James: More Graceनमूना

'Who is wise among you?’ (v. 13).

As James thought about the state of the Christians he was addressing, he would probably have answered, ‘Hardly anyone!’ His readers may well have thought they had lots of spiritual wisdom though. They were clearly talking about spiritual things. But just talking about God doesn’t make you a wise person.

• How do you show that you have real wisdom and understanding (v. 13)?

As with a tree, you recognise a wise person by the ‘fruit’ they produce. The wise person is always a humble person. When we humble ourselves before God as we should, we will be humble with others too. We will put their needs above our own selfish desires. True wisdom will always lead to a good life full of good deeds (v. 13).

James contrasts this true wisdom with fake ‘wisdom’. It may be that James is describing here exactly what his quarrelling readers were saying and doing. They may have recognised themselves and squirmed as they read on.

James speaks of a situation where people have settled down with their sin. Their hearts are harbouring selfish ambition and bitter envy (v. 14). And rather than being ashamed and repentant, these people are displaying their arrogant selfishness in their words. Their lives contradict the gospel of grace they proclaim. James wants this to stop. If your hearts have gone astray, he says, ‘do not boast about it or deny the truth’ (v. 14). Don’t pass on your spiritual mess to others! And if you think you are fit to be a wise teacher, think again!

Selfish ambition and bitter envy need to be challenged in our hearts, not expressed in our words. Words that flow out of selfish desires always have a toxic effect on relationships.

• What will we find where such sinful reactions are expressed unchecked (v. 16)?

This is a far cry from good ‘deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom’ (v. 13). Selfish ambition puts my success above your needs. Bitter envy is all about me too. I want what you have and so there is bitterness in my heart towards you. Disordered desires lead to disordered relationships and all sorts of other sins.

Here is a horrible picture of fake ‘wisdom’ and its fruit. The people speaking and living like this may be in church but this ‘wisdom’ does not come down from heaven, rather it erupts from our sinful self-centred hearts. James calls it ‘earthly, unspiritual, demonic’ (v. 15). Strong words! Our sinful desires and the words that express them are tremendously dangerous.

Pray

Pray that you and your church leaders would live good lives and never habour bitter envy or selfish ambition.