TWO KINDS OF WISDOM JAMES 3: 13-18

TWO KINDS OF WISDOM

  Who is wise and understanding among you?  Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.  But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. Such "wisdom" does not come down from Heaven, but is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil.  For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.

   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.  Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness.  James 3:  13-18   (NIV)

LIFE APPLICATION STUDY BIBLE   NIV

   Notes from the Life Application Study Bible reads as follows:  "Have you ever know anyone who claimed to be wise but who acted foolishly?  True wisdom can be measured by the depth of a person's character.  Just as you can identify a tree by the type of fruit it produces, you can evaluate your wisdom by the way you act.  Foolishness leads to disorder, but wisdom leads to peace and goodness.  Are you tempted to escalate the conflict, pass on the gossip, or fan the fire of discord?  Careful, winsome speech and wise, loving words are the seeds of peace.  God loves peacemakers.  Matthew 5:9

   "Bitter envy and selfish ambition" are inspired by the Devil.  It is easy for us to be drawn into wrong desires by the pressures of society and sometimes even by well-meaning Christians.  By listening to the advice:  "Assert yourself," "Go for it," Set high goals,"  we can be drawn into greed and destructive competitiveness.  Seeking God's wisdom delivers us from the need to compare ourselves to others and to want what they have."

 

MY THOUGHTS

   This is consistent with all we have already studied.  This passage does not imply that we are to be lazy, but it cautions us on "selfish" ambition.  We are not to step on others or abuse others on our way to where we want to be.  We are to work for our own success rather than coveting the success from others.
The Devil wants to stir up greed and covetousness.  We need to test the spirits.  Job attained his wealth by obeying God, not by bitter envy and selfish ambition.