure oil vs. a jar of mayonnaise.]

            A good test of purity is to ask, “If my reasons for doing this were made public, would they see Jesus or my own ambitions?  Would they know that this was a selfless act or would they have good reason to suspect a selfish motive? 

ILL:  Isn’t this what drives us crazy about politicians?  They claim to want to be a public servant, to get elected so they can help people.  Then we see them making backroom deals or getting rich through God knows how many unholy connections.  And we rightly question whether their motives were really pure or just purely selfish.

ILL:  If you’re a parent asking for wisdom on how to raise your children, are you doing it to keep from being embarrassed by a rebel child OR are you asking for wisdom so that they can succeed in life? 

ILL:  If you’re asking for wisdom on how to run a business, is it because you primarily want to make a lot of money and make life easier for yourself OR because you want to bless more people with more jobs and better salaries? 

Godly wisdom seeks the glory of God and isn’t muddied or muddled by selfish ambitions. 

Trait #2:  Godly wisdom is PEACE-LOVING.  Many versions simply translate this “peaceable.”  17 But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving….”

This is the opposite of the “disorder” we talked about earlier in worldly wisdom.  I think it is significant that it follows “purity.”  If we compromise purity for the sake of peace, we won’t be acting in godly wisdom. On the other hand, if we hold to purity in a contentious or divisive manner, we are not displaying godly wisdom.

            Figuring out how to accomplish one without sacrificing the other can be a bit of a challenge.  People who are all about TRUTH without displaying grace are not peaceable, peace-loving people.  But people who surrender truth in order to live a life that has no conflict with others and not living in the wise way God ordains. 

Seeking peace in relationships is not a minor theme in the Bible! Just after his counsel to wives and husbands (1 Pet. 3:1-7), the apostle Peter cites from Psalm 34, “He must turn away from evil and do good; he must seek peace and pursue it” (1 Pet. 3:11). Those words apply to all relationships. We are to go after peace as we would pursue an animal in the hunt.

Paul echoes this theme often. In Ephesians 4:3, he says that we are to be “diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” Seek peace and pursue it with diligence!  Peace is no small thing to guard, especially between the people of God. 

ILL:  Bus situation when we ran the college group at a large church in Portland during seminary.  Continual breakdowns.  Finally I had had it.  So I wrote a letter to the Board of Deacons, the governing board of the church.  I let loose of my frustration and concern for the safety of the students. 

Little did I know that this was a sore spot with a few members of the board.  I wasn’t at the meeting, but I heard about it the next day…at staff meeting…from the senior pastor…in front of the whole staff…as he dressed me down for fracturing the peace of the board.  Not knowing how hard it is to build that peace and how easily it can be fractured, I had engaged on a course of action that produced at least temporary loss of peace among brothers.  Now that I’ve got 23 years of church leadership experience under my belt, I fully understand why I got such a dressing-down by my senior pastor.  

If we are praying for wisdom but stirring up controversy, we are not acting with godly wisdom. While we should never compromise on essential truth, neither should we fight over minor matters where good and godly, Bible-believing people differ.  The same can be said for just about any continually-conflicted relationship.  Either one or both parties have probably not loved peaceable relationships enough.  They have undoubtedly let other things take precedence. 

APP: In what relationships do we need to become lovers of peace more?  More than being proved right…or getting what we think is important…or ‘getting our point across’…or a host of other things?  Are we willing to surrender to God and trust Him to show us how to be true to God’s truth while being dedicated to peace. 

“But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate….”

The 3rd Trait of Godly Wisdom is “CONSIDERATE” (or as some versions translate it, “gentle”).

Commentator William Barclay, who was an expert on the meaning of various Greek words, states, “Of all Greek words in the New Testament this is the most untranslatable” [The Daily Study Bible: The Letters of James and Peter [Westminster Press], Revised Edition, p. 95]. He goes on to say (pp. 95-96) that the man with this quality “knows how to forgive when strict justice gives him a perfect right to condemn. He knows how to make allowances, when not to stand upon his rights, [and] how to temper justice with mercy….” Another biblical commentator, Douglas Moo, (The Letter of James, Pillar New Testament Commentary Eerdmans/Apollos], p. 176) says that the word “indicates a willingness to yield to others and a corresponding unwillingness ‘to exact strict claims’.” It is a quality that Jesus possessed and Paul appealed to Christians to have (2 Cor. 10:1—“By the humility and gentleness of Christ, I appeal to you….”), It is also a requirement for elders in the local church (1 Tim. 3:3).

Gentleness is becoming a lost art in our world.  Gentle-men are more rare than bald eagles.  Spousal and child abuse are at record levels.  Maybe that’s because wisdom about marriage and child-rearing has become completely divorced from God and absolute truth. 

APP:  So who do you need to deal with more gently?  Who are you relating to in a not-so-considerate tone of voice or attitude?  If we want wisdom from God, we’ll need to value gentleness with people.

The 4th trait of godly wisdom is SUBMISSIVE.

But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive….

This Greek word is translated by the English words “reasonable” and “willing to yield” as well as “submissive.

The word means, literally, “easily persuaded.” That’s not being gullible.  It’s more the idea of being willing to defer to others, as long as a core doctrine or moral principle is not at stake (Moo, p. 176).

One pastoral sage counseled less experienced pastors with these words: “You’ve got to decide where you want to give blood as a pastor.” Some issues are not worth giving blood over, but others are. Godly wisdom is able to discern the difference and willing to yield on minor matters.

We Americans are great about independence but not so great about submission.  And as American Protestants, we’re even worse when it comes to submission.  The very hierarchical nature of the Roman Catholic Church means that everyone from the Pope on down is constantly being asked to submit to a higher authority. 

