JEWELS FROM JAMES #9

THE WISE AND THE OTHERWISE!

From James 3:13-18, I could have chosen titles such as "Who Is The Wise Guy", "How Wise Are You?" or "True Wisdom Versus False Wisdom" for they all accurately convey the basic tenet of this passage. It may seem that James completely abandoned his subject (the proper use of the human tongue) and went off onto other things, because in the verses of this section of the chapter, he speaks about WISDOM. However, as he dialed in on WISDOM, he still talked in terms of the use of the TONGUE! (If you haven't already, please read blog #8 of this series. Even better, start with #1 and read all the Jewels From James for continuity!)

In the second half of this chapter James posed a very penetrating question. He asked, "Who is wise and understanding among you?" (Verse 13). As followers of Jesus, we should seek to understand the meaning of this important question in relationship to ourselves and to give an in-depth application. Did you know that "Weird Al" Yankovic was valedictorian of his graduating class in high school and went on to hold a Bachelor's Degree in Architecture? I bet you tho't he was just a comedian and singer of weird parodies of other musicians music, like "Eat It" (Michael Jackson's hit "Beat It"). Now knowing that about Al, we advanced our store of knowledge, even interesting facts! But has it made any contribution to our wisdom? No! You see, wisdom is so much more than knowing lots of information. Unfortunately, there is a serious difficiency in making an unclouded distinction regarding the two in our modern culture. There is a definite tendency to equate wisdom with intelligence, titles, degrees and experience. Little, if any, attention is given to the character, qualities and lifestyle of the quoted "expert" or the long-range effect of his/her supposed wisdom.

Knowledge = accumulation of facts.

Wisdom = moral insight with deep understanding of how to practically apply that insight in our

daily living.

Wisdom is NOT the accumulation of information; it is NOT measured by degrees, titles or experience! Wisdom IS revealed through our character, beliefs, lifestyle, deeds, the choices we make, the priorities we live by and the associations we maintain.

According to James, our lifestyle is the leading indicator of the level and source of our wisdom! "Who is wise and knowing among you?" (James 3:13). His question is a call to show Wisdom through our very lifestyle as he states in his next sentence: "By his good conduct let him show his works (deeds) in the meekness of wisdom". It appears that the truth is, that depending on the quality and direction of the lifestyle one lives out, an accurate determination can be made concerning the quality and source of the wisdom he/she has. It is either the wisdom that comes exclusively from God or a "wisdom" that is merely an earthly imitation. "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight" (Proverbs 9:10).

James already told us how we can get this Divine Wisdom, which comes exclusively from God. In James 1:5, we read, "If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given him." The place to begin is to ask. Use your words and your tongue to ask God for His wisdom to be given you! And as we just noted from Proverbs, this wisdom comes through a personal relationship with God - "The fear [awe] of the Lord. . . .". And so James then issued a very serious and direct warning. . . "But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth" (James 3:14). He went on to elaborate with a clear identification, linking worldly, unspiritual wisdom to being "false to the truth". "This is not the wisdom that comes down from above (God), but is earthly, unspiritual, sensual, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorderly conduct and every vile practice" (James 3:15-16).

Thus, James described six characteristics or distinguishing marks of Divine Wisdom, and therefore they are to be exhibited in the life of a wise person. Are you ready to dig in for examination, personal evaluation and application in your own life?

First, THE WISE PERSON IS PURE, because the Wisdom from God is Pure! "But the wisdom from above is first pure" (James 3:17). So, divine wisdom is manifested in a pure life. Ask yourself "are my activities, thoughts, speech pure?" The wisdom God gives is free from defilement and impurities. In the Greek (original language of the New Testament), pure wisdom means "without a flaw, pure enough for God's presence and use". This wisdom is so cleansed of all concealed sinful motives and of self-determination that it has become pure enough to enable a follower of Christ to stand before God. The wisdom of this world that James said is natural, sensual, and demonic wishes to escape the sight of God because it is not pure; but wisdom that is divine in nature can and does welcome His sight.

Second, THE WISE PERSON IS PEACE-LOVING, because the Wisdom from God is Peaceable! "But the wisdom from above is. . .then peaceable" (James 3:17). God-given wisdom is characterized by the desire to get along with other people. You may feel like Lucy in the Peanuts cartoon when she says to Charlie Brown, "I hate everything. I hate everybody. I hate the whole wide world." Charlie says, "But I thought you had inner peace." Lucy replies, "I do have inner peace. But I still have outer obnoxiousness." We may laugh at that, but the truth is that if we are going to truly experience inner peace and be at peace with others, we must realize that true peace and a peaceable spirit are only possible when we have first experienced "peace with God"! "Therefore having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ" (Romans 5:1). Having established peace with God, we then pursue peace with people. James says a peaceable spirit and divine wisdom go hand-in-hand! We must be proactive in our pursuit of peace. We must intentionally avoid arguments by refusing to participate in them. It is very difficult to have an agrument when one party refuses to argue. James said "And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace" (James 3:18). Another translation renders the Greek this way: "Now the fruit of righteousness is sown (planted) in peace by those who make peace."

