13 Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom. 14 But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. 15 This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. 16 For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. 17 But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. 18 And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace. (James 3:13–18, ESV)

A Primer on Wisdom

The other day, I looked out my office window and saw a large dumpster our church had rented to help us advance our renovations of the property. Graffiti was smattered here and there on the side, and one of the pieces caught my eye. In a nondescript style, it said three words: Don't follow rules.

For whatever reason, my imagination began to run with that one. First, I envisioned myself finding some spray paint and adding a question: including this rule? What a smart aleck. Then, I thought it would be fun to take it a step further. I thought of myself tagging a new heading: How to Succeed in Life. My first dripping-with-sarcasm bullet point would be this: Get Advice from People Whose Big Platform is The Side of a Dumpster. I know, I know—brilliant.

However odd it might be to get our standards for life from the side of a dumpster, many people aren't doing much better. We will build our entire life and whole societies on the wisdom that, when applied, hurts and harms the very people espousing it. Rather than look at the characteristics and results of such wisdom, we buy the claims and chug on through everyday life with terrible ideas serving as our guiding lights. There are so many podcasters and pontificators out there whose content needs to be better analyzed—it's not much better than advice from the side of a dumpster.

As James saw it, there were two wisdoms out there—wisdom from above and wisdom that is earthly (3:15). These two voices remind us of Proverbs and how it personified wisdom and folly as two women calling out to us as we pass through life (Prov. 9). These two voices—one wise and one foolish—call us from childhood to the grave. There is a wise way to be a teen or live your twenties, and there is a foolish way. But because these voices pursue us all through life, there is also a wise way to do your seventies and eighties, and there is a foolish way. These two voices are constantly pleading with us, so we must follow the right one.

James opened this short exhortation with a question: Who is wise and understanding among you? (3:13). This brief introduction beckons everyone to weigh themselves and the lives around them to find the wise people, the right voices.

You see, to James, wisdom claims should not be separated from the person making those claims. James would not hear the words on the side of the dumpster without asking about the life that wrote them. Now, if your heart is drawn to power, beauty, or prosperity, there are plenty of voices out there willing to tell you how to live. But if you are drawn to the life of Christ—humility, holiness, and peace—then you must turn to the wisdom that comes from above. And you should inspect the characteristics and outcomes of the wisdom people offer.

In this, James is in agreement with Scripture, especially the Proverbs, which help us understand that wisdom is proved in the life it produces. The wise person lives one way, while the fool lives another way—their outcomes are totally different. To Scripture, wisdom is not an esoteric philosophy held by gurus on the mountain, intellectuals in the classroom, or even a pastor in the pulpit. Wisdom is proved by her children, meaning wisdom is demonstrated in our lives when it is applied (Luke 7:35).

Does James give us any help to point us toward the right voice? Yes. For both false and true wisdom, James tells us the source, the characteristics, and the outcome of that wisdom. All we have to do is pause to see what characteristics and outcomes are attached to the wisdom claim under consideration, and we will know its source. So let's follow James's thought today and consider the source, characteristics, and outcomes of both folly and wisdom, concluding with some commitments we could make as a result. We cannot grow in maturity unless we grow in the right type of wisdom, so let's allow the Scripture to show us the way.

False Wisdom

Source

When James talks about the source of false wisdom, he is careful to first note where it is not sourced from it is not the wisdom that comes down from above (3:15). Whatever false wisdom is, it isn't from our Heavenly Father of lights. Instead, James said, it is earthly, unspiritual, demonic (3:15).

For false wisdom to be earthly means that it is absent of an eternal perspective and asks how will this affect me right now? Relational, financial, and faith practice decisions are all filtered through the lens of how they impact today. This wisdom takes shortcuts and neglects the most important things in life. It will be corrected at the first breath of eternity.

For false wisdom to be unspiritual means that it is focused on the physical, natural, or sensual part of life. It asks the question, what will please me right now? It is a wisdom based on senses, feelings, and drives, making those desires the seat of a person's identity. Because it is constantly focused on the shallower levels of life, it rarely touches on the deepest parts of humanity and certainly makes light of connection to God.

For false wisdom to be demonic means that it is sourced from a dark place and is absent of the presence of God. If I could attach a question this version of wisdom asks, it would be how can I be in charge right now? It appears Satan and the demonic realm rebelled against God's leadership at some point, and the person operating in this false wisdom also rejects God's leadership.

