The faith that works requires the wisdom that is from God...

This week we are looking at a section of a letter that is recorded for us in the New Testament of the Bible called the book of James. Yesterday, we looked on as James address the timeless question “what is true wisdom? And how does wisdom actually demonstrate that it is wisdom?  How does one distinguish what is wisdom from that which is not truly wisdom?      

James began to answer his question by explaining that a person who thinks that they have true wisdom will demonstrate that wisdom by a way of life that is not full of themselves but that through their actions demonstrates the developed skill for living life that produces positive results in their relationship with God and others.

James revealed the reality that true wisdom results in a lifestyle that flows from not being overly impressed with themselves but that reveals the wisdom that produces positive results in their lives. James then contrasted true wisdom from that which is not true wisdom by explaining that one of the ways that we can distinguish true wisdom from that which is not true wisdom is through what motivates and drives a person when it comes to how they live out their lifestyle.

James pointed out that those who have a lifestyle that is driven by a bitter desire to want what others have or to not others to have what they do have should not boast about having wisdom, because such a boast would be to tell a lie. And those who have a lifestyle that is driven from the core of our beings by selfishness should not boast about having wisdom, because such a boast would be to tell a lie.

Instead of possessing true wisdom, such a lifestyle reveals a faulty and false wisdom. Today we will see James reveal the source of such faulty and false wisdom in James 3:15:

 This wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but is earthly, natural, demonic.

Here we see James reveal for us the reality that a lifestyle that is motivated and driven by such wisdom demonstrates that this “wisdom” is not from God. This developed skill for living life that is producing these results does not flow from God or the things of God. Instead, James explains that this wisdom, this developed skill for living life is earthly, natural, demonic.

But what is James talking about here? What is James referring to when he uses the words earthly, natural, demonic? When James uses the word earthly here, he is referring to that which comes from the earthly sphere of existence as opposed to the Heavenly sphere of existence.

James point is that this type of wisdom, this type of developed skill from living life that is motivated and driven by jealousy and selfish ambition, flows from human philosophy that finds its source from the thinking of the earthly realm and not the heavenly realm. You see, human philosophy finds its source material in an earthly human mindset that does not have a divine perspective or mindset. James point here is that as a result of the source of human philosophy, such philosophy produces a lifestyle that promotes jealousy and selfishness.

When James uses the word natural here, he is referring to that which comes from the natural world as opposed to that which comes from the spiritual realm. James point is that this type of wisdom, this type of developed skill from living life that is motivated and driven by jealousy and selfish ambition, flows from and finds its source in our old nature apart from God and not from our new nature that comes as a result of the Spirit of God’s indwelling presence in our lives.

And the reality is that our old nature apart from God is selfish and rebellious against God and the things of God. James point here is that as a result of this wisdom, this developed skill for life that flows from our old nature, the result is a lifestyle of jealousy and selfishness.

When James uses the word demonic here, he is referring to that which comes from the spiritual forces who are opposed to God and the things of God as opposed to that which comes from the God. James point is that this type of wisdom, this type of developed skill from living life that is motivated and driven by jealousy and selfish ambition, flows from and finds its source in spiritual forces who are opposed to God and want to destroy the kingdom of God and the people of God.

James point here is that as a result of this wisdom, this developed skill for life that flows from these spiritual forces that oppose God and the things of God, the result is a lifestyle of jealousy and selfishness. James hammers this very point home in verse 16:

 For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every evil thing.

James here reveals the reality that when a lifestyle is motivated and driven by a desire to want what others have and not want others to have what they do have; when a lifestyle is motivated and driven to pursue our selfish desires at the expense of others, the result is disorder and every evil thing. Now disorder refers to a desire to oppose the established authority, while every evil thing refers to attitudes and actions that are morally substandard in nature.

James point is that such “wisdom” that is informed and shaped by human philosophy, by our old nature apart from God, and by the spiritual forces that oppose God will result in a developed skill for living life that produces a lifestyle of jealousy and selfish ambition that is marked by a rebellion against authority and a low standard of morality.  And such a lifestyle reveals the reality that such “wisdom” is not from God.

James is revealing for us the reality that the person who considers themselves to be a follower of Jesus that possesses wisdom from God and yet lives a lifestyle of selfishness that wants what others have and that does not want others to have what they do have really does not have the faith that works. They do not have the faith that works because they are relying on wisdom that results in the wrong kind of lifestyle. They do not have the faith that works because they are relying on wisdom that is from the wrong source.

And it is here, in this section of this letter, that we see James reveal for us a timeless truth when it comes to the faith that works. And that timeless truth is this: The faith that works requires the wisdom that is from God. Just as it was for followers of Jesus in James day; just as it has been for followers of Jesus throughout history, the faith that works requires the wisdom that is from God.

Now right about now you might be thinking to yourself “Well Dave  that sounds great, but how do I know that this wisdom, this developed skill for living life that produces positive results in my life, is from God? How can I distinguish what is wisdom from that which is not truly wisdom? And how do I find this wisdom? How do I discover this developed skill for living life that produces positive results?

Friday we will see James provide the answer to these questions...