James Chapter Three, The Wisdom the World Gives

 

James 3:13 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom. [14] But if you have bitter envy and self seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth.

 

One more time James plunges us into the necessity of proper conduct in the Christian life and the wellspring from which said conduct should flow. Thus far we have seen the generalizations of faith in God seeing us through temptation (1:12) and faith producing effective action in us, not indifference in regard to how we perceive truth, (1:22, etc.). True religion, James says, puts us in life’s foxholes or else it is useless, 1:27. Chapter two teaches us to be wary of partiality and its stepchild: hypocrisy, 2:1, etc. Verse 14 of chapter two begins a long dialogue about genuine faith in God producing works in a believer’s life; again asserting that effective action is to be the defining witness in a Christian’s life.

Now we come to chapter three, and James’ sobering warning for teachers. I believe he still has an eye to those who would teach when he writes these words. Two traits a teacher must have are wisdom and understanding. The first portion of chapter three contends with the words we use to teach, which is the self-same vehicle God chose from the beginning to impart truth to mankind. Words are an informational machine; each one is laden with the potential to share much, or share nothing, and their orchestration is a teacher’s labor and love. Now we move on from bridling the tongue and speaking right words to the conformity of our daily lives. How am I, a Christian, to demonstrate godly wisdom to a Christ-rejecting world? How am I to demonstrate it to my fellow saints? Apparently, through conduct.

 

We find Paul imploring the Corinthians, “Therefore I urge you, imitate me,” 1 Corinthians 4:16. This plea is made a second time, but with the added caveat, “Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ,” 1 Corinthians 11:1. But imitate Paul how? “And we labor with our own hands. Being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we endure; being defamed, we entreat…just as I also please all men in all things, not seeking my own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved,” 1 Corinthians 4:12, 13, 10:33. As Christians our words are neutered by contrary lifestyles. How much more so for teachers! I’m sure we’ve all heard the saying, “practice what you preach.” Paul gave himself as an example, but ONLY so far as his life was conformed to the ultimate exemplar: Jesus Christ. Paul’s daily life around the Corinthian was testimony that his words were true. He believed in a practical sense what he was teaching them because he lived it out in front of them daily. The Corinthian church could then, based on their study of Scripture, determine if Paul was a good or bad teacher.

 

Verse 14 frames the counterparts to wisdom and understanding: envy and self seeking. Oxford defines “envy” as “discontented longing for someone else’s possessions or qualities.” Self seeking is defined as “concerned only with your own welfare and interests.” Understanding is a word used in regard to our intellect: what we know. Wisdom, of course, applies our understanding in a practical sense. It uses the reservoirs of understanding in the most prudent way and time. James cautions that if a teacher’s motives stem from either envy or self seeking not to boast (brag) about it and lie against the truth. It is clear by their very descriptions that both qualities would color our every intention and action so others look at us, and not Christ. A good teacher should never get in the way of a believer and their Lord. We are meant to be windows, not doors. Transparent, not opaque. “For who makes you differ from another? And what do you have that you did not receive? Now if you did indeed receive it, why do you boast as if had not received it?” 1 Corinthians 4:7. When we exercise these vile traits we are, whether we realize it or not, besmirching the Holy Spirit who gave both us and other Christians their spiritual gifts, 1 Corinthians 12:4, etc.

 

James 3:15 This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic.

 

Linking this passage back to James 1:5 we see the origin of heavenly and earthly wisdom. We as sons and daughters of God may ask the Father in faith for wisdom and it will be given us. We are warned that the double minded man (a man of two minds) will not receive from the Lord what he requests because he is “unstable in all his ways,” James 1:8. Conversely all that is left is earthly wisdom, or maybe more appropriately, worldly wisdom. The worldly wisdom noted by James is expanded upon by John:

 

“For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world,” 1 John 2:16.

 

If you read a little farther in John’s epistle we learn that the apostle is warning the saints about teachers as well—false teachers in this instance—that are antichrists. They began within the church but departed, guided by the worldly wisdom whose fuel is envy and self seeking, 1 John 2:18, 19. A good example of this wisdom in practice comes to us in Luke chapter 16. We learn that when the unjust steward was called out for his misconduct handling his master’s wealth he hastened to ingratiate himself with his master’s debtors so that he had a back up plan. We read: “I have resolved what to do, that when I am put out of the stewardship, they may receive me into their houses,” Luke 16:4. In the end, the master commended this man for his “shrewdness”. “For the sons of this world are more shrewd in their generation than the sons of light,” Luke 16:8. Make no mistake, the unjust steward was never interested in his master’s or the debtor’s welfare. He was focused on himself and how best to make his life easier, even manipulating others’ situations to his advantage.

 

A teacher’s ministry is only as credible as the person who ministers it. We, as God’s children, must conduct our stay here in this world in meekness. Our purpose is to share the gospel with others, and to share ourselves, too. We are not ivory tower recluses. A light from a high tower, far out of reach, is no better than one hidden beneath a basket, Matthew 5:15. And, as the last verse informs us, we must be very careful about the origin of our wisdom and how it fuels our conduct. “Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you,”” Hebrews 13:5.