The Epistle of James: Humble Wisdom
James 3: 13-18
“Who among you is wise and understanding? Let him show by his good behavior his deeds in the gentleness of wisdom. But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, do not be arrogant and so lie against the truth. This wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but is earthly, natural, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every evil thing. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy. And the seed whose fruit is righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.”
James 3:13-18 NASB1995
After James takes us on a sobering tour around the evil and deadly poisons that come from our words, he finishes the third chapter extolling wisdom from above and comparing it to earthly “wisdom”. If you have bitter jealousy of others and selfish ambitions, this can lead to arrogance and lies against the truth. It causes disorder and every evil thing.
Our world is full of this earthly “wisdom”, resulting in chaos, war, greed, crime and other evil outcomes. The recent downfalls of two major companies (Theranos and FTX) can be tied to the arrogance, fraud, lies and selfish ambitions of two young corporate leaders, leading to losses in the millions for investors and a prison sentence for the founder of Theranos. FTX is still under investigation, but it is looking like a major case of fraud and deception. These companies echo the Enron case twenty years ago; this company relied on fraudulent accounting methods to grow their investments and assets. This same self-centered ambition, leading to lies and marketing deceptions that turned out to be deadly, was the backdrop for the downfall of Purdue Pharma, a family-owned pharmaceutical company that is being sued by multiple state attorneys general for the despair and chaos created by the opioid crisis (and depicted in a superb manner in “Dope Sick” - we DO recommend that limited series based on true events, which is on Hulu and garnered an Emmy award for Michael Keaton). History itself is littered with the ghastly outcomes of selfish ambition that has been used for political gain and subjugation.
During the COVID lockdowns, my hubby and I were searching for things to stream and watch and decided to try the fictional series “Billions”. We viewed a few episodes and sat there shaking our heads. Every single bad behavior that could be done by human beings was paraded across the screen in this on-going saga like it should be admirable; just like with “Yellowstone”, we decided to stop watching. “Billions” was probably worse in many ways than the Dutton family craziness, being centered on the criminal antics of hedge fund investors and the state attorneys who investigate them (both sides were equally venal, casually showcasing every demonic and deadly sin and perversion). There was no wisdom apparent in even the smartest character, only blind ambition.
James may have peered into the future and witnessed the chaos that rules our world, although there was plenty of ambition and jealousy and sinful pride to go around back in the first century AD. He then advises us to call on the wisdom from above so that our deeds are shown in the gentleness of Godly wisdom. He recalls words from the Sermon on the Mount and sows the seeds for the later words written by Paul to the Galatians on the fruits of the spirit (Galatians 5:22-23). David Guzik expands on the attributes of wisdom from above in his Enduring Word commentary, with several references from other Biblical commentators:
But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, 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.
- This wisdom is first pure: “The reference is not to sexual purity but to the absence of any sinful attitude or motive.” (Donald Burdick)
- This wisdom is then peaceable: “This is one of the great words of character description in the NT…it is used mostly of God’s disposition as a King. He is gentle and kind, although in reality he has every reason to be stern and punitive toward men in their sin.” (Donald Burdick)
- This wisdom is gentle: “The man who is epieikes is the man who knows when it is actually wrong to apply the strict letter of the law. He knows how to forgive when strict justice gives him a perfect right to condemn… It is impossible to find an English word to translate this quality. Matthew Arnold called it ‘sweet reasonableness’ and it is the ability to extend to others the kindly consideration we would wish to receive ourselves.” (William Barclay)
- This wisdom is willing to yield: “Not stubborn nor obstinate; of a yielding disposition in all indifferent things; obsequious, docile.” (Adam Clarke) “Conciliatory (only here in N.T.) is the opposite of stiff and unbending.” (James Moffatt) “Eupeithes can mean easy to persuade, not in the sense of being pliable and weak, but in the sense of not being stubborn and of being willing to listen to reason and to appeal… true wisdom is not rigid but is willing to listen and skilled in knowing when wisely to yield.” (William Barclay)
- This wisdom is full of mercy: It does not judge others strictly on the basis of the law, but will extend a generous hand full of mercy. This wisdom knows that the same measure of mercy we grant to others is the same measure God will use with us (Matthew 7:2).
- This wisdom is full of… good fruits: This wisdom can be seen by the fruit it produces. It isn’t just the inner power to think and talk about things the right way; it is full of… good fruits.
- This wisdom is without partiality: “Without partiality; or, without judging, i.e. either a curious inquiring into the faults of others, to find matter for censures.” (Matthew Poole)
- This wisdom is without hypocrisy: “Without pretending to be what it is not; acting always in its own character; never working under a mask. Seeking nothing but God’s glory, and using no other means to attain it than those of his own prescribing.” (Adam Clarke)
So we bring our works forward, not with selfish ambition, but with wisdom that is pure, peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, merciful, full of good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.
A side note on being willing to yield: We have yielded too much in the modern church to the current secular culture; the yielding should come only for things that are indifferent to scriptural commands (like not arguing on ways to arrange chairs in the sanctuary or which song should come first in the worship service). You certainly can’t make a fast buck or guarantee an IPO off these precepts, but you ARE defining the steps on the narrow path to the true treasures in Heaven.
My next devotional will examine James 4:1-12, Worldly Indulgence.
Heaven on Wheels Daily Prayer: Dear Lord, please shower me with wisdom from above, so that my works are pure, peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, merciful, full of good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. Lead me away from jealousy and selfish ambition and the devilish schemes of this fallen world. Let the fruits of righteousness be sown in peace. In Jesus name. Amen
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. www.lockman.org
Commentary in Enduring Word by David Guzik is used with written permission.