Wisdom in Times of Trials

Recently I read a news in the Newspaper. The news was about a school teacher who raped his student after which he was beaten by the community and then was handed over to the police for further investigation. When we read such type of things we certainly get angry about them, and it’s natural. But upon a deep thought what should alarm us that where do these tendencies come from? They certainly are from the worldly teaching. The worldly teaching believes if your teaching does not influence your own character that is fine.

If this phenomenon was limited to the world it was fine. But it has crept into the Churches. I remember that in a church one elder had two wives. Now I don’t just say this to get your attention. But I want to draw your attention to the spiritual bankruptcy of that Church. 

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This is exactly what James is writing here. Because whatever he has so far wrote it’s about teaching. Because the wisdom James is speaking about is to be taught. That’s why he poses a question to his reader’s consideration. 3:13, “Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by his good conduct that his deeds are done in gentleness of wisdom.”

So, here is the title of the message this morning:

“Wisdom in Times of Trials.”

1.       The Worldly Wisdom: vs. 13-16

·         Characteristics of Worldly Wisdom: vs. 14-16

2.       The Heavenly Wisdom: vs. 17-18

·         Characteristics of Heavenly Wisdom: vs. 17

1.       The Worldly Wisdom: vs. 13-16

A couple of weeks back we looked at the evils of tongue. We looked at the fact that how if we use our tongue in a wrong way can destroy people. And specifically we saw the positive and negative illustrations James gave in the preceding passage.

So, once again I wish to remind you that; whatever James writes in vs. 13 onwards is closely linked to vs. 1-12.

We can find the background of vs. 13-18 in 3:1ff. In those verses James warned his readers against becoming teachers. The immediate truth comes out that; there were many of his readers who were willing to become teachers, without understanding the impact of the teaching. But what comes out of these verses is that: mere teaching doesn’t do any good if the life of the teacher is not matching up with his teaching. The reason why he warned his readers that way is so that, they will not treat the high calling of teaching lightly.    

So, when we come down to vs. 13, James is giving a test; it’s a test to discern the teacher. And notice what he asks in this verse, “Who is wise and understanding among you?” The Greek word for wise is [‘sophos’] that’s where you get the word Sophia from. But the answer to this question is not that the person who is using his tongue skillfully, or it’s not the one who is able to speak many languages fluently is wise. Let’s understand that James’ emphasis in this verse is not on the skill of speech. In the context James is not saying that the person who is able to use his tongue skillfully is able to become a good teacher. His emphasis is upon the character of the teacher. That’s why he says in the next part of the verse, “…By his conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom.” The point of this verse is; “You can have a good speaking ability and a bad character.” In other words, “You can be a good teacher and a bad example.” That’s the reason why the Biblical Leadership does not give too much importance to skillful speaking. But it gives utmost importance to the character or the conduct of the teacher/leader.

We can find its example in the Old Testament. When God chose Moses for His purpose, Moses was a stammerer. But the Bible also calls Moses as the most humble man living on the face of the earth.

Exodus 4:10-12, “Moses said to Yahweh, "Oh, Lord, I am not eloquent, neither before now, nor since you have spoken to your servant; for I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue." Yahweh said to him, "Who made man's mouth? Or who makes one mute, or deaf, or seeing, or blind? Isn't it I, Yahweh? Now therefore go, and I will be with your mouth, and teach you what you shall speak."

And that’s the reason why when Paul gave the charge to Timothy he also admonished him to look for the character of the person who aspires to be the teacher of God’s Word.

Look at 1 Timothy 3:1-7, “This is a faithful saying: if a man seeks the office of an overseer he desires a good work. The overseer therefore must be without reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, sensible, modest, hospitable, good at teaching; not a drinker, not violent, not greedy for money, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not covetous; one who rules his own house well, having children in subjection with all reverence; (but if a man doesn't know how to rule his own house, how will he take care of the assembly of God?) not a new convert, lest being puffed up he fall into the same condemnation as the devil. Moreover he must have good testimony from those who are outside, to avoid falling into reproach and the snare of the devil.”

If we notice those verses carefully we can observe that Paul gave the ability to teach the 7^th rank. But he highlighted the teacher’s (overseer’s) character above anything else. “He must be without “reproach.” However, the overseer’s teaching ability is important but that is not the most important. On the other hand the teacher’s character is non-negotiable aspect of the teaching ministry.

E.g. I remember a pastor who lives in the area of Miraj. He marries people in his Church for money. On the top of that he is a drunkard. The problem is of course with the man. But the problem is also with the people who ordained him to be the pastor of that Church. Those who ordain him don’t see any problem with that pastor. It only shows us the blindness those people are in. 

Secondly, vs. 14 & 15 gives us the motivation as well as the origin of worldly wisdom. Notice vs. 14, 15, “But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the Truth. This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual and demonic.” 

Notice what James says in vs. 14, “But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts…” that’s the key. Heart is the origin of bitter jealousy and selfish ambition. It’s interesting that James speaks of the heart of the teacher.

