TurningWisdomonitsHead Message2fromtheLetterofJames James1:2 18,21June2009 FaithPresbyterianChurch,JimZazzera Didyourfatherhaveanywisesayings?LetmetryafewonyouthatI veheard.how about Realmendon tcry! Or Don tmakemecomeupthere! Thenthereis always, Ifyoukeepmakingthatface,you'regonnafreezelikethat! Oneofmy father sfavoriteswas, Keepyourchinup andyounoseclean. Andthenthereis theclassicfrombillcosby, Ibroughtyouintothisworld,andIcantakeyouout! HowaboutyourDad?Doesanyonehaveanywisdomfromyourfatherthatyou wouldliketoshare?[responsesfromcongregation] Fathershavewisdom,butourworldhaswisdomtoo.Therearemanyshortphrases thatdescribewhat(atleastsomeofus)believe.wehaveallheardsayingslike; Knowledgeispower, greedisgood, or winningisn teverythingitistheonly thing! Oprahregularlytellsusabout Whatsheknowsforsure Andyoumaybe familiarwiththenewsweekmagazinecolumncalled ConventionalWisdom where peopleandtopicsagegiventhe uparrow, the horizontalarrow, orthe downwardarrow. IfthereiswisdomintheworldthereisalsowisdomintheBible.Iffact,Thereare writingsinthebiblecommonlycalled wisdomliterature bookslikeproverbs, Ecclesiastes,Job,evenpartsofthebookofPsalms.Insomewaysitresemblesthe wisdomwehearfromourdadsorthewisdomwehearfromourculture. Wisdomliteratureincludessimpleobservationslike: Lazyhandsmakeamanpoor, butdiligenthandsbringwealth, 1 or AwisemanfearstheLORDandshunsevil,but afoolishotheadedandreckless. 2 Wisdomliteraturecanoftenbeskepticalorevencynical: Isthereanythingofwhich onecansay,"look!thisissomethingnew"?itwasherealready,longago;itwas herebeforeourtime, 3 or Forthewiseman,likethefool,willnotbelong remembered;indaystocomebothwillbeforgotten.likethefool,thewisemantoo mustdie! 4 Job s wisdom aboutgodspeaksgodwithincrediblehumility: Iamunworthy howcanireplytoyou?iputmyhandovermymouth.ispokeonce,butihaveno 1 Proverbs10:4,NIV 2 Proverbs14:16,NIV 3 Ecclesiastes1:10,NIV 4 Ecclesiastes2:16,NIV
answer twice,butiwillsaynomore." 5 WisdomintheOldTestament(theHebrew scriptures)growsoutofcarefulobservationsaboutlifeandgod sinvolvementinit. ItissaidthattherearethreemajorthemesinthebookofJames:poverty/wealth, trialsandsuffering,andwisdom.allofthosethemesarerepresentedinthetextwe heardtoday,andinfact,thisisakindofanintroductiontothesethemeswewill hearoverandoverinthebook. Asyoumightbeabletoguessbynow Iwanttofocustodayonthethemeof wisdom.jameshasalottosayaboutthis.inthispassage hetellsusto ask God forwisdom.lateron heexplainsfurtherwhatwisdomisandwhereitcomesfrom. Inasense thiswholepassageisakindofexampleofwhatgod swisdomlookslike Thewisdomofourworldmightsay, sufferingisbadandtobeavoidedatallcosts. ButJamessays, wheneveryoufacetrialsofanykind,consideritnothingbutjoy (vs.2nrsv).thewisdomofourworldmightsay weshouldseekpowerandwealth, ButJamessays, Letthebelieverwhoislowlyboastinbeingraisedup,andtherich inbeingbroughtlow (vs.9 10NRSV) Jamescommendswisdomtous andthengoesontodescribeitinawaythat challengesourconventional,commonsenseviewoflife.sufferingishelpful? Povertyisnotnecessarilytobeavoided?Jamesturnswisdomonitshead! Haveyoueverknownanyonewhoturnedconventionalwisdomonitshead? Wedohavesomeexamplesofitinlife Whenanemployeewillingvolunteerstohaveherownsalaryreducedto protectthejobofacolleague. WhenafterapartheidthepeopleofSouthAfricachosetoforgoretribution andcreatea TruthandReconciliationCommission tobringtogether victimsandperpetratorsofinjustice. WhenatthebeginningofthisweekpeopleofIransoughttostartasocietal revolutionwithtwitterandfacebookandcellphonesandcomputers insteadofbulletsanddeath. Whenanindividualbelievesinsomethingsomuchthathepressesahead evenifitseemsthereisnohopeofanyonejoininghim. Maybeyouhaveknownpeoplewholiveoutofadifferentreality.Maybeyouknow peoplewhoclaimandpracticegod swisdom. TherearetwothingsthatJamestellsusaboutwisdomthatareessentialtoour understanding.bothofthesethings,infact,aretrueofwisdomthroughoutthe Bible.Thefirstisthis:realwisdomalwayscomesfromGod. Ifanyofyouislackingin wisdom,askgod,whogivestoallgenerouslyandungrudgingly,anditwillbegiven 5 Job40:4 5,NIV
