return

James 3:13-18 

Wise or Otherwise

Intro. Today's Scripture contrasts two kinds of wisdom. The one is
earthly and results in chaos. The other is heavenly and is called the
"wisdom from above. We should be able to distinguish marks of true &
false wisdom. Wisdom was important to the Jewish people. Knowledge is
not enough. Wisdom helps us use knowledge correctly.
Prove 4:7 - Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom; and
with all your getting, get understanding.
We need to relate to God's word .
Let's look at the contrast of being wise or otherwise from three aspects.

1. There is a contrast in origins

A. True wisdom is from above
James 1:17

B. False wisdom is from below
1 Sam 17:38
You & I have three enemies; the world, the flesh & the devil
There is a difference between knowledge & wisdom. Men unlock the secrets
of the universe, but he does't know what to do with them.
Quote: Throe - "We had improved means to unimproved ends."
The world's ultimate proof of lack of spiritual wisdom - 1 OCR 1:18
Man's wisdom God's wisdom
Reason Revelation
Foolishness to God Foolishness to man
Passbooks pneumantikos
Soul psychology Spiritual
The origin of true spiritual wisdom is from God. Any other source brings
trouble. 1 OCR 2:12.

2. There is a contrast in operations








A. Evidence of true spiritual wisdom
Humility (13)
Purity (17)
Peace (17)
Considerate (17)
Submissive (17)
Mercy (17)
Good fruits (17)
Impartial (17)
Sincerity (8)
Without hypocrisy...in ancient Gk. dramas, a person behind a curtain
spoke the lines while the performer on stage acted out the role. We
might refer to the speaker behind the scenes as one who din't 'practice
what he preached." This scene is a reminder of a problem we as
Christians experience today. Many of us are skilled at sound religious,
but we don't put our words into action. This is hypocrisy.
A Christian who makes the greatest impact on a watching world and who
furthers the cause of Christ, is one whose actions harmonize with his
speech. Our role as Christians is vastly different from the ancient
Greek actors. They had speakers who din't do and doers who din't speak.
We are to be people who speak and do the truth.
B. Evidence of false wisdom
Envy - Illus. After her divorced a woman became resentful toward her
ex-husband. He was free to go out every night; she had to stay home and
care for the three children. He lived in a nice apartment; she had to
keep their old house in repair. He got lots of attention; she din't get
any. She became envious and very angry. But then a Christian friend
showed her how she was thinking. With God's help she was able to confess
those jealous, angry, thoughts and put them aside. She says that she has
been at peace ever since.
Selfish ambition
Boasting
Deceit
Wrong thinking leads to envy and resentment, which will only make us
miserable. James 3:17 is a guide to right thinking - God's way of thinking.

Never put the welcome mat out for an envious thought.






How does your wisdom operate?
1. Do you rejoice when others succeed, or do you have secret envy or
criticism?
2. Are you burdened when others fail, or are you glad
3. Are you agreeable, easy to live & work with - ask around?
4. In confrontation do you speak the truth in love or do you bury the
person.
This is important, because our origin determines our outcome.

Poem: You're writing a "gospel," a chapter each day.
By the deeds that you do, by the words that you say;
Men read what you write, whether faithless or true
Say, what is the "gospel" according to you?

When actions and words agree, the message is loud & clear.
3. There is a contrast in outcomes

A. Worldly wisdom produces trouble
Wrong thinking produces wrong living
There is disorder, it is unruly, unstable, confusing,
CIF 1 OCR 3:10-15

B. Godly wisdom produces tribute
It is God-given - a product of life - producing seeds for more life

The life we live enables the Lord to bring righteousness & peace into
the lives of others.
What we are what we live.
What we live is what we sow.
What we sow is what we reap.
Quote: Thomas Maintain "It is the great fault of some that when they
begin to be religious, they leave off to be human."

Conclusion: The most important thing we can do in the local church -
measure ministries by God's Word.
Absence of purity & peace
Battles among Christians
Church splits
Lack of prayer
These all suggest that something is wrong.
Solomon's advice - "Blessed is the man who finds wisdom, the man who
gains understanding, for she is more profitable than silver and yields
better returns than gold.