True Wisdom

(Part 1)

“If you are wise and understand God’s ways, prove it by living an honorable life, doing good works with the humility that comes from wisdom. But if you are bitterly jealous and there is selfish ambition in your heart, don’t cover up the truth with boasting and lying. For jealousy and selfishness are not God’s kind of wisdom. Such things are earthly, unspiritual, and demonic. For wherever there is jealousy and selfish ambition, there you will find disorder and evil of every kind. But the wisdom from above is first of all pure. It is also peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others. It is full of mercy and the fruit of good deeds. It shows no favoritism and is always sincere. 18 And those who are peacemakers will plant seeds of peace and reap a harvest of righteousness.”-James 3:13-18

There is a quote that many of you may be familiar with that originated with Francis Bacon, but was used on several occasions by Thomas Jefferson: “Knowledge is power.” We live in a day and age where the pursuit of knowledge is valued. There seems to be a rush to know more, discover more, and experience more than any other time in history. The prophet Daniel saw these days coming when he wrote:

“But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.”-Daniel 12:4

Interestingly enough, however, God never instructed us to make accumulating knowledge our primary pursuit. According to Proverbs 4:5 were are to: “Get wisdom! Get understanding! Do not forget, nor turn away from the words of My mouth.”

It is important to be reminded that it is possible to be knowledgeable, yet not be very wise. It is possible to be brilliant, but have no common sense. Knowledge is an awareness or familiarity gained by education or experience. Wisdom is the soundness of action or good judgment with regard to the application of knowledge. Just because I know it, doesn’t mean I know how to apply it or use sound judgment in it’s application.

In James 3, the writer is making a distinction, not between good and bad knowledge, but heavenly and earthy wisdom. God does this because He is far more concerned with us understanding the application of knowledge than simply accumulating of a mass of intellect:

“If you are wise and understand God’s ways, prove it by living an honorable life, doing good works with the humility that comes from wisdom.”-James 3:13

If we are wise and understand God’s ways then we will prove what we know by living an honorable life, doing good works, and operating in humility. All of which have to do with application.

“But if you are bitterly jealous and there is selfish ambition in your heart, don’t cover up the truth with boasting and lying. For jealousy and selfishness are not God’s kind of wisdom. Such things are earthly, unspiritual, and demonic. For wherever there is jealousy and selfish ambition, there you will find disorder and evil of every kind.”-James 3:14-16

Bitter jealousy, selfish ambitions, boasting and lying! These are also expressions of wisdom. However, they are not God’s kind of wisdom. James describes them as earthly, unspiritual, and demonic. Meaning that they are rooted in man’s desires, disconnected from God, and driven by demonic interest. When applied they create disorder and spawn evil of every kind.

Pastor Scott Burr
Dayspring Community Church