you. (vs.5nrsv)laterinhisbook,jamescontraststhe wisdomfrombelow with the wisdomfromabove. Hecallsitthe wisdomthatcomesfromheaven. PeopleinAlcoholicsAnonymousandother12 stepprogramsfrequentlyaffirmthis truthintheprayercommonlyknownastheserenityprayer: Godgrantmetheserenity ToacceptthethingsIcannotchange; CouragetochangethethingsIcan; Andwisdomtoknowthedifference. 6 WisdomcomesfromGod. WhatmightismeanthatGodisthesourceofourwisdom?Whatitmeansiswe cannotcreateorearnthiswisdom.whatitmeansistherearenospecialdegreesor secretceremoniesthatprovidethiswisdomtous.whatitmeansisbecauseitisnot ofourownmaking,thiswisdommaysurpriseusorcallusdownpathswehadn t expectedtotravel. Inasense,thatiswhatthewholebookofJamesisaboutGod swisdom. Wisdom maybethebook soverarchingtheme.thebook,inasense,isabitofacompendium ofgod swisdom. Butthereisasecondaspectofthiswisdom. Wisdom inthehebrewscriptureswas neveraboutwhatoneknewbutalwaysabouthowonelivedlife.thatiswhyso muchwisdomcamefromnotfromstudyingbooksbutfromobservingand experiencinglife. ThissamethingistrueinJames.ForJames,wisdomisnotaboutwhatweknowbut howweliveourlives.thispassagebeforeusdescribesaspectsofourlivingrather thanourthinking.laterinthebookjamessaysthis: Whoiswiseand understandingamongyou?lethimshowitbyhisgoodlife,bydeedsdoneinthe humilitythatcomesfromwisdom. (vs3:13,niv)wisdomishowwepracticeour faith,howweliveinlove,howwespendourdays. WisdomisagiftofGod.Wisdomishowweliveourlives.WhenIhearthatandthen IthinkofallthatJamesfocusesoninthispassage,Iamconvincedthatthiswisdom issomethingspecialandunexpected.facesufferingandgrow?thatissomethingi canonlydowithgod spower.learnhowtolivegenerouslywith(andevenleave behind)myownwealthandrelatetobrothersandsistersinpoverty?thatis somethingicanonlydowithgod spower. 6 TheSerenityPrayer,usedby12StepGroupsaroundtheworld,mostlikelyhadits originsfromaprayeroftheologianreinholdniebuhr, http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/11/us/11prayer.html
I dliketoleaveyouwithastoryfromamanwhowasconfrontedbygod s surprisingwisdom.inhisrecentbook,theholeinourgospel,richardstearns writesaboutleavingbehindhisperfect AmericanDream lifetobecomethe PresidentofreliefagencyWorldVisionafterhisownintimateencounterswiththe poorestofthepoor.now,iknowheisnotmartinlutherking,jr.ormothertheresa, buthiswordsseemtoechoconcernsandfeelinginmylife.maybetheywilltouch yours Ididn twanttobethere,iwasn tsupposedtobethere,sofaroutofmycomfort zone notinthatplacewhereorphanedchildrenlivebythemselvesintheiragony. There,poverty,disease,andsqualorhadeyesandfacesthatstaredback,andIhadto seeandsmellandtouchthepainofthepoor.thatparticulardistrict,rakai,is believedtobegroundzerofortheugandanaidspandemic.there,thedeadlyvirus hasstalkeditsvictimsinthedarkfordecades.sweattrickleddownmyfaceasisat awkwardlywithrichardandhisbrotherswhileafilmcrewcapturedeverytear mine andtheirs. Imuchpreferredlivinginmybubble,theonethat,untilthatmoment,hadsafely containedmylife,family,andcareer.itkeptdifficultthingslikethisout,insulatingme fromanythingtooraworupsetting.whensuchthingsintruded,astheyrarelydid,a channelcouldbechanged,anewspaperpageturned,oracheckwrittentokeepthe pooratasafedistance.butnotinrakai.there, suchthings hadfacesandnames evenmyname,richard. NotsixtydaysearlierIhadbeenCEOofLenox,America sfinesttablewarecompany, producingandsellingluxurygoodstothosewhocouldaffordthem.ilivedwithmy wifeandfivechildreninaten bedroomhouseonfiveacresjustoutsideofphiladelphia. IdroveaJaguartoworkeveryday,andmybusinesstraveltookmetosuchplacesas Paris,Tokyo,London,andFlorence.Iflewfirst classandstayedinthebesthotels.iwas respectedinmycommunity,andattendedavenerablesuburbanchurch,andsatonthe boardofmykids Christianschool.Iwasoneofthegoodguys youmightsaya poster child forthesuccessfulchristianlife.ihadneverheardofrakai,theplacewheremy bubblewouldburst.butinjustsixtydays,godturnedmylifeinsideout,anditwould neverbethesame. Quiteunexpectedly,eightmonthsearlier,IhadbeencontactedbyWorldVision,the Christianreliefanddevelopmentorganization,duringtheirsearchforanewpresident. Whyme? 