So, the source of this false wisdom is from below. It leads to a wisdom grid that is entirely void of God. This grid showed up when Judas ridiculed the woman who poured an extremely valuable ointment on Jesus' feet—Judas would rather have sold it under the guise of giving the proceeds away to the needy. Earthy. This grid showed up when a man in the Corinthian church felt it was right for him to be in a relationship with his step-mother—his drives told him who he was and how to behave. Unspiritual. This grid showed up when Samson slowly detached himself from his covenant with Yahweh and began operating as if he didn't need God's help—Samson would live his own way because he no longer wanted God to lead his life. Demonic.

Characteristics

But what are the common characteristics of this false wisdom? James said the main thing you will find when using this grid—and he stated it twice—is bitter jealousy and selfish ambition (14, 16). Remember, James was writing to members of the church, not to society in general, so he was likely thinking of the camp-forming, factious jealousies that led to unnecessary wars and fights among the members. In the next section, he will deal with the quarrels and fights found in their congregations, so it makes sense that he is correcting an over-the-top party spirit that thought they were "standing for the truth," "being bold," or "declaring the full counsel of God's word." But sometimes, these are buzzwords for being divisive over things Christians should not divide over. This brand of wisdom leads to arrogance about your own group and bitterness about others. We will learn more about what this bitter jealousy and selfish ambition look like when we see its opposite in true wisdom, but suffice it to say this false wisdom leads to a harsh, rigid, severe congregation where little new growth happens. Churches overrun with this spirit are not a safe bed where new life is cultivated, but a barren wasteland that dries up life from within.

Outcome

And where does this wisdom lead? What is its outcome? James said it leads to disorder and every vile practice (3:16). Rather than come under God's guidance to form a great community, this wisdom leads to a Babel-like self dependence. There is no order. Chaos reigns. It is every man for himself. And when you see a believer or congregation that exists in a wasteland of broken relationships, failed endeavors, a bitter spirit, general anxiousness, lack of faith, or a void of love for God and neighbor, you should run away. If there is arrogance, ridicule, belittling, name-calling, license, moral blurriness, and sensuality, you should avoid that wisdom. Not doing so would be like seeing a stretch of land poisoned by nuclear fallout and saying, "Let's live here."

I should note my conviction that it is possible to be in Christ and operate based on this false wisdom grid. This person loves God and certainly appreciates Christ's work in their lives, but their day-to-day guiding lights do not come from a godly place. For this person, there would be little discernable difference between their rhythms, routines, and convictions and those of the non-believing world. This is James's thought—he is not preaching to the world, but the church, and he wanted them to avoid the false wisdom grids others in their congregations had submitted to.

True Wisdom

Source

When James talked about the source of true wisdom, he said twice that it comes down from above (3:15, 17). Rather than being of the earth, it is from outside the earth, from the maker. Rather than operating only in the natural dimension, it strongly considers that which is spiritual. Rather than being rebellious (demonic), it gives itself completely to God and follows his path.

We would, of course, say that God's word is God's wisdom—it, in a sense, comes down from above. We should also say that the pinnacle of God's wisdom is found in this only begotten Son, "in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge" (Col. 2:3). Paul said that Christ Jesus "became to us wisdom from God, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption" (1 Cor. 1:30). This is a good corrective for those who take truths from God's word and then refuse to act like Jesus in the way they wield them. Wisdom is from above, and it looks and sounds like Jesus who, even when saying the hardest things, had a way of reinforcing his love for those he addressed.

Characteristics

But what are the characteristics of this true wisdom? James said it is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere (3:17). It isn't an exact replica, but it reminds us of Paul's list of the fruit of the Spirit in Galatians (Gal. 5). In both passages, a humble spirit, a peaceable manner, and moral uprightness are produced.[^1] This helps us understand that when the Spirit of God utilizes the wisdom of Christ in our lives, real maturity blossoms forth. This reinforces the concept we often talk about in this church, which is that a deep, healthy, personal walk with God will bear good fruit.

There are around ten words James used to describe what this wisdom looks like in this passage, and it would be cumbersome to slowly review each of them. But James likely wasn't thinking of ten disparate pieces that form true wisdom's characteristics. He might have been thinking of only two major categories—moral purity and peaceableness with others. Or moral purity that leads to peaceableness with others. All the other words—gentleness, open to reason, mercy, and so forth—go back to the concept of peace with others.

The entire description of this true wisdom sounds like Jesus.

