“Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? Let him show out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom. But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.” (James 3:13-18)
STOP, LOOK AND LISTEN
These verses we are now considering begin with a question which would test and examine our own hearts. These verses are not only introduced here as a result of what has already been said, but also in preparation for what will follow. It is clear that James, by the Holy Spirit, is aware of the necessity of stopping here for this time of self-examination. Have we followed him thus far? Have we understood what he has been saying? Can we feel the burden of his message? Can we accept it and say “amen”? If we cannot we are stuck here and there is no use to go any farther. Yet there is farther to go, there is more to say. So to make sure of our own position so far, let us examine ourselves.
DID WE? — HAVE WE?
We begin with the question, “who is wise and understanding among you?” Immediately think back to the beginning of this letter where James instructed us that if we lacked wisdom, we should ask God who giveth to all liberally. You will also remember that the “all” meant, to all who ask. We were also told that we should ask in faith without doubting if we were to receive.
Now comes the challenge. Did we do that? Were we good hearers? Were we doers of the Word and not hearers only? We must learn here if we have not already learned it, that every instruction or teaching from God’s Word must be considered important. The thinking that anything God says is not important is disastrous. And this question (an examination at this point in our lesson) is meant to drive this very truth home. Did we ask God for wisdom? But further, did we ask in faith; that is, did we receive wisdom from God? Remember that it is written: “wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.” (Prov. 4:7)
Some may be saying, yes, I did ask but how can I know I have received? That is precisely the question James is dealing with in verses 13-18. He gives us a test, a means of examination so that we can know. First, he puts forth the question, “who is wise and understanding among you?” Then he helps us answer this very important question in a knowledgeable way.
THERE ARE CLUES
Let us make some general observations before we consider the individual parts of this examination which will help us answer the question as to whether or not we have indeed received wisdom from God. As we have progressed in this teaching we have on more than one occasion received indications that must be considered as more than mere hints of our standing in this matter. For example: Did we know at the very time of our asking that we would receive wisdom when we asked? Did we indeed ask in faith, nothing doubting? For if we ask in faith we know we will receive what we ask for. If we do not already know we shall receive, we should not ask, for to ask in doubt is to ask in vain as we have already seen. Later we will deal with the prayer of faith, so we will not go into more detail here. The point to see here is that there is always a clear indication at the time of our asking as to whether or not we will receive. That is important to know, because of the scriptural teaching concerning faith and prayer all throughout the bible. The theories and teachings of men to the contrary have only led to confusion.
Simply stated the truth is this: If we do not know we shall receive we do not have faith in the matter. If we cannot ask in faith we have no right to expect to receive what we have asked for. Still we are instructed to ask in faith. It seems obvious then that in times of doubt our praying should consist of seeking to know and understand what the will of the Lord so that our doubts may be destroyed.
CLUES — ALL ALONG THE WAY
Not only at the time of asking for wisdom did we have a clear indication of the fruitfulness of our prayer, but at each step of the way through this teaching there were clear indications. That is, if we were awake to recognize them.
For example; how did we react to the various instructions and teachings as we were confronted by them? Did we find it easy to agree with the teachings and demands of God’s Word by His servant? I did not ask if we found it easy to do, for that is a different matter, but did we find it easy to agree? It is first a matter of heart; after that, we seek for enablement to do. Did our heart agree with God’s heart? If it did, we can be sure we had received wisdom from above, for the wisdom of this world is not in agreement with the mind and heart of God. Or did we find our heart was doubtful of the wisdom of the Word. Did we find our heart was somewhat hesitant or argumentative? Did a debate ensue in our mind? For instance, did our heart agree with God’s heart regarding our attitude toward trials and temptations, or what constitutes a good hearer and then a good doer of the Word? Or what about our estimation of persons, and what should govern that estimation. Did our attitude agree concerning the works of faith? What about God’s sovereign choice of those who would be our teachers? Can our heart agree with God’s heart on these matters?
As we answer these questions honestly we can know if we have received wisdom from above, or if we still lack wisdom. This is the reason for this examination at this point. If we have reservations concerning what has already been discussed, it will not be profitable to proceed further. To proceed without wisdom from above will only lead to arguments with God, and we will find ourselves charging God foolishly. God forbid!
It would be much better to go back to the beginning of this epistle. Begin again with the belief that God is ready to give liberally of His Wisdom to all who ask. Then we can proceed with the ability to say from the heart, “amen,” to all of God’s ways and means.
NOW LET’S LOOK
Now let us see how James administers this test to help us answer the great question at hand. We will follow his reasoning as he becomes precise as to the particulars involved. He not only helps us locate the particulars involved, but also honestly and fairly names them. This is important because we need to learn to call things by their right names.
