James 3:13-17 “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.”
Many of us know people that are very intelligent. If there is a problem in their field they are the “go-to” people. However, sometimes these same “smart” people have trouble carrying out the simplest task. They seem to miss the priorities of life.
Proverbs 4:7 “Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.”
Wisdom is the principal thing. Knowledge enables us to take things apart, but wisdom enables us to put things together, and relate this truth to our daily lives. We miss the heart of God’s message when we have the knowledge and fail to relate this to our everyday lives.
In James 3:15-17 he is contrasting “heavenly wisdom” with “man-made wisdom.” Man-made is not from God and is destined to fail no matter how successful it may seem at the time.
The problem with man-made wisdom is that it comes from man! Man is earthly, sensual, devilish, and in our original state, sinful to the core!
Ephesians 2:1-3 “And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.”
This passage teaches us that we have three enemies: the world, lust of the flesh, and the prince of the power of the air – Satan. The world by its wisdom knew not God. It rejects the gospel. It fills itself with pride believing man is in control and needs no other being to direct his life. I Corinthians 1:18 says, “For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness.” While knowledge can be beneficial it is of no value unless it applies the wisdom of God. Man’s wisdom comes from reason, while God’s wisdom comes from revelation. In fact, every increase in man’s knowledge only magnifies the problem. We soon become self-sufficient instead of depending on God.
God is the origin of true spiritual wisdom. When we allow man’s wisdom to direct our lives we are not only sinning, we are asking for trouble. Man’s wisdom says an unwanted baby is just a blob of flesh, a bother to our schedule. Therefore, since it is part of our body, do surgery, and get rid of it. God’s word says that glob of flesh is a life. We are made in his image and we are fearfully and wonderfully made. It calls the taking of life murder.
Man’s wisdom is earthly, sensual, and devilish, creating envy and strife. Leading to confusion and every evil work. God’s wisdom is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. Man’s wisdom leads to death, but God’s wisdom leads to life!
God in his awesome, all-knowing wisdom provides a way to have the best, of the best. He gives us Jesus Christ as our wisdom. Colossians 2:3 “In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.” The very first step toward true wisdom is receiving Jesus Christ as Saviour. When we have Jesus directing our knowledge with his wisdom, we are in a win, win situation. When we find ourselves in situations where we need instruction pray, and ask for wisdom. He will supply.
James 1:5 “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.”
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