James. Pt. 6: 7 Traits of Earthly Wisdom James 3:13-18 TWO KINDS OF WISDOM PM

Transcription

1 James TWO KINDS OF WISDOM Pt. 6: 7 Traits of Earthly Wisdom James 3: PM

2 Knowledge and Wisdom There is a major difference between knowledge and wisdom.

3 Knowledge and Wisdom For example, one dictionary defines knowledge as; an acquaintance with or familiarity of facts, truths, or principles, accumulated through study over the course of time.

4 Knowledge and Wisdom That same source then defines wisdom as the ability to discern or judge or practice what is true, right, or lasting.

5 Knowledge & Wisdom Automaker Henry Ford often employed men of true genius to serve him, such German born as electrical genius Dr. Charles Proteus Steinmetz. Mr. Steinmetz was employed to design and install a number of huge generators in Mr. Ford s Truck factory in Dearborn, MI.

6 Knowledge & Wisdom Dr. Steinmetz (who suffered from dwarfism, hunchback, and hip dysplasia),was employed to design and install a number of huge generators in Mr. Ford s Truck factory near Dearborn, MI.

7 Knowledge & Wisdom On the first day of production day, all of the generators refused to start, and Ford s local repairmen couldn't find the problem. So Ford called Mr. Steinmetz, who traveled all the way from Germany to the plant to fix them.

8 Knowledge & Wisdom When Mr. Steinmetz arrived at the plant entrance, he didn t speak to anyone. He simply walked past all of Ford s local engineers, and the generators, and without a word reached up on a large panel in the back and threw a big switch.

9 Knowledge & Wisdom Immediately, the generators whirred back to life which was fine until Mr. Ford received a bill for $10,000. Flabbergasted, the notoriously tightfisted car maker called to inquire How he justified charging such a large fee?

10 Knowledge & Wisdom To which Mr. Steinmetz's replied: For having the knowledge of how your generators work, $10. For having the wisdom to turn them on, $9,990. Mr. Ford wisely paid the bill.

11 Knowledge & Wisdom While God certainly wants us to have a faithful knowledge of the machinery of His teachings, and a strong familiarity with the facts, truths, or principles therein, what he desires even more deeply for us, is the ability to discern or judge or practice what is true, right, and faithful in our lives. WHAT He wants most for us, is Wisdom.

12 Wisdom (Skill) Wisdom comes from a Hebrew word meaning skill. It was used to describe a craftsmen who had the skill to create the beautiful Tabernacle and the furniture that went in it (Exod. 36:1,2).

13 Wisdom (Skill) Tonight, in James, it refers to the skill to live a life that is truly beautiful in terms of its conduct and in its obedience to God s Will, and not simply in its possession of right knowledge.

14 Wisdom (Skill) Way back in James 1:5 James said- If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all men generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him. This reminds us that True Wisdom is: First - from above (God) Secondly - available through faith (in God s Word.)

15 Got Truth? Those who gain their Truth from God s Word, and not from the world, are forewarned and forearmed to live faithfully and wisely in this life... and in the next life are promised they will live with God, Christ, and all the wise, who have chosen God s way LIVE GOD S WAY

16 James 3:13-14 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, [and] by deeds done in the humility that comes from Wisdom. (NIV) Once again, James is insisting that all believers prove themselves to be doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves [and that] faith without works is dead. (1:22; 2:17)

17 Living Wisely In other words, it s not enough to accept or preach truth, it must be lived. Likely, James has in mind those teachers in James 3:1, Men who shouldn t teach at all, & whose lives betray their profession. But what he says also has a broader application Who is wise and understanding among you? The one who LIVES Wisely.

18 Living Wisely Wisdom, like faith us displayed in behavior. Earlier,James essentially says that everyone must live-out their faith. To those who claim faith, but who do nothing, their faith is useless [Go ahead ] Show me your faith without [any] works, [but] I will show you my faith by my works. (2:18)

19 Living Wisely You can theorize all you want. But The faith that saves is the faith that obeys - and you simply CANNOT demonstrate faith any other way but through a changed life. It s the Biblical Equivalent of Actions speak louder than words.

20 James 3:14 But if you (do not demonstrate an humble wisdom), but have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, do not be arrogant and so lie against the Truth. James conclusion is that True Wisdom (God s Wisdom) precludes all ungodly behavior.

21 James 3:14 The truly wise man CANNOT have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in their hearts; this contradicts God s Truth. It is inconsistent for a teacher of the Divine peace, to be jealous and arrogant and selfish with the Word? The idea is that these men were drawing men to themselves and not to God.

22 James 3:15-16 God s Wisdom, (1:3) is the exact opposite of this so-called earthly wisdom This jealous, arrogant & self-serving wisdom (he s using sarcasm) is not that which comes down from above, but is earthly! TWO KINDS OF WISDOM

23 James 3:15-16 For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every evil thing. (3:16) Here James begins to do a little fruit inspection. He s going to compare and contrast the world s counterfeit wisdom with God s Genuine Wisdom.

