James 3:13-18

Teacher: Rusty Kenned
Series: James (Acts)

Rusty's Notes

• James 1 – Patient when in trouble. (stand confidently)
• James 2 – Lives out who they are. (serve compassionately)
• James 3 – Controlling our tongue. (speak carefully)
• Wisdom was an important thing to Jewish people.
• They realized that it was not enough to have knowledge.
• You had to have wisdom to be able to use that knowledge correctly.[1]

James 3:13-18
13 Who among you is wise and understanding? By his good conduct he should show that his works are done in the gentleness (meekness) that comes from wisdom.

• Here is an original “show and tell.”
• “Wise” (sophos) describes one with moral insight and skill in the practical issues of life.
• Wisdom is not measured by degrees but by deeds.
• People demonstrate wisdom if their deeds reflect God’s Word.[2]
• Wisdom knows the good and knows how to do the good.[3]
• Gentleness/Meekness is a fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:23);
• The phrase, “meekness of wisdom,” is an interesting one.
• Meekness is the right use of power, and wisdom is the right use of knowledge. They go together.
• The truly wise person will show in his daily life (conduct means “behavior”) that he is a child of God.
• Attitude and action go together.[4]
• It is not a matter of acquiring truth in lectures but of applying truth to life.
• The truly wise man is humble.[5]

14 But if you have bitter envy and selfish ambition in your heart, don’t boast and deny the truth.

• Bitterness and selfishness… get me away.
• Selfishness will always rise to the top.
• You may want something to turn out your way… So you take God’s Word and start beating people over the head with it.
• It’s God’s agenda over your agenda.

 
15 Such wisdom does not come down from above but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. 16 For where there is envy and selfish ambition (strife), there is disorder and every evil practice.

• Envy and strife are clear indicators that one’s so-called wisdom is not from above (James 1:17 - 17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.[6]),
• but is earthly, unspiritual (“natural, sensual,”), and of the devil (“demonic,”).
• Envy and selfish ambition, or rivalry, can only produce disorder, or confusion, and every evil practice.

 

• The Bible contains many examples of the folly of man’s wisdom.
• The building of the Tower of Babel seemed like a wise enterprise, but it ended in failure and confusion (Gen. 11:1–9).
• It seemed wise for Abraham to go to Egypt when famine came to Canaan, but the results proved otherwise (Gen. 12:10–20).
• King Saul thought it was wise to put his own armor on young David for the lad’s battle with Goliath, but God’s plan was otherwise (1 Sam. 17:38ff).
• The disciples thought it was wise to dismiss the great crowd and let them find their own food; but Jesus took a few loaves and fishes and fed the multitude.
• The Roman “experts” in Acts 27 thought it was wise to leave port and set sail for Rome, even though Paul disagreed; and the storm that followed proved that Paul’s wisdom was better than their expert counsel. They lived to regret it, but they lived![7]

 

• The unspirituality of worldly management, if not reigned by the wisdom from above, will dominate the church and cause it to be led into a myriad of evils.[8]
• A truly wise person does not seek glory or gain; he is gracious and giving.[9]
• Ephesians 2:1 - 1 And you were dead in your trespasses and sins 2 in which you previously lived according to the ways of this world, according to the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit now working in the disobedient.[10]
• -The world’s system of values and perspective of things vs - spirit – way of thinking.
• Heavenly wisdom vs earthly wisdom.
• Proverbs 14:12 - There is a way that seems right to a person, but its end is the way to death.[11]
• “Counseling” is the practice of seeking wisdom.
•  A “secular” counselor will generally process behaviors (past/present/future) with a client.
• These processes will be dependent upon one’s self-discipline (strength)
• A “Christian” counselor – WARNING!!!! Be careful where you step… may do the exact same thing based upon using the Bible as LAW.
• A “wise – heavenly wise” counselor will process behavior experiences with you and disciple/teach you that the best way is to submit to the Spirit that resides in your mortal body.
• They will disciple you out of heavenly wisdom.
• I believe in professional counseling… but I have great reduced my recommendations over the years.
• I would trust most of you (Leavener people) in discipling others than most counselors.
• Satan has power in this system according to the ruler of the atmospheric domain
  - Ruler = prince, chief of the atmosphere
  - We are in a battle and natural tendency is to protect our child.
• There is only one way to protect your child…
• 1) Know Jesus
• 2) Trust Him.
  1 Peter 5:8 – Be sober-minded, be alert. Your adversary the devil is prowling around like a roaring lion, looking for anyone he can devour.[12] (Simba-pounce)
  2 Corinthians 11:14 – And no wonder! For Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.[13]
• James has listed the negative:
  • Envy
  • Strife
  • Boasting/bragging
  • Deceit

17 But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peace-loving, gentle, compliant, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without pretense. 18 And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who cultivate peace.[14]

• James has listed the “fruit of righteousness”
  • Purity - God is holy; therefore the wisdom from above is pure.
  • Peace (unity) - The peace of the church is not more important than the purity of the church. If the church is pure, devoted to God, then there will be peace.

Fruit of the Spirit

• Meekness/Gentleness – James 3:13

The gentle person does not deliberately cause fights, but neither does he compromise the truth in order to keep peace.

• Compliance - God’s wisdom makes the believer agreeable and easy to live with and work with. Man’s wisdom makes a person hard and stubborn. The compliant person is willing to hear all sides of a question, but he does not compromise his own convictions. He can disagree without being disagreeable.
• Mercy - God in His grace gives us what we do not deserve, and in His mercy He does not give us what we do deserve.
• Good Fruits - People who are faithful are fruitful. God’s wisdom does not make a life empty; it makes it full. The Spirit produces fruit to the glory of God
• Decisiveness - When you have God’s wisdom, you need not waver; you can be decisive and not be afraid. Wisdom from above brings strength from above.
• Sincerity - Faith is living without scheming.[15]

• Worldly wisdom produces trouble (v. 16).
• Isaiah 32:7 - The scoundrel’s weapons are destructive; he hatches plots to destroy the needy with lies, even when the poor person says what is right.[16]
• God’s wisdom produces blessing (v. 18).

God’s ways and God’s thoughts are far above us! 1 Corinthians 2:12 - Now we have not received the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who comes from God, so that we may understand what has been freely given to us by God.[17]

[1] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 2, p. 362). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[2] Barry, J. D., Grigoni, M. R., Heiser, M. S., Custis, M., Mangum, D., & Whitehead, M. M. (2012). Faithlife Study Bible (Jas 3:13). Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.
[3] Richardson, K. A. (1997). James (Vol. 36, p. 162). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.
[4] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 2, p. 364). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[5] Blue, J. R. (1985). James. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 2, p. 828). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[6] Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (Jas 1:17). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[7] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 2, p. 362). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[8] Richardson, K. A. (1997). James (Vol. 36, p. 168). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.
[9] Blue, J. R. (1985). James. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 2, pp. 828–829). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[10] Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (Eph 2:1–2). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[11] Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (Pr 14:12). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[12] Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (1 Pe 5:8). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[13] Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (2 Co 11:14). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[14] Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (Jas 3:13–18). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[15] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 2, p. 365). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[16] Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (Is 32:7). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[17] Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (1 Co 2:12). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.