James 3:13-18
TWO KINDS OF WISDOM
13Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. 14 But if you harbor bitter and 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, of the devil. 16 For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.
17 But the wisdom 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 raise a harvest of righteousness.
A. MOTIVATION - to seek wisdom. Being wise isn't about being educated.
- Survival - people need to stay alive
- Getting ahead - with books, attending seminars
- Comfort
Wisdom stems from faith, not Faith stems from wisdom - James
For others, if wisdom doesn't fit the situation, they switch to another faith. Everything is wisdom base.
For Christians, we need faith first, and then wisdom comes along.
Hold on to your faith then you can search for wisdom.
James 1:5 If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.
Proverbs 2:6
B. TWO KINDS OF WISDOM
- Bad Wisdom 14 But if you harbor bitter and 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, of the devil.
Motivated by the devil, envy - how can I?
16 For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.
Eq. Cane and Abel - Cane killed Abel out of envy
To compete isn't evil, but how you compete will determine that. - Good Wisdom 17 But the wisdom comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.
It's wise when I stop fooling around - means you need to be pure. Are you being deceitful
"Wisdom is pure"
It' when I don't aggravate people - an annoying person aggravates others. Is being right, being conflicted?
"Wisdom is peace-loving"
It's wise when I don't undermine others' feelings - do you boss people around?
"Wisdom is considerate"
It's wise when I value other people's opinion
"Wisdom is submissive"
It's wise when I give what others don't deserve
"Wisdom is full of mercy and good fruit"
It's wise when I show no favoritism
"Wisdom is impartial"
It's wise when I'm not faking
"Wisdom is being sincere"
If you want to do good, don't fake it!
C. WISDOM MUST BEAR FRUIT
"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." James 3:13 The Message.
Our wisdom isn't just about the knowledge, but need to bear fruit.
"Stupid is, as stupid does" -Forrest Gump.
Stupid is not about the head. It's about the heart, intentions, motivations.