And he does so because the heart is the instrument of the teacher. Because whatever will come out from the tongue is ultimately from the heart. Therefore, James is warning the upcoming teachers that; if you claim that you have faith in the Lord Jesus Christ yet you indulge in bitter jealousy and selfish ambition you show that you don’t have place for Truth in your heart.

It’s amazing that the New Testament speaks of heart for almost 106 times. Out of that 44 times Jesus used this word in His earthly ministry. We shall just look at 3 references.

Matthew 5:8, “Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.”

Matthew 12:34-35, “You offspring of vipers, how can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks. The good man out of his good treasure brings out good things, and the evil man out of his evil treasure brings out evil things.  

In vs. 16 James gives the result of the worldly wisdom.

Let me bring this point to conclusion through this verse. Because this verse is about the application.

Application:

Notice vs. 16, “For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice.”

This verse gives us the picture of what happens where God’s Truth is not regarded as the highest thing. Any Church that does not regard God’s Word as the most important thing in her life cannot be called as the Church. Because if a Church doesn’t have an understanding of Truth she doesn’t have understanding of a proper direction. If the Church doesn’t have her doctrine based upon the Bible; if a person does not have his life based upon the Bible; that Church or that person will eventually become like the Titanic Ship. Perhaps those Churches might have tall and flashy buildings but the inner life of the Church will be filled with disorder and every vile practice.

Perhaps I have given this illustration to you before. I am not trying to boast myself, but this is the cry of most of the big Churches. Their problem is not that they are big. Their problem is that; they are not driven by Truth.

Many Churches have left the Biblical Truth because it’s too demanding. Today’s churches don’t believe in preaching about sin and salvation. They are concerned about getting as many crowds as possible so that their offering will increase. In the process people sitting in the pews are inheriting the kingdom of darkness.   

My question to you this morning is: are you a gospel driven person? Are you living your life for the sake of the gospel? Are you sharing the gospel with people? Many times we don’t preach the gospel because we think it’s below our dignity. What will people say if I open my mouth about Jesus? Are you ashamed of the gospel? If you are; you need to really examine your life if you really are saved.  

2.       The Heavenly Wisdom: vs. 17-18

Notice vs. 17-18, “But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceful, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.”

First of all James gives the origin of this wisdom. It’s from above. It means that this wisdom is from God. In fact if we remove God from wisdom it ceases to be wisdom it becomes information. This wisdom is a part of those people who have trusted in His Son Jesus Christ. Centuries before King Solomon said in Proverbs 1:7, “The fear of God is the beginning of the knowledge.”

Secondly, in this verse James gives the characteristics of such wisdom. It’s first of all pure. That means; this wisdom is holy. Then it’s peaceable; that means it makes peace as opposed to discord. That means this wisdom seeks to establish peace. We remember our Lord said in Matthew 5:9, “Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called the sons of God.” Then further on this wisdom is gentle; it means this wisdom is courteous. Shows respect to others. It is willing to be humbled. Again James is referring back to our Lord’s words in Matthew 5:5, “Blessed are the gentle, for they shall inherit the earth.”

Again, this wisdom is, open to reason. That means that if a person is blessed by heavenly wisdom he is willing to listen to what other person has to say. It other words this wisdom is willing to be taught. It’s willing to learn; on the other hand this wisdom will not claim to know everything. A person who has such type of wisdom will accept his or her frailties.

Then it’s full of mercy, it means this person is willing to show mercy. Because this type of a person is grateful to the mercy that he/she has received from God through Jesus Christ. Then this wisdom is full of good fruits. It means this type of a person has a good character. Then this wisdom is impartial and sincere. That means a person having such wisdom does not do distinction. It is honest, it does not seek its own.

All this characteristics put together we can see that James is echoing Peter’s words. 2 Peter 1:4  “…by which he has granted to us his precious and exceedingly great promises; that through these you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world by lust.”

When we come down to vs. 18 James is telling to his readers about the function of this wisdom. Notice vs. 18, “And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.” I looked in the John MacArthur Commentary for searching the meaning of this verse and he says, “Godly wisdom produces a continuing cycle of righteousness, which is planted and harvested in a peaceful, harmonious relationship between God and His people. And simultaneously it is enjoyed by the faithful people themselves.”

That means, if righteousness is sown the fruit of it is peace.

Application:

A couple of weeks back we had a Annual General meeting. I was very much blessed by that meeting. I am not boasting about how great we are. But I was so glad that all of us we were willing to listen to each other’s grievances. Brethren, I come from a background where people use such types of meetings to pull one another down. Such meetings are used in order to disrespect one another and speak badly about one another. I have seen such meetings where there has been much trouble, where there has been much heat than light.

My question to you is this: Do we behave like we do when everybody is watching us? Does Christ’s righteousness come out of our mouth when somebody disrespects us?

The question boils down to one point: Are we peace makers? Are we busy in making peace between God and man? That means are we taking the gospel to those who do not know the Lord Jesus Christ? Are we showing the righteousness of Christ through our actions?