December 16, 2014 WHO AMONG YOU IS WISE ?
James 3:13: “Who among you is wise and understanding? Let him show by his good behavior his deeds in the gentleness of wisdom.” Obviously, there are some that have wisdom and there are some who do not have wisdom and it’s possible for one to be brilliant in mind but lack wisdom. Wisdom may be difficult to define but it is easily recognizable as true wisdom is reflected in action and speech. James goes on in verses fourteen through sixteen to say what wisdom is not: “But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, do not be arrogant and so lie against the truth. This wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but is earthly, natural, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every evil thing.” These three verses are powerful verses to say the least and may we be wise and digest the message presented in these verses. Jealously and selfish ambition is no small issue but in fact have great consequences. If not careful, we can become jealous of others success or others “having it made” in areas where we struggle. Perhaps selfish ambition is even a more common than jealously. We live in a culture where self is on the pedestal and where selfish ambition is the norm. The culture does not call it “selfish” ambition but that really is the message of the culture. The culture says that “if it makes you happy-do it”. Selfish ambition leads to “disorder and every evil thing.” The truth is that jealously and selfish ambition are not just some issues that need adjusting but are in fact demonic according to this verse and they have no place in the life of believers. Ambition itself is not wrong, and in fact we should have ambition for the right reasons. On the surface, it may appear to be a fine line between healthy ambition and selfish ambition. For example, walking or running two miles every day could be motivated purely by a “selfish ambition” to “look good” physically or it could be motivated by a desire to maintain good physical and mental health since the body is the temple of God. There is nothing wrong with “looking good” if the motive is right. Because we are created in God’s image and because we are new creatures in Christ, we should have great ambition. In fact, the scripture says that “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me”; so for the believer, the sky is the limit for what we can do. Life is full of opportunities to be either selfishly ambitious or to be ambitious in the right sense of being ambitious and true wisdom directs us away from selfish ambition and towards ambition that honors our Father. Our action, our deeds, should reflect wisdom and understanding. God gave King Saul the opportunity to ask for anything he desired and he asked that God would give him wisdom and because of this, God blessed him abundantly. True wisdom comes from God and He promises to give us wisdom if we ask. Let us ask for the wisdom that comes from God and let us demonstrate wisdom and understanding by our words and deeds. James 3:17: “But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy.” James 1:5: “But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all men generously and without reproach and it will be given to him.” Psalms 111:10: “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; A good understanding have all those who do His commandments; His praise endures forever.”
Blessings,
Buddy
James 3:13: “Who among you is wise and understanding? Let him show by his good behavior his deeds in the gentleness of wisdom.” Obviously, there are some that have wisdom and there are some who do not have wisdom and it’s possible for one to be brilliant in mind but lack wisdom. Wisdom may be difficult to define but it is easily recognizable as true wisdom is reflected in action and speech. James goes on in verses fourteen through sixteen to say what wisdom is not: “But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, do not be arrogant and so lie against the truth. This wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but is earthly, natural, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every evil thing.” These three verses are powerful verses to say the least and may we be wise and digest the message presented in these verses. Jealously and selfish ambition is no small issue but in fact have great consequences. If not careful, we can become jealous of others success or others “having it made” in areas where we struggle. Perhaps selfish ambition is even a more common than jealously. We live in a culture where self is on the pedestal and where selfish ambition is the norm. The culture does not call it “selfish” ambition but that really is the message of the culture. The culture says that “if it makes you happy-do it”. Selfish ambition leads to “disorder and every evil thing.” The truth is that jealously and selfish ambition are not just some issues that need adjusting but are in fact demonic according to this verse and they have no place in the life of believers. Ambition itself is not wrong, and in fact we should have ambition for the right reasons. On the surface, it may appear to be a fine line between healthy ambition and selfish ambition. For example, walking or running two miles every day could be motivated purely by a “selfish ambition” to “look good” physically or it could be motivated by a desire to maintain good physical and mental health since the body is the temple of God. There is nothing wrong with “looking good” if the motive is right. Because we are created in God’s image and because we are new creatures in Christ, we should have great ambition. In fact, the scripture says that “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me”; so for the believer, the sky is the limit for what we can do. Life is full of opportunities to be either selfishly ambitious or to be ambitious in the right sense of being ambitious and true wisdom directs us away from selfish ambition and towards ambition that honors our Father. Our action, our deeds, should reflect wisdom and understanding. God gave King Saul the opportunity to ask for anything he desired and he asked that God would give him wisdom and because of this, God blessed him abundantly. True wisdom comes from God and He promises to give us wisdom if we ask. Let us ask for the wisdom that comes from God and let us demonstrate wisdom and understanding by our words and deeds. James 3:17: “But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy.” James 1:5: “But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all men generously and without reproach and it will be given to him.” Psalms 111:10: “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; A good understanding have all those who do His commandments; His praise endures forever.”
Blessings,
Buddy
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