But when was the last time we actually were asked to park our preferences or wills in order to submit to someone else… anyone else?  Employment is perhaps where we are most often called upon to do things the way the boss wants them done instead of our way. 

This is SO counter-cultural and counter-intuitive for us.  Faced with a decision where we exert our own will or choose submission to another’s, we almost always opt for assertion rather than submission.  Perhaps we should begin to live out a bias for submission rather than for leadership and assertiveness if we really want to know God’s wisdom? 

APP: Is there any relationship you are in where exercising humble, biblical submission would lead to a less-conflicted result?  Maybe that is the one in which we should choose to grow godly submission.

The 5th trait of godly wisdom is a life full of MERCY & GOOD FRUITS.

“But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit….”

 Being merciful means not only having compassion for the person who is suffering apart from anything that he did, but also showing compassion to the one who is suffering because of his own fault (Barclay, p. 96). God is merciful to us in spite of the fact that our problems usually stem from our own sin and rebellion. But while we were yet sinners, He sent Christ to die for our sins (Rom. 5:8). We are to extend the mercy that we have received to other undeserving sinners.

By adding “good fruits,” James is telling us that mercy is not so much an attitude as it is an ACTION. 

ILL:  Take the person living on the street because of their own addiction.  If you or I are asking God, “Please give me wisdom.  What should I do to show you to this person?”, what would a response “full of mercy and good fruit” look like?  Wouldn’t it be some action that would give to them a blessing they may not deserve? 

Does that mean we should give every drug addict or alcoholic on the street a financial handout?  I doubt it.  But I’m guessing it will mean more giving of myself than I naturally want to do apart from the Spirit of God working in me. 

APP: Is there someone in my life who doesn’t “deserve” mercy but needs it?  Some person who has failed “again” and is asking for another chance?  Wisdom from God is “full of mercy and good fruits.”  It takes action that blesses others even when they don’t deserve it.

“But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.   

The 6th trait of wisdom is IMPARTIALITY—not playing favorites. 

It is SO hard to do this, isn’t it?  We seem to naturally gravitate to certain people and withdraw from others.  We prefer certain people over others.  But when it comes to the church, the family of God, God doesn’t play favorites.  He’s totally impartial.  He loves each of us fully and passionately, regardless of our size, our intelligence, our looks, our race, our nationality or a host of other things that move us to like one person over another. 

            This is why diversity in the Body of Christ is so important.  Learning to live with people just like us doesn’t require much growth.  But learning to LOVE people very different from us requires a work of God.  That’s what impartiality is all about.

APP:  Who in your sphere of relationships are you having trouble loving well?  Who do you find yourself running from either emotionally or literally?  Maybe God brought them into your life to develop more divine wisdom, more impartiality that demands a work of the Holy Spirit if we are not to be just like everyone else.

Lastly, the 7th trait of godly wisdom is “SINCERITY” or “a LACK OF HYPOCRISY.” 

The word was used originally of Greek actors who played a part on stage that was not like what they were in person. Truly wise and godly people are the same thing in public as they are in private.  They are the same people at home that they are at work.  They are the same people in the car as they are in the committee meeting.  They are made of the same cloth wherever they go.  True godly wisdom will not require us to shift gears depending on the audience we are around. 

If we all would seek to live by these seven qualities of godly wisdom, personal conflicts would be greatly minimized and harmonious relationships would blossom and grow. But, unfortunately, we all battle the world, the flesh, and the devil. These forces combine to draw us astray into worldly “wisdom,” which causes disharmony in our relationships.

That is why James ends with an admonition to sow the very things we want to reap.  If we want a peaceable life we must sow peace to others.  If we want to eliminate favoritism in the world, we must eliminate it first from our own hearts and actions. 

James’ point is simple in vs. 18: You reap what you sow. If a farmer sows corn, he reaps corn, not beans. If you sow peace, you will reap peace. If you sow selfishness and strife, you will reap conflict.

“Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.”

Implicit in the verse is the fact that a harvest is not accidental or serendipitous. No farmer sits around doing nothing all year, then goes out into the field and says, “Whoa, look at that bountiful harvest!” If there is a harvest, it’s in part because he has worked hard to cultivate that harvest. If you see a church or a home where there is peace, it is because the members have worked to cultivate peace. They have listened to one another, respected one another, judged their own selfishness and pride, and sought to live in accordance with godly wisdom, not worldly “wisdom.”

Conclusion

Settling arguments peacefully in English pubs has often been a difficult task. So, in 1955, the Guinness brewing company decided that an official record was needed to pacify its customers. The Guinness Book of World Records was created. It has been a best seller ever since. By 1987, it had sold more than any other copyrighted book in publishing history! (From “Fedco Reporter,” April, 1987.)

We have a far better best seller to help us to live harmoniously and settle disputes between us.  It’s the wisdom of God’s Word. But because of selfishness, pride, and jealousy, many Christians have used the Bible to attack others and to justify themselves. James wants us to apply godly wisdom to our personal lives and relationships.

Is there peace in your home? Are you at peace with those in this church? If not, check out what kind of seed you’re sowing. If you’re sowing worldly “wisdom,” you’ll reap disorder and every evil thing. If you sow God’s wisdom, you’ll reap peace.

 

Application Questions

  1. Where is the biblical balance between truth and love? Why is it wrong to compromise truth in an attempt to show love?
  2. Which of the seven qualities of godly wisdom most need growth in your life? How will you do it?
  3. Which of the traits of worldly “wisdom” are you most prone to? How will you guard against them?
  4. How, practically, will you pursue peace this week?

[Structure and sections of this message were taken from Steven J. Coles 2005 message Wisdom for Harmonious Relationships found at https://bible.org/seriespage/lesson-13-wisdom-harmonious-relationships-james-313-18 on 11.18.16]