He proceeds as follows: first in verse 13, our life as a result of heavenly wisdom; second in verse 14, our life as it was or still is as a result of earthly wisdom; followed in 14, by a word of counsel — or we could say a word of wisdom (heavenly wisdom) for such a circumstance; third, verses 15 and 16 are a detailed description of the wisdom of this world; and fourth, verse 17 is a detailed description of the wisdom that is from above. All this I believe is meant to help us examine ourselves on this important question before he proceeds with further teaching and revelation. Verse 18 is an additional conclusion and observation which is the result of heavenly wisdom.
WISDOM WILL SHOW ITSELF
First, does our life reflect a result of heavenly wisdom. Notice how he puts it. “Let him show out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom.” James is telling us that if a man possesses this wisdom which is from above, it will obviously want to show. How or in what way will it show? It will show by his works. We should take a moment here to be sure of our understanding of this term “works”. In the scriptures it refers to all our activities, our behavior — both actions and reactions. We must not confine our thinking of this Bible term to so called “religious works”, for we are dealing with Christianity which is primarily a life and a way of life rather than a religion. Thus all of our activities are important.
The Greek word translated “out of” in this statement denotes origin; that is, that point from whence motion or action proceeds. The man who possesses wisdom from above will show that his works proceed out of a good conversation, or out of a good life. His works will be consistent with his good life. Heavenly wisdom will see to this. James has just asked previous to this, “doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter?” He was referring primarily to the teacher and what proceeded out of his mouth. Here he moves into the whole field of Christian activity and applies the same principle to all who would be Christ’s.
Out of a good life. Where does this good life come from? From ourselves? Surely not! It presupposes several fundamental things previously mentioned. A new birth from above (James 1:18); receiving with meekness the engrafted Word which is able to save the soul (James 1:21); becoming a doer of the Word or obedience to God (James1:21). This is the good life: Christ dwelling within by His Spirit and us walking not after the flesh but after the Spirit. It is out of this good life that our light will shine before men and they will see our good works and glorify our Father in heaven. (Matt. 5:16)
But there is more. In addition to our “works out of a good life”, there will be the meekness of wisdom. Oh, how important this added ingredient is to Christian living. For this ingredient will be an insurance against all those things which have made “Christianity” obnoxious to so many people in the world; such things as spiritual pride, holier that thou attitudes, false piety, and partiality. Possessing this meekness which is of wisdom, presupposes humility and subjection to the Lord. Our Lord Jesus said, “Take my yoke upon you”, or literally, “Put yourself under my yoke”, “learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls”. (Matt.11:29) So we see the visible results of wisdom received from above.
SO WILL THE LACK OF IT SHOW
Second, our life without this wisdom from above will be evident. “But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts …” At this point the examination requires that we take a look into our hearts. Notice, the things we are to be look for — evidence of bitter envying and strife. We must be sure we know the meaning of these words in order to identify what we are looking for. The word translated “envying” here does not mean envy or jealousy as we often think of it. The Greek word is zelos, which is also translated “zeal” in the New Testament, but translated in the sense of good. In the evil sense it is translated envying, or as in the ASV, jealousy. Its meaning combines the ideas of heat and desire or want. The other New Testament word which is translated envy is the Greek word phythonos and includes the further idea of ill-will, hate, etc. An example of this is in Mark 15:10: “For He (Jesus) knew that the chief priests had delivered him for envy.” But that is not the word James uses here for it is not that sort of thing he has in mind. He uses the word zelos for he is referring to that common thing that is found in the carnal nature, that burning desire to have. Whether it be a possession or position, if we see it or hear about it, in our heart we secretly desire to have it. It is that discontented feeling, that impression that the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence. I believe the Apostle Paul was referring to this carnal tendency when he said, “We look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.” (2Cor. 4:18) And then, “For we walk by faith, not by sight.” (2Cor. 5:7) Again the same idea is brought out when he writes, “Set your affections on things above, not on things on the earth.” (Col. 3:2)
Are we desiring after earthly things in our hearts? This is what the examination is asking. Notice, James calls it “bitter” envying. He has just used this word in the 11th verse where he asks, “doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter? We are acquainted with bitter taste and it means just that — sharp, cutting or tinging, distasteful, unpleasant, — and so it is, this burning desire for earthly things in the life of one who claims to be a citizen of heaven.
Another thing is to be looked for too. “If you have … strife in your hearts.” Again there is more than one Greek word that is translated “strife” in our New Testament. So it is important that we take time to see what James is referring to. The “strife” in our text comes from the Greek word erithia, and is translated faction in the ASV. The word denotes selfish ambition and the spirit of rivalry, thus the desire to win followers, the tendency to for cliques. We have all seen at some time that the spirit of rivalry and competition in the church. It is a dangerous and evil spirit. Many who have never had the opportunity to be in a position for it to show publicly nonetheless have it in their hearts. This is a very searching test, but very important for us to ponder.
