Song: I Want ToWalk As A Child Of The Light https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QISk0oYYpuk
Prayer: Father God, here we are again. We yearn for more of you. We desire to rest in your love in every situation of life, especially the difficult ones. Tonight as we gather help us all to set aside the cares of this day, this week and the ones where we tend to worry about the future. May our hearts be attuned to your heart during this time. Thank you for the Book of James which has endured down through the centuries for such a time as this. We ask your blessing over each of us and those we love. In Jesus name amen
Well, we are finishing chapter 3 of James tonight. Or that is the current plan. So let’s get started. First we will just read it in ESV.
James 3:13-18
Wisdom from Above
13 Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom.
14 But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth.
15 This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic.
16 For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice.
17 But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere.
18 And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.
I read this and wonder how and why wisdom and jealousy etc were linked here and right after blessing and cursing but if we think about it then it does make sense. Let’s look deeper this time using AMP for deeper meaning.
13 Who is there among you who is wise and intelligent? Then let him by his noble living show forth his [good] works with the [unobtrusive] humility [which is the proper attribute] of true wisdom.
Dodi Note: Barnes Commentary says: The meaning here is, that there should be an upright life, and that this should be the basis in forming the judgment in appointing persons to fill stations of importance, and especially in the office of teaching in the church.
This is also discussed in Philippians 1:27 which holds good advice for us as well. That says, “Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in the one Spirit, striving together as one for the faith of the gospel.”
When we are going about our daily lives among our family, friends, neighbors and even out shopping, people are looking and listening and evaluating also. Does what we say we believe line up with what we actually do? Are we bossy and argumentative or do we simply live and speak Truth with/in love? The next part deals with that a bit.
14 But if you have bitter jealousy (envy) and contention (rivalry, selfish ambition) in your hearts, do not pride yourselves on it and thus be in defiance of and false to the Truth.
Dodi Note: Do you see? If we SAY God loves us, and in fact loves everyone and yet we are jealous of those who have what we wish we had, or if we are willing to step on other people to get what we want…..what do people see? Do they observe the love of Jesus? Are we any different than others?
Taking it to a more global arena and without pointing fingers. Look at the goings on in government. Are we seeing jealousy, envy, rivalry and selfish ambition at work? We are SURE not seeing our elected officials working out their differences for the common good are we?
Could there be a whole lot of selfish ambition going on?
And is the media part of this pony circus?
Are we getting our personal danders up and speaking outside of the way of Jesus who said in Matthew 5:43-48 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
Are we blessing our enemies by praying for them? Or……
Next verse explains the source of worldly “wisdom”.
15 This [superficial] wisdom is not such as comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual (animal), even devilish (demoniacal).
Dodi Note: this is strong. In both translations it is labeled as demonic. There seems to be a sort of progression. That is listed in the next verse which says:
16 For wherever there is jealousy (envy) and contention (rivalry and selfish ambition), there will also be confusion (unrest, disharmony, rebellion) and all sorts of evil and vile practices.
Dodi Note: First our eyes wander and we want what we do not have but someone else does have or seems to have it.
Then we start to contend for it. Our motive is surely not love or the well being of others is it?
Confusion enters in…rebellion and following that ALL sorts of EVIL and VILE practices.
This is easy to see in govenment, right? But if all scriptre is good also for our own instruction perhaps we might want to take our gaze off government and look at our own hearts. Or invite the LORD to show us any area where we have or are tempted to stray.
Matthew Henry explains it like this: Envying is first and excites strife; strife endeavours to excuse itself by vain-glorying and lying; and then (v. 16) hereupon ensue confusion and every evil work.
Those who live in malice, envy, and contention, live in confusion, and are liable to be provoked and hurried to any evil work.
Such disorders raise many temptations, strengthen temptations, and involve men in a great deal of guilt.
One sin begets another, and it cannot be imagined how much mischief is produced: there is every evil work.
And is such wisdom as produces these effects to be gloried in? This cannot be without giving the lie to Christianity, and pretending that this wisdom is what it is not.
Then James goes on to a more positive teaching. We get to see what happens when GOD is FIRST in our lives.
17 But the wisdom from above is first of all pure (undefiled); then it is
peace-loving, courteous (considerate, gentle). [It is willing to] yield to reason, full of compassion and good fruits; it is wholehearted and straightforward, impartial and unfeigned (free from doubts, wavering, and insincerity).
Dodi Note: Don’t you like this? Isn’t this what we desire our lives to reflect to others?
True wisdom is founded in/on the Word of God.
It is peace-loving. It is courteous, considerate and gentle. ( Think Proverbs 15:1 A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.).
True wisdom is full of compassion,
At the same time, it is wholehearted (think Love GOD with ALL your heart, mind, soul and strength and love your neighbor as yourself ) and impartial.
James talked about impartial earlier didnt he? Treating others the same regardless of their circumstances of life?
And true wisdom is free from wavering, insincerity and doubt.
Who doesnt want to live a life like that? And wouldn’t Jesus be seen without us saying a word if we did live like that. All the time. Even when under personal stress.
The the last verse gives us the outcome.
18 And the harvest of righteousness (of conformity to God’s will in thought and deed) is [the fruit of the seed] sown in peace by those who work for and make peace [in themselves and in others, that peace which means concord, agreement, and harmony between individuals, with undisturbedness, in a peaceful mind free from fears and agitating passions and moral conflicts].
Dodi Note: Our pastor often reminds us that everyone is created by God, in God’s own image. Every one. Muslim terrorist. Illegal immigrants. That person who ripped our heart to shreds that time.
I take that a step farther. They WERE created by God in God’s own image to do the GOOD works God has given them to walk in.
So were we all.
But because of the GRACE and MERCY of God and a choice we made, we are learning to walk in that and “they” are not. Or they are not yet.
Imagine if our government treated one another as images of God, designed by God to do GOOD works he has prepared for them.
What if WE began to see others that way also. And others includes ourselves….remember what we said last week about speaking blessings or curses?
Then wouldn’t it be so lovely if we, our families, our friends, our neighbors, our countries would begin to conform once again to God’s will in thought and actions?
Can you imagine how living in peace, agreement and harmony without unrest or violence would be?
Or even being able to live in undisturbed, in a peaceful state of mind, free from fears and agitating passion or moral conflict even while the rest of the world sort of swirls about us?
It is possible.
It begins with each of us choosing to walk in peace.
To bless and not to curse others.
To PRAY really pray when we want to scream and punch them.
We want peace. Right? Let’s pray and feel free to add your own.
Father God thank you for this bit of James. Thank you that somehow, if we seek wisdom we will receive it, because your Word says so. Help us to love the unlovable. Forgive us, our ancestors and our countries for departing from life lived in accordance with your way. Restore to us the JOY of our salvation and help us to walk in your ways and in your will. Help us know how to set Godly boundaries in a loving and wise manner. Father God we need you so much, personally, in our families and in our nations and the world. Have your way, one heart at a time, beginning with our own hearts. And teach us and lead us we pray in Jesus name amen.