Peacemaking or peacekeeping does not suggest, as some may hear it, an abdication or giving up a position of power. A couple had just celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary and a friend asked the husband the secret of their marital bliss. "Well," the husband drawled, "the wife and I had this agreement when we first got married. It went like this: When she was bothered about something, she'd just tell me and get if off her chest. I'd back off. And if I was mad at her about something, I would just take a long walk. I suppose you could attribute our happy marriage to the fact that I have largely led an outdoor life." No, that is not a good example of true peacemaking! If you find yourself regularly disagreeing, arguing and being hostile with others, that should say something about what is inside your heart. You need to find out what and why! One thing we know, divine wisdom does not reveal itself in a show of hostility and bitter anger, rather it is characterized by a genuine desire to understand and get along with other people.

Third, THE WISE PERSON IS GENTLE, because the Wisdom from God is Gentle! "But the wisdom from above is. . .gentle" (James 3:17). Another word for "gentle" is "considerate". God's wisdom enables us to live with tender consideration for other people. It is impossible to find an exact English translation of this word's quality. Bible commentator Matthew Arnold called it "sweet reasonableness". It is the ability to extend to others the kindly consideration we would wish to receive ourselves from others. You know, selfishness (also known as "self-centeredness") is what leads us to be inconsiderate of others and their feelings. But James said, heavenly wisdom is "considerate." When we consider others and their feelings, we are looking outward rather than inward. It is hard to think of others when we are primarily thinking of ourselves! That is why it is so important for us to relinquish selfishness! As Christians, we are called to love and care for one another, even for those who may be our enemies.

Fourth, THE WISE PERSON IS SUBMISSIVE, for the Wisdom from God is Teachable! "But the wisdom from above is. . . yielding" (in the Greek) - (James 3:17). "Yielding" means to be teachable, submissive, and open to reason! It means to be "willing to yield". This context has all to do with our own openness, submission and willingness to yield. We read in Scripture, "The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to advice" (Proverbs 12:15). Another translation puts it like this: "Stupid people always think they are right. Wise people listen to advice." (I like that one!)

On one occasion, Abraham Lincoln, to please a certain politician, issued a command to transfer specific regiments. When Secretary of War Edwin Stanton received the order, he refused to carry it out, saying the President was a fool. When Lincoln was told of this, he replied, "If Stanton said I'm a fool, then I must be, for he is nearly always right. I'll see for myself." As the two men talked, the President quickly realized that his decision was a serious mistake, and without hesitation he withdrew his order. A teachable, submissive, yielding spirit is often a major key in defusing conflict!

Fifth, THE WISE PERSON IS CONTROLLED BY MERCY AND FULL OF GOOD FRUITS, for the Wisdom from God is Merciful! "But the wisdom from above is. . .full of mercy and good fruits" (James 3:17). That was James' teaching and here is where he learned it: Jesus said, "Therefore be merciful, just as your Father (God) also is merciful" (Luke 6:36). The quality of mercy being described in these verses of the Bible is not just for the person who is in trouble, but it means the wise person is to be merciful to the one who is in trouble even when the trouble is his own fault. Mercy is not dependant on guilt or innocence. Somehow it is easier to be merciful to the person we believe is suffering unjustly, but God is merciful to each of us even though we are truly guilty and deserving of punishment. James reminded his readers, by the use of the word "fruits" that righteousness is not produced BY THE BELIEVER, but rather is it produced IN THE BELIEVER!

Sixth, THE WISE PERSON IS IMPARTIAL AND SINCERE, for the Wisdom of God is both Impartial and Sincere! "But the wisdom from above is . . .impartial and sincere" (James 3:17). James did not tell his readers to act as if they were not prejudiced, but they were to be sincere, honest, straight-forward and without any deception. The Greek word used is "anupokritos" and it means "without hypocrisy." God's wisdom enables us to avoid all pretension, never pretending to be what it is not, and never acting to gain its own ends.

The teaching of God's Word, including that of the Apostle James is so very clear! Unfortunately, it is so very opposite of what our society is teaching us. Thankfully, James gets right to the heart of living for Jesus Christ in any age, in any culture, under any circumstance, and in every way! The choice of being a person who is "WISE OR OTHERWISE" is ours and ours alone! The principles and characteristics of wisdom from above (from God) are right before us and the warnings regarding worldly, sensual, demonic wisdom are there as well. Which wisdom are we actually pursuing?