Jesus was peaceable, totally at ease, and free from anxiety—remember what he was like during storms?
Jesus was gentle, not combative or abusive—remember how he treated Peter after he failed?
Jesus was open to reason, which means willing to yield to another. Remember how he submitted himself to the Father in the garden?
Jesus was full of mercy, always compassionate and merciful. Remember how he wept over Jerusalem's eventual demise even as he was on the way to his cross?
Jesus bore good fruits; he was controlled by incredible deeds of righteousness. Remember how his whole ministry was spent helping others?
Jesus was impartial. Remember how he chose a ragtag group of disciples instead of society's elites?
Jesus was sincere, totally without hypocrisy, and always consistent. Remember how he was the same man in public and in private?

Outcome

Jesus is the wisdom James envisioned—and there is something about true wisdom that affects situations and groups of people with holiness and peace. Just as Solomon's wisdom often brought peace to hard environments, so God's true wisdom often promotes peace among God's people. And the outcome or result of this wisdom is that it creates an incredible environment for what James called a harvest of righteousness (3:18). In communities where this brand of true wisdom is everpresent, you have the raw materials for spiritual growth.

The Sahara desert is the largest hot desert in the world and is known for its extreme temperatures, minimal rainfall, and arid conditions. Vegetation is sparse throughout the region. But very near the eastern reaches of the desert is one of the more fertile regions in the world, the delta of the Nile River. Its annual flooding brings rich nutrients to the soil there, enabling it to support agriculture for thousands of years. True wisdom—God's wisdom from above—creates a fertile environment for spiritual growth. False wisdom—wisdom from the earth—creates a harsh environment where spiritual growth stagnates. You'd have to be a drought-resistant species to survive in environments governed by false wisdom, so our aim should be to cultivate an environment governed by true wisdom. While that pure and peaceable wisdom flows, people will receive more of the nutrients they need to thrive for God.

Commitments

This wisdom concept was important to James because he had just told us of the insurmountable-without-God's-help obstacle of the tongue (James 3:1-12). It cannot be tamed without God, and one way God tames our tongues is by reorienting us around his wisdom. The more we saturate ourselves with his thought, his implanted word, the more the right ideas and words will blossom forth from our mouths (James 1:21). The more we connect with our heavenly Father and deepen our relational attachment to him, the more his truth and wisdom will saturate our minds and hearts. And as our hearts are changed, so is our will, and soon, we find ourselves building our lives off a much better grid.

Given these two divergent wisdoms, one true and one false, our logical conclusion should be to pursue true wisdom. James sounds so much like Proverbs, and, as I mentioned earlier, it is in Proverbs that wisdom and folly are personified as two women calling out to humankind. We are all suitors of one or the other, and James is nudging us to pursue true wisdom rather than dame folly. When I was coming up, Young MC explained to a whole generation that when we saw someone we thought was attractive, we should not just stand there but instead bust a move. I imagine James looking at all of us right now. He explained the situation, and now he is telling us to make a move. Pursue true wisdom. What are some commitments we can make to do so?

I will consider how important my wisdom grid is.
I will reconsider my current wisdom grid.
I will intentionally (not accidentally) build my wisdom grid.
I will think of wisdom as something to apply (not theories to believe).
I will regularly set my mind and heart on God's wisdom.
I will build more of my wisdom grid off people I know and can observe.
I will be cautious when interacting with other wisdom claims.
I will be open to eternal wisdom claims.
I will pursue wisdom claims from pure, meek, peacemaking people.
I will not encourage jealousy and selfish ambition.

Study Questions

Head (Knowledge, Facts, Understanding):

What are the two types of wisdom James describes in James 3:13-18, and how does he differentiate between them?
According to James, what are the sources of false wisdom, and what are its characteristics (James 3:14-15)?
How does James define the characteristics of true wisdom that comes from above (James 3:17)?

Heart (Feelings, Impressions, Desires):

Reflect on a time when you followed earthly wisdom. How did it impact your feelings and relationships?
How does understanding the characteristics of true wisdom affect your desire to grow spiritually?
Which attribute of true wisdom (e.g., purity, peaceableness, gentleness) resonates most with you, and why?

Hands (Actions, Commitments, Decisions):

What practical steps can you take to avoid the pitfalls of earthly wisdom in your daily life?
How can you cultivate the characteristics of true wisdom in your interactions with others in your community?
What commitments can you make today to align your actions more closely with the wisdom that comes from above?

[^1]: Moo, pp. 174-75