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Two Kinds of Wisdom

James: Faith Works
Sunday, July 14, 2024
Pastor Jojo Ma

 

G13 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.

Friendship with the world, love of the world, embracing the city of man…these are opposed to the things of God and the city of God and the people of God.

What the world loves and lives for, Scripture speaks of those things as rubbish or dung. The apostle James will not let his readers compromise their calling.

13 Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom.

I.          Worldly Wisdom: Wisdom from Below [vv14-16]
II.        Heavenly Wisdom: Wisdom from Above [vv17-18]

I.         Worldly Wisdom: Wisdom from Below [vv14-16]
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.

Puritan Thomas Brooks, “Precious Remedies Against Satan’s Devices”: “Satan shows the bait but hides the hook.”

16 For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice.

15 This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic.

Alexander Strauch, If You Bite and Devour One Another

We must remember that we are in a battle for truth, a battle of ideas, a battle of right and wrong. But it is a battle of truth versus lies.

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.

II.        Heavenly Wisdom: Wisdom from Above [vv17-18]
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.

Godly wisdom leads to purity of life, a life that is separate from the immoral behavior that characterizes the world. James is speaking about practical holiness here.

The apostle James is urging his readers to pursue unity and togetherness rather than division and alienation.

Being full of mercy is being full of compassion in action. You act for the good of others in need.

18 And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

Pursuing peace in our lives and in the local church is a priority for every believer. It is not optional for disciples of Jesus Christ.

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.

Let us keep striving for peace and pursuing the wisdom that comes from above --- for our joy and for God’s glory.