EXAMINE YOUR OWN HEART
Now we have of necessity had to spend some time with the words used in the first part of verse 14, so we don’t form a wrong image in our mind concerning the condition of the heart to which James is referring. There is a tendency to apply these terms to a relatively few very evil or troublesome people. The text implies, however, that this tendency exists in all who are not possessed by the wisdom given from above.
Also we should be reminded that we are not dealing with works or activity but a heart condition. The terms used are in the noun form, and not the verb form. So we are looking at tendencies and inclinations of the heart, not at acts. James calls these inclinations and tendencies by their proper names.
BE HONEST ABOUT WHAT YOU SEE
Next follows a word of wisdom in the latter part of verse 14. If ye have these things in your heart, “glory not, and lie not against the truth.” What he is saying here is that if there is evidence of these things in our heart we must not boast, or act as though we possessed true wisdom. Brethren, we should be honest as to the truth of the matter. We must accept what the evidence suggests and take the proper action. We are brought face to face here with one of the greatest faults of our human nature. How difficult it is for us to accept evidence at face value without attempting to rationalize and excuse ourselves. This in itself constitutes a test of our faith in the scriptures. Do we believe that our righteousness is as filthy rags in the sight of God? (Isaiah 64:6) Do we really believe God has accepted us only through Christ, and by grace only, not because of any merit in us. If we do believe it — I mean really believe it, our faith and trust will be in the Lord Jesus Christ only, and furthermore we will have faith in His Word and be readily willing to accept what we see when the Word mirrors to us evidence of the old nature still in our hearts.
NOT FROM ABOVE
What is the truth then if these things be found in our hearts? Verse 15 tells us. This wisdom did not come from above, — from heaven. It is “earthly”, that is, it originated right here on this earth. We could go further and say it is foreign to heaven and to the Spirit of God. Which brings us to the next point. It is “sensual,” that is, it is not spiritual. The word translated “sensual” here is also translated “natural” in the New Testament.
For example Paul wrote to the Corinthians, “But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness to him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.” (2Cor. 2:14) I use this verse in order to help us understand the meaning of the word sensual or natural, and it does help in that way. We must remember however that James is showing the origin of this earthly wisdom. He is not saying that his readers are natural or sensual, themselves, for that would be to say they are not Christians. He is saying that their lives are still being influenced by that wisdom which was dominant in the old nature — descended from fallen Adam. And again we are brought to the next point. It is “devilish”. It originated with the devil. We are brought back to Eden for there it was that this devilish wisdom was first planted in the heart of man by the devil himself, yet received by man. Think back with me to the Genesis account when the burning desire to have (envy), and the selfish ambition to attain (strife) was first planted in the heart of man. The bitterness of it we all know. For it was all based on a lie, constituted a deceit, and ended in death. I feel compelled to remind us here, if indeed we have known it before, that the devil in his whole career has only invented one thing — a lie. He is the father of the lie. All his activity, other than that one invention, has been to twist, warp, and pervert, robbing and killing that which God invented and which in its first state was good.
IF EARTHLY WISDOM PREVAILS
James has traced this earthly wisdom back to its origin, but now we are brought back to the case at hand. In verse 16 we see his reason for doing this. “For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.” Where earthly wisdom prevails, if there is envying and strife in our hearts, confusion and every evil work or vile deed, are potentially there. How important it is that we be good hearers and doers of the Word, that we be quick to obey the injunction of the Word. If we lack true wisdom let us ask it of God.
HEAVEN’S WISDOM IS FIRST PURE
“But the wisdom that is from above is first pure …” Remember we pointed out the fact that the devil, except for the lie, has never invented a thing. His business has been destruction. He seeks to twist, warp and pervert every good thing from above which has come down from the Father of lights in whom there is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. Everything we may think of in this world that God has given us to enjoy has been so defiled by the devil.
Take music for an example. God invented music and gifted men to produce it. The devil perverted music and the use of music. He introduced his beat, and his wail, and his mockery of harmony. And men directed by the earthly wisdom as described above have brought this music into the church and into the life of professing Christians. History proves that with every true revival of the church the music has been affected. Inspired anew by the Holy Spirit there is displayed joy that gladdens, peace that heals, a beauty and harmony that quiets and soothes and words that never grows old. Thus God has provided for His children many enjoyments, but in every case the devil did twist and warp and pervert both intent and meaning until that which was meant for life became the way of destruction and death.
