Jun. 11, 2025

“ENCOUNTERS WITH GOD”

“WHERE TO GET WISDOM!”

JAMES 3:13-18

Proverbs 4:7 “Wisdom is the principal thing; Therefore get wisdom. And in all your getting, get understanding.”

2 Chronicles 1:7 “On that night God appeared to Solomon, and said to him, “Ask! What shall I give you?”

2 Chronicles 1:10 “Now give me wisdom and knowledge, that I may go out and come in before this people; for who can judge this great people of Yours?”

About a thousand years after Solomon asked for wisdom from God to accomplish his calling, another descendant of David named James wrote:

James 1:5 “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.”

Contrasting true wisdom versus false wisdom is what James is doing: James 3:13-18

1.  The Contrast:

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.”

James kicks off with a question: “Who is wise and understanding among you?…” vs.13

*James Instructs the Wise Person to Demonstrate Wisdom By Good Behavior and Gentle Deeds:

*The First, Refers to a Changed Lifestyle: vs.13 “… Let him show by good conduct that his works…”

*Second, vs.13 “…are done in the meekness of wisdom.”

Galatians 5:22-23 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.”

1 Timothy 6:11 “But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness.”

2 Timothy 2:24 “And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient.”

*The Unwise- James 3:14-16

James 3:14 “But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth.”

James 3:15-16 “This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. 16For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there.”

“Bitter jealousy” vs.14- likely refers to jealousy that harbors hard feelings.

• James Gives Five Characteristics of Counterfeit Wisdom Dominated by the Flesh:

*Arrogance- “self-seeking” vs.14- the Greek word (katakauchaomai) basically means to exult over others.

• “Lying Against The Truth”- vs.14

John 8:32 “And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”

• “Earthly” vs.15- The Greek word (epigeios) means of the earth, and James contrasts it with wisdom “from above” (anothen). It’s a purely horizontal perspective, worldly measures of truth, earthly standards of success, material motives, and temporal prioroties.

• “Sensual” or “Natural” vs.15- This fourth characteristic of the unwise literally means “soulish.” The Greek word (psychikos) is related to our word psyche, which applies to the self, the inner human motives.

Proverbs 3:5-7

• “Demonic” vs.15- This doesn’t necessarily mean their worldly wisdom comes straight from demonic beings, though in some cases that may be true.

James 3:16 “For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there.”

Having described wisdom from below I frank terms, James ends with the stark contrast of “wisdom from above.”

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.”

*Characteristics of Those With Wisdom From Above- James 3:17-18.

James 3:17-18 “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. 18Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.”

• “Is First Pure” vs.17- Wisdom from above is first pure, the word first means merely first on the list.

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

• “Peaceable” vs.17- in contrast to “bitter jealousy” and “selfish ambition” of the unwise, God-given wisdom produces peaceful relationships.

Matthew 5:9 “Blessed are the peacemakers, For they shall be called sons of God.”

• “Gentle” vs.17- The third characteristic of a wise person is gentleness (epieikes). This is a different Greek word than the word translated “gentleness” in James 3:13 (prautes). In that verse the emphasis was on humility. Here in verse 17 the meaning is “equitable,” “moderate,” “yielding.”

Matthew 5:39-40 “But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. 40If anyone wants to sue you and take away your tunic, let him have your cloak also.”

• “Willing to Yield” vs.17- Reasonable, the Greek word (eupeithes) appears only here in the New Testament. It comes from two Greek words, “well” and “persuadable.” Together they mean “easily persuaded.”

Genesis 13:8-9 “So Abram said to Lot, “Please let there be no strife between you and me, and between my herdsmen and your herdsmen; for we are brethren. 9Is not the whole land before you? Please separate from me. If you take the left, then I will go to the right; or, if you go to the right, then I will go to the left.”

Now that’s a man of wisdom, reasonable, cooperative, and flexible.

• “Full of Mercy” vs.17-If grace is giving a person a blessing he or she don’t deserve, mercy is withholding a just punishment a person does deserve.

• “Good Fruits” vs.17- bountiful, wise people are filled with good fruits. 

• James 2:15-16 “If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, 16and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit?”

• “without partiality” vs.17- Unwavering, this refers to a person with fixed principles, who will never violate biblical standards regardless of the situation.

• “without hypocrisy.” vs.17- Sincere, finally James describes wisdom from above as without hypocrisy (anypokritos). The related word hypocrisis comes from a term used to describe an actor playing multiple parts.

Following the eight characteristics of a wise person, we see the results:

James 3:18 “Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.”

The word “peace” refers to relational harmony, peace with one another.

James makes this point clear: If you claim to have wisdom like you should, why do you live like you shouldn’t?