Studiesin

James Presentation 12

The Structure of the BookIntroduction and Trials in the Christian Life (1: 1-8)Happiness in our Circumstances(1: 9-11)Trial, Temptation and Gift (1: 12-18)Hindrances to Fruitfulness(1: 19-21)Doers and Hearers (1: 22-25)True Religion (1: 26-27)Favouritism (2: 1-7)The Royal Law (2: 8-12a)Showing Mercy (2.12b-13]Faith and Works (2:14-26)Teachers and the Tongue (3: 1-12)True and False Wisdom, (3: 13-17)Peacemakers (3: 18)Defeat Through Lack of Submission(4: 1-6)Victory Through Submission(4: 7—10)Judging One Another (4: 11-12)Boasting of Tomorrow (4: 13-17) The Misuse of Wealth(5: 1-6)The Need of Patience (5: 7-12)Appropriate Responses (5:13-16)Restoring the Wanderer (5:17-20)

Presentation 12

True and False Wisdom

Chap 3v 13-17Presentation 12

IntroductionWhat does the word ‘wisdom’ suggest to you? Many make the common mistake of assuming that the more knowledge a person has, the wiser he is. Wisdom is much more than knowledge. It is a practical word and describes the ability to use knowledge and apply it for our benefit and the benefit of others.

James knows that if you want to make a man wise then you do not tickle his intellect nor cram the filing cabinet of his mind full of information! However, when a man’s knowledge of himself and of God begins to shape his life and govern his behaviour, then as far as James in concerned that man is in the process of becoming a wise man.

Presentation 12

Two Competing WisdomsJames introduces his subject by pointing out that there are two competing wisdoms in the market place trying to gain our attention. Each one like a massive planet is attempting to bring us under its gravitational pull and into its orbit of influence. Both profess to have our best interests at heart.

The claim of one is genuine. The claim of the other is false. These two wisdoms come from quite different sources, one is heavenly, the other is earthly, one is concerned with our spiritual wellbeing, the other is not, one comes from God the other from Satan. One addresses the spiritual vacuum in our lives the other appeals to our selfish appetite.

Presentation 12

Two Competing WisdomsThis tug of war was very vividly pictured in the children’s chorus :“I met Jesus at the crossroads, where the two ways meet,Satan too was standing there and he said come this way,Lots and lots of pleasures I will give to you this day,But I said ‘No’ there’s Jesus here, just see what he offers me,Down here my sins forgiven, up there a home in heaven,Praise God that’s the way for me”.

Do you see the tug of war that James is unpacking in these verses? Many do not treat this contest as seriously as they ought?

Presentation 12

The Fruit of Worldly WisdomIt is quite easy to tell which of the two wisdoms we allow to influence our lives. For they produce quite different results in our behaviour.First notice that the major appeal of worldly wisdom is addressed to man’s self-centredness. Worldly wisdom encourages man’s great self-obsession. It says, ‘Put yourself first in every circumstance of life’. And in order to illustrate this pattern of behaviour James selects three characteristics. The first of these in v14 is that of ‘bitter envy’. James is describing the kind of jealousy, which can’t bear anyone else’s popularity or success. Indeed given the opportunity, it will do anything to humiliate and degrade others regardless of who gets hurt in the process.

Presentation 12

The Fruit of Worldly WisdomThe story is told of an envious man who with his great rival was called before his ruler. The ruler offered to grant one wish to the men but with this condition, the one who chose would get exactly what he asked for, while his fellow would get twice as much.

The envious man was commanded to choose but was immediately in a quandary. He wanted to choose something great for himself, but he realised that if he did so the other would get twice as much. He thought for a moment and then asked that one of his eyes be put out. Bitter envy takes all the joy, happiness and contentment out of living.

Presentation 12

The Fruit of Worldly WisdomA second characteristic of worldly wisdom is ‘selfish ambition’ v14. The background to the word James uses here is political. It was the word used to describe someone willing to do anything, say anything, lobby anyone to get himself elected to office or to advance his cause. What was the thrust of Satan’s temptation of Jesus in the wilderness? [ Matt 4v1-11] “There is an easier way to gain a following and build a kingdom that the road to the cross. Why choose the cross when you can get what you came for by another means? Come abuse your miraculous powers, throw yourself down from the temple and the crowds will flock in support of you when they see that you descend to the ground unharmed”.

Presentation 12

The Fruit of Worldly Wisdom“Or what about simply fall down and worshipping me and I will give you all the kingdoms of the earth’. That is worldly wisdom. And how easily we can fall prey to its subtle charms. In the work of God it is possible to be seen to be very active and to be engaged in all sorts of projects and yet this work can be done sometimes even unconsciously to boost our ego and feed our selfish ambitions. The carnal drive for dominance in any situation can often be mistaken for the commendable drive of enthusiasm.

