Wisdom and Chaos

2005-07-31

This is a Bible study on James 3:13-18.

Biblical Wisdom

James has discussed many issues regarding practical living for those of the Faith. Some topics included partiality of those of different economic status, comparing useless with practical faith, and the controlling of the tongue. Not surprisingly, most of these issues deal with relationships with other people, especially others of the Faith. Starting in 3:13, James begins with the topic of wisdom, both what it looks like and what it does not look like.

The first time James refers to wisdom is in James 1:5 (cf. Proverbs 2:6). He states, “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.” We can infer from this rather blunt statement that wisdom is not something that we inherently possess, but something that comes from God. Wisdom is a much deeper term than knowledge, skill, and enlightenment. Solomon states “wisdom is better than rubies” (Proverbs 8:11). Job states clearly what biblical wisdom is: “the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding” (Job 28:28). Understanding is commonly paired with wisdom throughout the Scriptures. Turning from our sins and trusting in God is somehow wisdom in itself, or at least, the beginning of wisdom. James assumes this knowledge of what wisdom is since his initial audience was first century Jews. We need to keep these things in mind as we discover this passage verse by verse.

A Wise Person’s Behavior (3:13)

The wise person is encouraged to “shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom.” Good behavior is to be lived out, but with the right intentions. “Meekness of wisdom” is important because “good behavior” in the public’s sight was a signature doctrine to the false belief system of the first century religious leaders. They were full of pride, which is not merely a Jewish phenomenon, but a fundamentally human phenomenon, and this problem does not disappear upon our first encounter with Christ. Immediately James introduces major issues of the human heart.

The Opposite of Wisdom (3:14-16)

James continues, “But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth” (3:14). Envy and strife are diametric opposites of what the Body of Christ ought to do. Strife suggests that there was intent of breaking into faction or dividing. Unity, edification, and intra-community reliance ought to be a focus of the church, yet we often fall short because of the selfish motives that naturally appear in our hearts. James is stating that if this is characterizing your heart, then it is a warning sign that God’s wisdom is not at work in your heart, but just the opposite, and that we ought not boast nor lie against the truth. What truth? The truth that wisdom is from God, and we cannot experience a change of heart without God intervening. Divisiveness and selfishness is not from God, James states, but earthly, sensual (with a sense of being animal-like), and devilish (from that of demons). James uses strong adjectives, as he did in describing the tongue, to describe the predicament in which we reside.

James then uses the same words ‘envying and strife’ to show another phenomenon that results. When these characteristics dominate, chaos and abomination perpetuate. As he was once talking about heart condition in 3:14, he is now talking about visible results. Everyone lives for their own pleasure and goes their own way in selfishness, contrary to the Spirit’s urging within us that we ought to strive with and rely on one another.

The Process of Wisdom’s Manifestation (3:17-18)

True wisdom begins with pure motive and God-centeredness, and then manifests itself as peaceable and also “gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy” (3:17). Peace and peacemaking seems to be at the heart of this section. ‘Gentle’ also has the sense of patience. ‘Easy to be intreated’ has a sense of giving up one’s agenda to allow another to have their way. There is no bias and no façade. It is genuine. This genuine quality comes only from the Spirit of God. In 3:18, the outward results of true wisdom appear. Contrary to the divisive methods of false wisdom, the peacemaker cultivates ‘fruit of righteousness’ in peace.