Lesson 22: Wisdom (part 4)
Read James 3:13-18 - www.bible.com/bible/59/jas.3.esv

Contrast in outcomes (James 3:16, 18), origin determines outcome.

Worldly Wisdom

James 3:16 – “For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.”
Envy, strife, confusion, evil works. It doesn’t appear that God is at work there does it? In James 4 he deals with wars and fighting among Christians. Wrong thinking leads to wrong living. One reason the world is such a mess is because men have refused to accept the wisdom of God.

The word “confusion” means disorder that comes from instability. It is related to unstable in James 1:8 and unruly in James 3:8. Confusion sets the stage for every evil work. (James 3:16) Evil here means worthless, of no value. The many battles among Christians, the church splits, the absence of purity and peace suggests that something is very wrong. Maybe that something is the absence of God’s wisdom?

Godly Wisdom

 James 3:18 –“And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.” Notice James uses the word “fruit” instead of manmade results. Fruit is the result of a godly life and has in it seeds to produce more fruit. The Christian life is a life of sowing and reaping. The Christian who obeys God’s wisdom sows righteousness, not sin. He sows peace and not war. If we live in man’s worldly wisdom we sow sin and war and reap confusion and every evil work. Proverbs 3:13 - Blessed is the one who finds wisdom, and the one that gets understanding.


Do you live your life with certainty or with confusion? Are you sure of what is right and what is wrong? Are there really absolutes, truths that never change? Are there markers that are firm, solid and stable? The answer to this last question is "yes." There are absolutes that are reliable and never change. Is there truth that you can count on? Where do you find such truth that stands the test of time, technology and tumultuous life? In a book that has never, and will never be proven false or flawed, for the author is God. Within His Word, the Bible, all we need to know of God, life and eternity is disclosed. Truth, from the creator of life and the life to come. What are some of the truths found in His Word that are markers for guiding our lives today? Consider just a few:

*God never changes and His love is forever
*God does not want anyone to perish
*People are free to choose or reject God’s love
*Sin always has a price which must be paid
*Jesus died to take away your sin
*There are just two kinds of people - those who are saved from their sin or those who are still in their sin
*There are just two ways to live - by God’s wisdom or by the world’s wisdom

With these truths, there is no room to sit on the fence. You cannot straddle the line with one foot on both sides. Those are absolutes that you and I have to make a choice concerning and if we say we don’t want to choose, we have already made a choice.

*Thought question: How do you live your life - by God’s wisdom or the World’s wisdom?