Presentation 12

The Fruit of Worldly WisdomThe final characteristic of worldly wisdom that James points out in v14 is ‘the denial of the truth’. In other words turning the truth of God into a lie. This idea is helpfully illustrated in Bunyan’s ‘Pilgrim’s Progress’. A character called Mr Worldly Wiseman is determined to prevent Pilgrim from reaching the Celestial City. He ridicules the Bible as a source of truth. He dismisses God’s solution to man’s guilt and sin’s penalty that is revealed in scripture. He attempts to deflect Pilgrim from the path that will lead him to the cross of Christ. Instead he uses all his power to try and point him in a completely different direction.

Presentation 12

The Fruit of Worldly WisdomThis characteristic of worldly wisdom abounds today. When God by his Holy Spirit works in men’s conscience to convince them of their need of salvation, worldly wisdom creeps up and whispers, ‘You must stop reading your Bible, or going to that church, or listening to that person speak they will only upset you. Stop thinking about eternity and about the God you will face one day. Instead go in this direction and you will find peace, happiness and fulfilment”. That is a denial of the truth and the

frightening thing is that it often suits men and women to listen to such wisdom. James tells us plainly that this wisdom is of the devil and it sets in motion a law of cause and effect cf. v16 it produces ‘disorder and every evil practice’. By ‘disorder’ James may well be referring to the quarrels and divisions that can take place within the church. God is never the author of such disorder and confusion and we must trace it to its source.

Presentation 12

The Fruit of Worldly WisdomSecondly, worldly wisdom sets in motion ‘every evil practice’. James uses a rare Greek word here that means ‘trivial or worthless’ so that the thrust of what he is saying is that whatever goal is achieved as a result of worldly wisdom, it will turn out to be worthless. Jesus taught, ‘What will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses his soul’ [Matt 16.26]. A famous Hollywood film star has written, ‘I did everything I did to get to the top of the tree, and when I got to the top I discovered that there was nothing there.’ The trail left by worldly wisdom is on the one hand destructive and on the other disappointing.

Presentation 12

The Fruit of Heavenly WisdomIn contrast, heavenly wisdom produces, fullness of life and richness of character and a gracious personality. James describes this life as first of all ‘pure’ v17. Every other characteristic flows from this source. It is therefore important to understand what James means by pure. We are immediately reminded of the beatitudes where Jesus says; ‘Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God’ [ Matt 5v8]. Purity here refers to a heart attitude towards God. The heart is viewed as the centre of our personality - the control-room of our outward activity. The pure heart describes an undivided love for God. If the mark of worldly wisdom is a man’s obsession with himself then the great mark of heavenly wisdom is an obsession with God. A life that is yielded to God will display various characteristics, James selects only three.

Presentation 12

The Fruit of Heavenly WisdomFirst, the wise man is a peace-loving. That may sound a comfortable even compromising word. It’s not. There is no thought here of peace at any price. It’s not spineless apathy. It won’t sacrifice truth or principle. It attempts to reconcile where false wisdom tries to tear apart. Let me illustrate this quality form church history. In the 18Cth two prominent church leaders George Whitefield and John Wesley were divided on matters of theological importance. Writing to Wesley, Whitefield stressed firmly and decisively his opposition to a point of doctrine. But at the end of his letter he wrote:“Nothing but a single regard for the honour of Christ has forced this letter from me. I love and honour you for his sake and when I come to judgement will thank you before men and angels, for what you have, under God, done for my soul”.

What a beautiful peace-loving spirit he displayed and how different it is from the bitter spirit shown by some towards those who disagree with them.

Presentation 12

The Fruit of Heavenly WisdomSecondly, the wise man displays a ‘considerate or gentle’ spirit. The word ‘considerate’ carries the idea of looking for the best in the worst of people and of being more willing to forgive than condemn. He wants to make allowances for the ignorance and weaknesses of others, knowing that he needs to have allowances made for him by both God and man.

A well known Christian travelling by train sat across from someone who smelled like a distillery. He was constantly offered a drink from his bottle which he declined. At the end of the journey the man with the bottle said ‘You must think me a beast’. To which the Christian replied, ‘On the contrary I think you are very generous’.

The Christian could easily have berated the man for being a drunkard. His considerate response proved to be the catalyst that brought the drunkard to faith!

Presentation 12

The Fruit of Heavenly WisdomThirdly, the wise man is ‘submissive - easy to be entreated’. This does not mean he is easily manipulated or has no moral backbone. However, heis open to reason and his sweet reasonableness is the sign of his strength.

You see obstinate and unbending people are really weaklings. The very vehemence and doggedness with which they refuse to yield is often the measure of their insecurity and uncertainty.

The wise man is willing to yield when principle is not at stake. He will go as far as he can to accommodate the viewpoint of others. Yes, and to accept that he might be wrong! Someone has said ‘Wise men change their minds, fools never do’.

Presentation 12

Conclusion

James holds before us two sources of wisdom, each with its own particular appeal. The one offers to cultivate our self-centredness while the other cultivates our submission to God.

Each produces quite different characteristics in our lives. Each brings with it its own long-term consequences.

The question James puts to each of us is, ‘Which wisdom will we allow to pull us and keep us under its gravitational influence?’ Will it be earthly or heavenly wisdom? Which one will we listen to?

Presentation 12