"Resolve to Be Wise"

Last week we resolved to tame the tongue; this week let us resolve to walk in wisdom. James says that wisdom is "seen" in deeds and meekness. Is that the type of wisdom seen in your life?

Resolve to be Wise

(James 3:13-18)

Introduction:

A.  I sometimes tease kids in the tenth grade by asking them what it means to be a sophomore?  I personally did not know the answer until I was taking second year Greek in college and my teacher told us that sophomore comes from the two Greek words “sophos” which means wise and “moros” which means fool or dull, therefore that second year person was a moron who thought they were wise.  Somehow, a few of us never left that sophomoric state.

B.  Wisdom is not simply knowledge or life experience.  When the Bible talks about wisdom it is not someone who possesses intellectual capacity or abstract knowledge, but someone who has moral insight on practical matters in daily life.

C.  James has been teaching about faith and works, about the tongue and it power, and now he is saying that just as faith without works is dead, so is wisdom without good character and deeds.

D.  The problem is there are Christians who claim to have great spiritual wisdom but their lives show only the opposite.  Their lives show jealousy and selfish ambitions.  It turns what is true about godly wisdom into a lie about Christian living.  Brethren, it’s a trap that we must not fall into.  This trap is based upon the wrong type of wisdom.  James says there are two types of wisdom, but only one that counts.  False wisdom comes not from above, and is defined by three characteristics.  True wisdom comes from above and it too has characteristics that can be quantified.  So let’s examine James teaching about these two types of wisdom.

I.  False Wisdom

A.  We want to wise as children of God.  But we want to make sure that our wisdom is blinded by heavenly wisdom.  So often, what we think is wisdom is really self-centered means of climbing the ladder of success.  Let’s do some checking on wisdom to see what type of wisdom we possess.

B.  Do a motive check.  Ask yourself, “What is my motive for this action or thought?”  If the reason you desire to act in a particular manner is because of a wrong motive, it’s the wrong wisdom.

C.  James talks about this false wisdom as being “earthy, unspiritual and demonic.”  Now that is hard.  This idea of earthly and unspiritual is talking about a person who does not think about their actions, but simply reacts.  It is animalistic in its nature.  It is completely inward focused.  Therefore, James calls it demon-like.  When you think about demon-possessed people in the days of Jesus, examine their motive and the outcome.  The outcome of earthly, unspiritual wisdom is disorder and evil practices.

D.  Before we simply dismiss this as thinking that none of us ever deal with this type of wisdom let me take you back to some things that appeared wise, but the motive and the outcome showed that it really was earthly and unspiritual.

1.  Read Gen. 11:1-9.  The tower of Babel seemed like a wise action.  But the motive was self-centered.

2.  How about Abraham and Hagar.  God said that Abraham was to have a child, it seemed wise to both Sarah and Abraham for him to take Hagar as his wife and have a child through her.  But the birth of Ishmael brought only disorder and evil.

3.  Consider the disciples who thought it wise to send the multitude of 5000 away to get their own food.  But Jesus confounded their wisdom by feeding all them with five loaves and two fish.  Was the wisdom of the disciples from above?

E.  My point is that these people thought what they were doing was wise, but we know the end result.  I believe we need to be very careful about what we think is wisdom from above.  Heavenly wisdom points us in a direction that may not be what we desire.  I am reminded of a story of a man from Boston who was entertaining a famous Chinese scholar. He met his Oriental friend at the train station and rushed him to the subway. As they ran through the subway station, the host panted to his guest, “If we run and catch this next train, we will save three minutes!” To which the patient Chinese philosopher replied, “And what significant thing shall we do with the three minutes we are saving?”  Wisdom of this world is far more interested in saving three minutes than knowing what to do with the three minutes they saved.

II.  True Wisdom

A.  So what is this wisdom that we as Christians should possess?  James helps to define that for us in verses 17 & 18.

B.  True wisdom is characterized by meekness, pure, peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.  Some would consider the idea of meekness, considerate, submissive and sincere as naive.  Wisdom from God often looks different than what we are used to.

C.  Meekness is not weakness, it is really power under control.  The idea of submissive is that of compliance.  It is a willingness to yield to persuasion when truth is presented.  Sometimes I have to admit that my own best thinking got me into a great deal of trouble.  Maybe, taking the time to listen to people who have a higher degree of spirituality than I do, will help me to gain a similar type of wisdom.

D.  True wisdom has feet and hands and is seen as well as heard.  True wisdom is not having our heads in the clouds, but being down in the valley with our hands in the muck of life, lifting people up towards the mountains.  What I see in this passage is community and relationship.  All the things that God says describes wisdom from above is not self-centered, but other centered.  So I ask myself, “How can I honor God in my life?  How can I be more authentic in my relationships?”  These are the self checks that help us see wisdom from above versus wisdom from this world.

Conclusion:

A.  Let’s close by listening to Paul in 1 Cor. 1:20-25.  Because the world has turned from God it has turned from wisdom that is from above, heavenly wisdom or true wisdom.  Don’t mistake knowledge for wisdom.  There is a great deal of knowledge in the world, but I do not believe there is a great deal of real wisdom.

B.  Today, you can take hold of the wisdom of God by responding to the preaching of this message.  If God has been touching your heart, then turn to him.  Repent of your sins, and let us pray with you.  If you have not accepted his grace, then come and let us help you as you are immersed into Christ and born again into the family of God.  Whatever you spiritual need, come as we stand and sing.