James 3:13-18 Pastor Nathan P. Kassulke
“True Wisdom Comes from Heaven”
Pentecost 18 September 23, 2018
Who is the greatest? That was the question that started the disciples of Jesus down an unfortunate argument for which he rebuked their attitude. But “who is the greatest” is a question that human beings seem to be constantly asking. Sports figures get ranked and debated about. Celebrities get the same treatment: who is the most famous? Who is the most popular? Who is the greatest? Even politicians seem to be constantly trying to answer that question in their favor. Who is the most important? Who is the most influential? Who is the greatest? Jesus answered that question in a way that must have surprised his disciples. If they were to really understand greatness in God’s eyes, they would want to be servants. They would want to serve even children like the one that Jesus took in his arms. The point is that God defines greatness in a way that is very different from the way the world defines it. Similarly, we see today that God defines wisdom in a way that is very different from the world’s definition. James invites us to consider what true wisdom is when he asks a similar question to “Who is the greatest?” He asks, “Who is wise and understanding among you?” And how might we or others answer that question? Perhaps we think of college professors who have risen to heights of academic greatness. Maybe it’s research scientists whom we recognize to be wise, or self-made millionaires and billionaires. And while these examples may very well show us worldly wisdom, they do not necessarily reflect what God says about true wisdom. True wisdom comes from heaven. James contrasts true wisdom with another sort of wisdom. I guess we would call it false or counterfeit wisdom. James testifies that this sort of so-called wisdom is earthly, unspiritual, and even demonic. It doesn’t come from God. It comes from his enemy. It comes from hearts that are not set on the things of God. It comes from this world. So what does this worldly wisdom look like? It is full of envy. Envy always wants to compare ourselves to others. It wants to be the greatest. It wants what others have. It gets jealous about the accomplishments of others. This counterfeit wisdom in a similar way is characterized by selfish ambition. It looks out for number one. It looks for opportunities to build up self. Think about those who are so often held up by the world as wise. They are the ones who have climbed the ladder, who have found success, who have set themselves apart from others. Worldly wisdom is self-centered, just as all people are naturally. And worldly wisdom has disappointing results. James writes, “For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.” That’s what worldly wisdom ultimately leads to. If everyone is focused only on their own selfish ambition and their own lives without concern for the needs and desires of others, where else can it ultimately lead? And I understand that we don’t always see these serious results of worldly wisdom, but isn’t that because people are not so upfront with their intentions? People often hide their true motives in order to appear less selfish and self-centered than they really are. Disorder and evil practices hide in the shadows. Furthermore, what is implied here is not fully stated, that this sort of demonic, worldly wisdom ultimately leads to hell. There is nothing that a person can do to make up for their natural sinfulness before God or to right the wrongs that they have committed. There is nothing that they can do to make themselves right with God. They cannot reason their way out of the punishment that they deserve. They cannot be wise enough to escape their destruction. And the truth is that neither can we. We also need to admit that far too often, we view wisdom the same way that the world does. We deal in selfish ambition and jealous envy. We like to ask “Who is the greatest?” And we like to find reasons why we can be the answer to that question. That is why James so sharply contrasts worldly wisdom with true wisdom. From the start of this section of Scripture, he says, “Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good
life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.” Wisdom according to God shows itself in action. It shows itself through good works. James goes on to list many of the ways in which true wisdom differs from worldly wisdom. It is first of all pure. There is nothing about it that needs to be hidden or represented differently. It is pure and clean. True wisdom is peace-loving. Peace-loving can’t be selfish, because in order to keep peace one has to make sacrifices and compromises. That is the heart of the difference between worldly wisdom, which is selfish, and true wisdom, which is selfless. True wisdom is considerate of others, taking into account their needs and desires and concerns. It is submissive and allows others to have their way. It is full of mercy and good fruit. That is to say that it serves others, especially when they need it most. It is impartial and without favoritism. It is sincere and straightforward. This is a truly amazing description of wisdom, not the way that the world defines it, but the way that God defines it. The results of that sort of wisdom are not disorder and evil, but love and good works. This is the sort of wisdom that shows itself in loving action. It is the wisdom that comes from heaven. In fact, the only way we can truly appreciate this kind of wisdom is by considering the one who came down from heaven to show this kind of wisdom. Jesus’ love for us is pure and peace-loving. It is considerate and submissive. It is full of mercy and good fruit, impartial, and sincere. Our Gospel today (Mark 9:30-37) highlighted just how different the wisdom of Jesus is from worldly wisdom. There we heard Jesus predict his own suffering and death, the way in which he showed absolute selflessness. His wisdom was to submit himself to the needs of others and to do good. It was to serve. Meanwhile, even his own closest disciples couldn’t reflect that sort of love and wisdom. They were focused on their own individual greatness. James and Jesus are in full agreement. Worldly wisdom is far different than heavenly wisdom. True wisdom is serving everyone, loving others, sacrificing self. But neither of these readings tell us that our personal wisdom is the way to heaven. There is no suggestion that if we are only wise enough then God will love us and take us to be with him. There is no indication that our love causes God to love us. In fact, the implication is just the opposite. Wisdom that comes from heaven originates in God and his love toward us. Our putting wisdom into practice in our lives only follows Christ and his 3living for us and dying for us. This heavenly action was required by our sin. Worldly wisdom has been the norm ever since our ancestors Adam and Eve first fell into sin in the Garden of Eden. All of us have fallen into these selfish patterns and behaviors. But the very reason Jesus came was to rescue us from these sins. And he went in purity and love to the cross. He submitted himself to death for us. And he rose again to demonstrate the victory of heavenly wisdom over all things earthly and unspiritual and demonic. And now he invites us to reflect that sort of love and wisdom in our lives. He invites us to be more and more like Christ. He invites us to serve others in humility and love, to sow peace and righteousness. So what does that look like? It looks like not worrying about who is the greatest, but whom we can serve. It means that we judge all wisdom by first comparing it to God’s revealed word in the Bible. It means that we don’t puff ourselves up thinking that we know what is best in politics and in our relationships and in whatever circumstances we face. Instead, it means that we worry first and foremost about what is best for others and what shows love to them. Who is the greatest? That is the wrong question. Who is wise and understanding? The one who takes the wisdom of Christ and lives in it. That one who is so full of the love of Christ that it overflows into everything that he or she does. That is not the wisdom of the world. That is true wisdom that comes from heaven alone.
The Text: James 3:13–18 (NIV) 13 Who
is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. 14 But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. 15 Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. 16 For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice. 17 But
the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. 18 Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.