Selie Visa
Scripture passage - James 3:13-18
“Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. Such "wisdom" does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil. For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice. 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. Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness.”
Wisdom is the most valuable possession:
“Blessed is the man who finds wisdom, the man who gains understanding, for she (wisdom) is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold.” (Proverbs 3:13)
The wisdom of God is infinite:
“Great is our Lord and mighty in power; his understanding has no limit.” Psalm 147:5
Practical application of wisdom:
In today’s Scripture passage, James addresses the person who is "wise and understanding." The former word was a technical term among the Jews for the teacher, the scribe, and the rabbi. James is speaking to those who would be teacher. Here he is not concerned with what they say, but rather how they live. "Understanding" describes one who is an expert, who has special knowledge or training. Thus anyone who would be a teacher, who claims to be an expert with special understanding, is under obligation to "show it by his good life." He should possess "know how" and be skilled in applying God's truth to practical, everyday living.
Humility is characteristic of wisdom:
James stressed that humility comes from wisdom. "Humility" is perhaps better translated “gentleness”. It is not a passive gentleness growing out of weakness or resignation; rather, it is an active attitude of deliberate acceptance. This gentleness is strength under control, the control of the Spirit of God. It is a gentleness that is characteristic of wisdom. The focal point is practical wisdom that enables one to live a life of godliness.
Bitter envy and selfish ambition:
Some of James's readers were harboring bitter envy and selfish ambition in their hearts. "Selfish ambition" is a self-seeking attitude bent on gaining advantage and prestige for oneself or one's group. Selfish zeal means fanatical zeal for a cause in either a good or a bad sense. But zeal with bitterness is a sinful zeal. Because this condition existed among his readers, James insists that they must "not boast about (bitter zeal and selfish ambition) or deny the truth. Some people may pride themselves in their partisan defense of the truth-- a defense that is for their own advantage and advancement. Through such bitter and partisan defense, they were in reality denying the very truth they were attempting to defend.
God is the source of genuine wisdom:
Genuine wisdom is not the wisdom claimed by the would-be teachers whose lives contradict their claims of possessing wisdom. Such "wisdom" evaluates everything by worldly standards and makes personal gain life's highest goal. The real concept of wisdom is practical rather than theoretical. God is the source of genuine wisdom. It is God-given understanding that enables a person to avoid the paths of wickedness and to live a life of righteousness. Pseudo-wisdom is not from him, and James declares such wisdom does not come down from heaven. Instead, it is earthly in source as well as kind. It views life from the limited viewpoint of this world rather than from heaven's vantage point. Its mind is set on earthly things and therefore unspiritual. The spiritual person has received the Spirit of God, but the unspiritual person does not have the Spirit. Thus wisdom that is unspiritual characterizes unregenerate human nature and hence it is of the devil.
Enemies of the cross:
“For, as I have often told you before and now say again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is on earthly things.” (Philippians 3:18-19).
Paul felt real anguish when the churches were threatened with falseness of doctrine or life. The ultimate end for such persons is destruction (eternal loss). "Their god is their stomach" suggests sensualists who indulged in various physical appetites without restraint. By their indulgence, they actually bragged about what they ought to have been ashamed of. They became "enemies of the cross" by continually minding earthly things. Their whole attention is focused on physical and material interests, rather than on spiritual things.
Disorder and evil practice:
Bitter zeal and selfish ambition always result in disorder and every evil practice. "Disorder" is a common word for anarchy and political turmoil. James is no doubt speaking of disturbance and turmoil in the church. The "evil practice" refers specifically to worthless activity, to deeds that are bad because they are good for nothing and cannot produce any real benefit. Selfish zeal and ambition, then, always tend to destroy spiritual life and work.
Wisdom from heaven is pure:
In contrast to the earthly and unspiritual wisdom, the wisdom that comes from heaven." Its basic characteristic is pure. The purity referred is the absence of any sinful attitude or motive. It is the opposite of the self-seeking attitude. From this inner quality flow the outward manifestations of wisdom.
Wisdom from heaven is peace-loving:
In contrast to the earthly bitter spirit of competitiveness and selfish ambition, the wisdom that comes from heaven is peace-loving.
Wisdom from heaven is considerate:
Heavenly wisdom is considerate. God is considerate. He is gentle and kind, although in reality he has every reason to be stern and punitive toward people in their sin. God's people also are to be marked by this godlike quality, not insisting on their legal rights but exercising love's leniency instead.
Wisdom from heaven is submissive:
Godly wisdom is submissive. This quality is the opposite of obstinacy and self-seeking; it is a readiness to yield.
Wisdom from heaven is compassionate:
Godly wisdom is full of mercy and good fruit. That is, it is compassionate and always ready to help those who are in need.
Wisdom from heaven is impartial:
The wisdom that comes from heaven is impartial, showing no favoritism, and discriminating against no one.
Wisdom from heaven is sincere:
Finally, the wisdom that comes from heaven is sincere. It literally means “without hypocrisy". Far from being theoretical and speculative, James's concept of wisdom is thoroughly practical. It is the understanding and attitude that result in true piety and godliness.
Conclusion:
James concludes his discussion of "the wisdom that comes from heaven" by reiterating the quality of peace. To "raise a harvest of righteousness" demands a certain kind of climate. A crop of righteousness cannot be produced in the climate of bitterness and self-seeking. Righteousness will grow only in a climate of peace; thus it must be sown and cultivated by the "peacemakers." Such persons not only love peace and live in peace but also strive to create conditions of peace.
