Lesson 20: Wisdom (part 2)
Read James 3:13-18 - www.bible.com/bible/59/jas.3.esv

James has been talking about what faith looks like – faith is shown by its good deeds, and its ability to control its tongue. From talking about the bad that comes out of our mouths, he turns to the good that can come out of our mouths – wisdom. Wisdom is something that we should all desire. He gives 3 contrasts between true wisdom and false wisdom

Contrast in Origins

 
True wisdom – heavenly - comes from above while false wisdom – manmade - comes from below. The Bible contains many examples of the folly of man’s wisdom - tower of Babel, Abraham/Hagar, King Saul’s armor on David, and in Acts 27 where the Romans set sail against Paul’s Godly wisdom.

*These verses give us what information about wisdom: 1 Corinthians 1:18-21 _____, Proverbs 9:10 _____

This false wisdom has another source: it is sensual, that would mean natural. In 1 Corinthians 2:14, 15:44, 46 it is translated ‘natural’ as in the opposite of spiritual. The main idea seems to be that of man’s fallen nature as opposed to the new nature given by God. James warns us that there is a wisdom that has its origin in man’s nature totally apart from the Spirit of God.

James also says this false wisdom is from beneath, devilish or demonic. We see this starting in Gen 3 where Satan deceived Eve to think that a tree would make her wise. From then on people have continued to believe Satan’s lies.

James teaches us that true wisdom is always practical, never theoretical. True Wisdom is Active – James 3:13 –“ Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.” Just as faith without works is meaningless, so to wisdom that does not show itself in good deeds and good character is worthless.


True wisdom walks and works to show itself as wisdom. God is telling us through James that true wisdom is not found on the mountaintop with our head in the clouds, but down in the valley with our hands in the muck of everyday life. True wisdom, James says, has its source from above (James 3:17).

The Word of God is also our wisdom – Deuteronomy 4:5-6 – “See, I have taught you statutes and rules, as the Lord my God commanded me, that you should do them in the land that you are entering to take possession of it. Keep them and do them, for that will be your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the peoples, who, when they hear all these statutes, will say, ‘Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.’ “

How do we find this wisdom? James 1:5 – “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all men liberally, without reproach; and it shall be given him.”