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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)
Everyone is wise. You say “But wait, I know some very unwise people”, but Scripture tells us, what you perceive as an absence of wisdom is really the presence of a different kind of wisdom. In these verses, James identifies two distinct types of wisdom.
The origin of the first type of wisdom is the earth. This earthly wisdom is unspiritual and even demonic and makes itself known through jealousy and selfish ambition. It produces disorder leading to a harvest of evil works.
The origin of the second type of wisdom is heaven where our Savior, who is wisdom (1 Corinthians 1:24), is seated on His throne. Like the Savior, this wisdom is “pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere”. It makes itself known through meekness. This heavenly wisdom produces peace leading to a harvest of good works, which in turn will produce more peace leading to more righteousness.
Some of us know the misery of being part of a church where there was no peace to be found and vile practices abounded. We may have asked ourselves “How did things end up like this”. In those moments we were experiencing the result of earthly wisdom sown in the past (sadly, maybe even by us). Everyone acts wisely, but the type of wisdom we practice will determine what type of crops will grow and whether the harvest will be good or bad.
Brothers and Sisters, What type of crops will be produced this year at Berean? Peace or disorder? What will be harvested? Good works or vile practices? It all hinges on the type of wisdom we sow together. Let’s resolve, in light of the gospel and with Christ as our example to practice the wisdom that comes down from above.
Pastor Rich