7 IwishIcouldtellyouthatIacceptedthiscallwithasenseofspiritualexcitementand passiontohelpthebrokenpeopleofourworld.i dliketosaythatiboldlyprayed, HereIam,Lord.Sendme. thatiwaseagertoseizetheopportunitytoserve.but thatwouldbealie. 7 TheHoleinOurGospel,RichardStearns,KindleEdition,Sections207 223
ThatFriday,attheendoftwodaysofmeetingsandinterviewswithWorldVision stop leaders,ihadsunkdeeperanddeeperintoanemotionalfunk.ihadbeenbombarded withwrenchingstoriesofhumansuffering,confrontedwiththeconsiderable challengesthatwouldfacethenewpresident,andintroducedtoalanguagefullof jargonandacronymsididn tevenunderstand.surelythiswasamistake.whatdidi knowaboutanyofthis?afterall,iwastheguywhohadspentthelastelevenyears sellingdishes expensiveones.therehadtobesomeonebetterqualifiedthanme. ReturningtoRenee andandythatafternoon,iwasattheendofmyspiritualand emotionalrope.ihadrunoutoftime,andnowihadadecisiontomake.wouldi accepttheboard sinvitation,leavemytwenty threeyearcareerbehind,andmovemy wifeandfivekidsacrossthecountry,orwoulditurndownthejobandstayatlenox? Thiswasoneofthosedecisionsthatchangeseverything,andIdidn twanttomakeit.i wasafraid.whenrenee askedhowthedayhadgone,isaidicouldn ttalkaboutitjust yet;ineededtorestandbealone.iwasanemotionalbasketcase.andso,at4p.m.,i slippedintomypajamas,crawledintobed,pulledthecoversovermyhead,andbegan toweepandpray,cryingouttogodto takethiscup awayfromme.itwaspretty pathetic.andy,sixteenatthetime,camintomyroomafewminuteslater,pattedme ontheshoulder,andsaid, EverythingwillbeokayDad.MomandIaregoingoutfora fewhourstogetsomethingtoeat.getsomesleep. ThereIwas,blubberinginfrontof myteenager quitethespiritualrolemodel. 8 JefftolduslastweekthatJameswasastraightshooter.Iagreewiththat,butIthink Jamesisdoingevenmorethanthat.HeistryingtodirectustoGod swisdom and that swhatmakeshearinghimhard.god swisdomisnotaneasywisdom.jamesis invitingustoreceiveagift,butitisnotagiftwearesurewewant.jamesistryingto beverypracticalwithus,butwewouldprefertokeepourfaithatanice,theoretical distance.james(andgod svoicethroughjames)isofferinguswisdom.theonly questionforusis,willwereceiveit? 8 TheHoleinOurGospel,RichardStearns,KindleEdition,Sections389 408
NextStepQuestions: Didyourfatherhaveany wise sayings? Canyouthinkofsome conventionalwisdom or wisdomoftheworld thatyou disagreewith?(thismightcomefromtvorpoliticsorevenpopularreligion.) Whatisthedifferencebetween knowledge and wisdom toyou? DoyouthinkrealwisdomisagiftofGod?Ifso,howdowereceiveit?Ifnot,where doesitcomefrom? Whoisthewisestpersonyouknow?Whatabouthim/hermakesyouthinkhe/sheis wise? Wasthereeveratimethatyouheldacertainbeliefthatyourlifeexperiencehas nowconvincedyouiswrong?islifeexperiencealwaysthebestteacher? Areyoumoreimpressedwiththeoretical/academicknowledgeorpractical knowledge?whydidyouchoosetheoneyoudid? ItissaidthatthethreemajorthemesinthebookofJamesare:1)wisdom, 2)povertyandriches,and3)sufferingandtrials.Doyouhaveanythoughtsasto whyjamesmadethesethreethecenterofhisbook?ifyouwerewritingabookto thechurch,whatwouldbeyourthreemajorthemes? Readthroughthispassageagain.Isthereadviceinthistextthatseemscounterto whatmightbecalled thewisdomoftheworld? Woulditbehardtolivethisoutin yourlife?whyorwhynot? Inyourownlife,haveyoueverfeltcalled(orareyoubeingcalledrightnow)to makealifedecisionthatrancounterto conventionalwisdom andthatothersfelt didnotmakesense,butthatyouwereconvincedwasfromgod?howdidyouknow itwasfromgod?whatdecisiondidyoufinallymake?