Life lessons from the Book of James

James 3:13-18 June 2, 2013

Do you want to be counted wise, to build a reputation for wisdom? Here's what you do: Live well, live wisely, live humbly. It’s the way you live, not the way you talk, that counts. Mean-spirited ambition isn’t wisdom. Boasting that you are wise isn’t wisdom. Twisting the truth to make yourselves sound wise isn’t wisdom. It’s the furthest thing from wisdom it’s animal cunning, devilish conniving.

Whenever you’re trying to look better than others or get the better of others, things fall apart and everyone ends up at the others throats. Real wisdom, God’s wisdom, begins with a holy life and is characterized by getting along with others. It is gentle and reasonable, overflowing with mercy and blessings, not hot one day and cold the next, not two-faced.

You can develop a healthy, robust community that lives right with God and enjoy its results only if you do the hard work of getting along with each other, treating each other with dignity and honor.

Two types of Wisdom

Heavenly

“Do you want to begin the process of acquiring something that is worth much more than gold? You start by obtaining the knowledge that is most central to the deepest human needs, the knowledge that there is a God who is powerful and personal and head over heels in love with each and every one of us,

a God who has extended to us, through Jesus Christ his Son, the hand of forgiveness and grace. He says, Come on, take that hand, and I’ll help you make your life work. That is where we start.” Bill Hybels

Two types of Wisdom Heavenly And Earthly

The other wisdom active in this world is the thought process generated by this world and influenced by the forces from below. This unspiritual wisdom leads to disorder and every evil practice. In other words those who live according to this wisdom or belief system will be in disarray and will be following the path of destruction. It’s path leads directly to the pit of Hell.

How the two wisdoms will affect a person’s heart condition?

The wisdom from above has a heart that is pure. Verse 17

1 The proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel: 2 for attaining wisdom and discipline; for understanding words of insight; 3 for acquiring a disciplined and prudent life, doing what is right and just and fair; 4 for giving prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the young Proverbs 1:1-7:

5 let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance 6 for understanding proverbs and parables, the sayings and riddles of the wise. 7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline. Proverbs 1:1-7:

No God - No Wisdom

Know God - Know Wisdom

The wisdom from below has a heart which is contaminated by the diseases in the world’s system.

How the two wisdoms will affect a person’s belief system?

wisdom from above acknowledges the truth

wisdom from above acknowledges the truth wisdom from below denies the truth and entangles people in the web of deception.

It has a heart that is filled with the influences of the dark side It is a life that if filled with self centeredness and selfish ambition It seeks whom it may consume It seeks to focus on material possessions Wisdom from below looks like:

It desires to walk over others to get its own way. It has a belief system that lives by animal instincts It has a belief system that has not spiritual insight in it. Wisdom from below looks like:

It lives for evil purposes It has a lifestyle filled with mayhem and disarray It has a life filled with deception and distortion. It has a life filled with no deep relationships Wisdom from below looks like:

It has a life filled with bitterness It has a life not worth living Wisdom from below looks like:

It counts the cost and lives for the future It lives within its means It follows the path of right living It focus on relationships first with God then with others. Wisdom from above looks like:

It puts first things first. It knows to give to the Lord what belongs to the Lord. It says no to impulses It chooses to lose to self and allows God to be in control Wisdom from above looks like:

It lives a life of peace and harmony It chooses to serve and to be a doer of the Word of God It says,“ No to Pride!" It always presses on toward the goal of eternity Wisdom from above looks like:

It produces a life filled with good fruit It knows when to stop, walk and pray before speaking Wisdom from above looks like:

Who are you seeking today for wisdom? And how does it characterize your life? Life Lesson Question