Because of the age we now live in, possibly we should take the time to mention sex. The world has gone sex crazy, literally obsessed with sex, but not in purity. God invented sex. “Have ye not read, that he which made them in the beginning made them male and female, and said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh?” (Matt. 19:4-5) That question was asked by our Lord Jesus Christ. Again, the devil has twisted and perverted both intent and meaning of what God first made both pleasurable and holy. The church has been accused,, by some, of making sex dirty. Of course those who make such charges are both very ignorant and very blind. The church rather must insist on keeping pure that which God first made pure.
The wisdom from above is first pure. Oh if we can only know the importance of understanding the meaning of this statement. We must keep these two words together, “first pure”. That means that the first thing this wisdom from above will do for us is to help us see past and through all of the effects and workings and perversions of the devil in this world and in the lives of men.
Let me put it in a different way. God has given the Word on every issue of life and conduct. “The commandment off the Lord is pure”. (Psalm 19:8) Now the wisdom of this world which is earthly, sensual, and devilish, has both added and subtracted, twisted, perverted, and mocked that which was pure until it has become unrecognizable. He who builds upon the wisdom of this world builds upon sinking, shifting sands. The wisdom of this world is foolishness to God. But the wisdom from above is “first pure.” It first strips away all the works of the destroyer and deceiver of men. The one who possesses this wisdom sees things as they were meant to be. As a wise man he is building upon a solid rock — the pure Word of God. The scriptures declares, “Blessed — or supremely happy — is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly…”. (Psalm 1:1) It takes the wisdom from above to recognize and separate the counsel of the ungodly from that pure counsel of God. The delight of the “blessed man” is in the law of the Lord and in his law doth he meditate day and night. (Psalm 1:2)
Today the counsel of the ungodly is found on every hand, even in the professing church. We find it in the church, because many of her people won’t receive the wisdom that comes from heaven. In their error they find it easier to reach for the substitute which is always so close at hand — the articles, books, teachings, and even sermons that are mixed with the psychology and philosophies of this world.
ON TOP OF BEING PURE
The wisdom that is from above is first pure, then — or after that … The Apostle goes on to mention other very important attributes of this wisdom from above. All of these attributes rest on purity. The wisdom from above is first pure and then it is all of these other things. These things he will now mention cannot exist in purity unless they are founded upon and emerge from purity. Without purity they will not be of God and heaven at all, but be false — all pretense and counterfeit.
As we said before, the first thing this wisdom will do is strip away all that is false, all that is deceit, until we can see the pure truth — as they really are — as God sees them. Then, and only then, can this wisdom be peaceable, gentle, easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits. One can readily see that such attributes as these unless founded on purity first, could only amount to a compromising, wishy-washy, peace-at-any-price philosophy. And this is exactly the devil’s tactic. Destroy the foundation — destroy purity — and confusion is easy after that. But when these attributes do rest first on purity, good fruit is the result. Not just fruit, but good fruit. Notice too the absence of partiality, and hypocrisy. Volumes could be written on this most important paragraph but we have tried to keep as brief as possible in order that we do not loose sight of the fact that this is an examination to be applied at this time to our own hearts. It is important that we come to know where the source of our wisdom has been. Whether our lives and conduct have been directed either by the wisdom of the world, which is earthly, sensual, and devilish, or by that wisdom from above which is first pure and produces good fruits.
THE FRUIT
The last sentence of this paragraph, verse 18, contains the result of godly wisdom, of which the Apostle makes an interesting observation. The result of the world’s wisdom we have seen n verse 16, is confusion and every evil work. Now we see the result of godly wisdom. “The fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.” He is saying that the wise man is a peacemaker who sows in peace the seeds that will produce a harvest of righteousness. How beautiful are the ways of the Lord!
IN HARMONY WITH OUR LORD’S TEACHING
In concluding this chapter let me point out one other thing which we could spend much time with but will only call to your attention in passing. I cannot help but be constantly reminded of the beatitudes and resulting life taught by our Lord as I live with the epistle of James. Evidently our Lord’s teaching was very much alive to the heart of James as he wrote. The beatitudes constitute our Lord’s description of the character of the one who is a citizen of the Kingdom of Heaven — or if you please, the Christian believer. In the paragraph we have just considered there is reference to no less than five of the beatitudes. We see in just these 6 verses the blessedness of the one who is meek, the pure in heart, the merciful, the peacemaker, and he who hungers and thirsts after righteousness. Go back to the 5th chapter of Matthew and read the promises to Him who is thus described. Our Lord Jesus was teaching the wisdom of God and we come face to face with all the beatitudes in this epistle, for the Apostle is also writing of the Christian character as well as the Christian walk which is the result of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.