Series: The Letter of James
James 3:13-18 (CEB)
13 Are any of you wise and understanding? Show that your actions are good with a humble lifestyle that comes from wisdom.
(Here’s what you do: Live well, live wisely, live humbly. It’s the way you live, not the way you talk, that counts. — MSSG)
14 However, if you have bitter jealousy & selfish ambition in your heart, then stop bragging & living in ways that deny the truth. 15 This is NOT the wisdom that comes down from above. Instead, it is from the earth, natural & demonic. 16 Wherever there is jealousy and selfish ambition, there is disorder & everything that is evil.
17 What of the wisdom from above? First, it is pure, and then peaceful, gentle, obedient, filled with mercy and good actions, fair, & genuine. 18 Those who make peace sow the seeds of justice by their peaceful acts.
1. Earth’s Wisdom ...is evil
14 However, if you have bitter jealousy & selfish ambition in your heart, then stop bragging & living in ways that deny the truth. 15 This is NOT the wisdom that comes down from above. Instead, it is from the earth, natural & demonic.
16 Wherever there is jealousy and selfish ambition, there is disorder & everything that is evil.
...is “ME 1st” — “what about me?”
1…the last days will be dangerous times. 2 People will be selfish and love money. They will be the kind of people who brag and who are proud. They will slander others, and they will be disobedient to their parents. They will be ungrateful, unholy, 3 unloving, contrary, and critical. They will be without self-control and brutal, and they won’t love what is good. 4 They will be people who are disloyal, reckless, and conceited. They will love pleasure instead of loving God. 5 They will look like they are religious but deny God’s power. Avoid people like this. — 2 Timothy 3:1-5
“Human anger does not produce the righteousness God desires.” — James 1:20
“4 Love is patient, love is kind, it isn’t jealous, it doesn’t brag, it isn’t arrogant, 5 it isn’t rude, it doesn’t seek its own advantage, it isn’t irritable, it doesn’t keep a record of complaints” — 1 Corinthians 13:4-5
2. God’s Wisdom
17 First, it is pure, and then peaceful, gentle, obedient, filled with mercy and good actions, fair, & genuine.
HOLY
48 But you are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect. — Matthew 5:48
Others 1st (helps others be their best)
“3 Don’t do anything for selfish purposes, but with humility think of others as better than yourselves.” — Philippians 2:3
Fruitful —
17 But the wisdom from above is first pure [morally and spiritually undefiled], then peace-loving [courteous, considerate], gentle, reasonable [and willing to listen], full of compassion and good fruits. It is unwavering, without [self-righteous] hypocrisy [and self-serving guile]. — James 3:17 amp