24 James 3:13-18 A careful reading of the entire passage (13-18) reveals that James sees at least 7 Negative Traits in the world s wisdom and 7 Positive Traits in God s Wisdom. Tonight, let s try to identify the 7 Negative Traits of the world s counterfeit earthly wisdom:

25 Earthly Wisdom is Envious 1 st ) It is Envious (or Jealous)- Contrast this with God s Love in 1 Corinthians 13:4 Compare this person to God s person in Philippians 2:3 Where envy exists, Godly wisdom does not.

26 Earthly Wisdom is Selfish 2 ndly ) It is selfish Creflo Dollar, a prominent Georgia megachurch pastor who teaches that God wants to bless the faithful with earthly riches, reportedly said that he was seeking donations to buy a luxury jet valued at more than $65 million. (For the record I fly Southwest)

27 Earthly Wisdom is Selfish Selfishness is sinfulness. Phil. 2:21 condemns those who seek their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. 2 Tim. 3:2 predicts that in the end times- Many people will be lovers of self HERE- James 3:16 says- Where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice.

28 Earthly Wisdom is Arrogant 3 rdly ) Earthly wisdom Boasts - (It is arrogant and egotistical.) 1 Cor. 1: It is by God s doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption, so that, just as it is written, LET HIM WHO BOASTS, BOAST IN THE LORD. Sign my Bible?

29 Earthly Wisdom Lies 4 thlyh ) Earthly Wisdom - Lies against the Truth - (It betrays the very essence of God s Truth.) Instead of being humble and receptive and obedient to God s Will, the earthly wise believe their own personal truth is as good as God s Truth.

30 Truth Decay by Douglass Grothius We all have differing perspectives (which can be biased, prejudiced, ignorant, arrogant, uninformed and so on) A perspective may be partially true, largely true, or mostly false As Christians, we should believe that the Word of the Lord Jesus Christ is The Truth (Jn. 17:17), and we should labor hard to understand it, believe it, and practice it daily

31 Truth Decay by Douglass Grothius At the end of time, the only theory, idea, concept, ideology, or belief that matters will be that one which is actually True the reality that God has set in place.

32 When it Comes to Truth Ps. 119:160 - The sum of God s Word is Truth and every one of His righteous rules endures forever. Jn. 8:32 - And you will know the Truth, and the Truth will set you free.

33 Earthly Wisdom is Earthly 5 thly ) Earthly Wisdom is earthly. (It doesn t have God s Eternal perspective. It did not come from above and does not understand what God fully understands.) Why listen to thinking of men, when you have the Word of God on it?

34 Earthly Wisdom is Earthly Consider - Rom. 11:33-34 Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways! For WHO HAS KNOWN THE MIND OF THE LORD, OR WHO (MAY) BECOME HIS COUNSELOR? [See Job 38:4ff] God designed everything. He knows how to make it run.

35 Earthly Wisdom is Sensual 6 thly ) Earthly wisdom is sensual, meaning prone to being swayed by one s emotions. It s carnal vrs. Spiritual. It is filled with human bias. It is not Heavenly. It is driven by and appeals to the senses.

36 Earthly Wisdom is Sensual Mk. 7:7-9 BUT IN VAIN DO THEY WORSHIP ME, TEACHING AS DOCTRINES [Truths] THE PRE-CEPTS OF MEN. Neglecting the Commandment of God, you hold to the traditions of men. He was also saying to them, You are experts at setting aside the commandment of God in order to keep your tradition.

37 Earthly Wisdom is Sensual Col. 2:8 - See to it that no one takes you captive through human philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of this world, rather than according to Christ.

38 Earthly Wisdom is Sensual James is thinking of the false teachers of his day whose end is destruction, whose god is their appetite, and whose glory is in their shame, who set their minds on earthly things. (Phil. 3:19).

39 Earthly Wisdom is Demonic 7 thly ) Earthly wisdom is from the Devil. Earthly wisdom, like false teaching, like lying, like all evil thoughts, are from Satan. As we read a bit earlier, the unwise, untrained tongue defiles the entire body, and sets on fire the course of our life, and is set on fire by Hell.

40 Earthly Wisdom is Demonic The Beloved Apostle once wrote in 1 Jn. 5:19 - We know that we are from God, and the whole world lies in the power of the Evil One. 1 Tim. 4:1 - The Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from The Faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons

41 Earthly Wisdom v. Godly Wisdom Obviously, earthly wisdom is not to be trusted but God s Wisdom is to be trusted, taken to heart and lived out daily. What is Godly Wisdom? I just have time to read the list-

42 7 Traits of Godly Wisdom 1) pure 2) peaceable or gentle 3) reasonable, 4) full of mercy 5) full of good fruits, 6) unwavering, 7) without hypocrisy

43 James 3:18 The seed whose fruit is righteous-ness is sown in peace by those who make peace. (Translation)- God s teachers plant (teach) the seed of righteousness (God s Truth) in peace (without earthly wisdom hypocrisy).

44 James 3:18 Throughout his letter, James has been following a clear line of thought: If one professes to be a Christian, ( and in particular a Christian Teacher) he must prove it by living like a Christian. 1 Cor. 11:1b follow the example of Christ.

45 James 3:18 God has given us HIS Wisdom to live by... By sowing HIS righteousness each day of your life, you can be assured of that you ll reap HIS Life: a life that exemplifies HIS True Wisdom.