James 3:13-18 Faith that Demonstrates Wisdom

# Faith that Demonstrates Wisdom
## James 3:13-18

[Samuel Ferrara](https://unsplash.com/photos/IEHPDNk2-8w "caption")

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# What does **wisdom**
# look like?

>>>
+ Einstein? Bill Gates?
+ long-bearded sage on mountaintop? 
+ silent patriarch who closes a noisy debate with a single word?

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## [James](#/outline): **Keep the Faith**
+ Stands the **Test** [(1:2-12)](# "ref")
+ Demands a **Change** of Heart [(1:19-25)](# "ref")
+ Loves **Impartially** [(2:5-9)](# "ref")
+ **Acts** [(2:15-24)](# "ref")
+ Tames the **Tongue** [(3:6-10)](# "ref")
+ Demonstrates **Wisdom** [(3:13-18)](# "ref")

[Plattenkogel, Austria. Lukas Budimaier](https://unsplash.com/photos/6cY-FvMlmkQ "caption")

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[13](# "ref")
Who is **wise** and **understanding** among you?

Let them show it by their good **life**, 
by **deeds** done in the **humility** 
that comes from wisdom.

[James 3:13 (NIV) (p.1/4)](# "ref")

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[14](# "ref")
But if you harbor bitter **envy** and 
selfish **ambition** in your hearts, 
do not **boast** about it or deny the **truth**.

[15](# "ref")
Such “wisdom” does not 
come down from heaven 
but is **earthly**, unspiritual, **demonic**.

[James 3:14-15 (NIV) (p.2/4)](# "ref")

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[16](# "ref")
For where you have 
envy and selfish ambition, 
there you find **disorder** 
and every **evil** practice.

[James 3:16 (NIV) (p.3/4)](# "ref")

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[17](# "ref")
But the wisdom that comes from **heaven** 
is first of all **pure**; then **peace**-loving, 
**considerate**, **submissive**, 
full of **mercy** and good **fruit**, 
**impartial** and **sincere**.

[18](# "ref")
**Peacemakers** who sow in peace 
reap a **harvest** of righteousness.

[James 3:17-18 (NIV) (p.4/4)](# "ref")

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## [James 3b:](# "ref") Faith that Demonstrates Wisdom
+ **Practise**, not Pretense [(v13)](# "ref")
+ Free of Bitter **Passion** [(v14-16)](# "ref")
+ **Peacemaking** [(v17-18)](# "ref")

[Samuel Ferrara](https://unsplash.com/photos/IEHPDNk2-8w "caption")

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Who is **wise** and **understanding** among you?

[James 3:13 (NIV)](# "ref")
[Ju On](https://unsplash.com/photos/e6XsI7qqvAA "caption")

>>>
+ *wise*:
  + ancient Gr: mastery of **skill**
  + **practical**, not theoretical
  + can be **taught** / learned
  + but true wisdom **gift** of gods
  + Plato: know **being**, self
+ *understanding* (ἐπιστήμων):
  + put [self, mind] **standing** upon
  + consider, investigate
+ do you believe yourself to be wise?

---

Not many of you should become **teachers**, 
my fellow believers,

because you know that 
we who **teach** will be judged more **strictly**.

[James 3:1 (NIV)](# "ref")
[Savoie, France. Thomas Tixtaaz](https://unsplash.com/photos/rdwkamJlpiU "caption")

>>>
+ **pride**
+ ch1: **listeners** of Word
  + but not **doers**
  + 1:26 consider self **religious**
+ ch2: envy the **rich**
  + but insult the **poor**
+ ch3: believe self **teacher**
  + but not tame **tongue**
+ ch4: **conflict**
+ believe self **wise**?
  + true **test** of wisdom:

---

Let them **show** it by their good **life**, 
by **deeds** done in the **humility** 
that comes from wisdom.

[James 3:13 (NIV)](# "ref")
[Ju On](https://unsplash.com/photos/e6XsI7qqvAA "caption")

>>>
+ *show*: not show **wisdom**
  + look at me, so wise!
  + but: show your **deeds**
+ *good life* (καλῆς ἀναστροφῆς):
  + not life of **luxury**
  + but life of **virtue**: noble
  + out of **everyday** life
+ *humility* (ἐν πραΰτητι): **gentle**, mild
  + tame, **friendly**
  + **meek**: strength used to accommodate the weak
+ show, out of your life of virtue, your deeds in wisdom's humility

---

# As I gain wisdom, am I more **gentle** in **deeds**, or **proud** in **words**?

---

## [James 3b:](# "ref") Faith that Demonstrates Wisdom
+ Practise, not Pretense [(v13)](# "ref")
+ **Free of Bitter Passion** [(v14-16)](# "ref")
+ Peacemaking [(v17-18)](# "ref")

[Samuel Ferrara](https://unsplash.com/photos/IEHPDNk2-8w "caption")
---

But if you harbor bitter **envy** and 
selfish **ambition** in your hearts, 
do not **boast** about it or deny the **truth**.

[James 3:14 (NIV)](# "ref")
[Janko Ferlič](https://unsplash.com/photos/ACAK6F9mzgs "caption")

>>>
+ even the **wise** may have this
+ *envy*: seek, **zeal**, jealousy
  + not: want what **others** have
  + but: passionate **desire** over
    + e.g., cleansing of **temple**
  + *bitter*: Heb12:15 **root**
+ *selfish ambition* (ἐριθεία): **day-labourer**
  + **debase** self for gain
  + not just **selfishness**,
  + but misplaced **priorities**:
  + exchange **higher** things
  + for base profit
+ *boast*: see as **superior**
  + *deny*: **lie**, incorrect
+ if you think this is **wisdom**,
  + you've believed in a **lie**:

---

Such “wisdom” does not 
come down from heaven 
but is **earthly**, **unspiritual**, **demonic**.

[16](# "ref")
For where you have 
**envy** and selfish **ambition**, 
there you find **disorder** and every **evil practice**.

[James 3:15-16 (NIV)](# "ref")
[Ukraine. Paul Itkin](https://unsplash.com/photos/xCdFXXoZkJc "caption")

>>>
+ the **source**:
+ *earthly*: of **earth** (vs heaven)
+ *unspiritual*: **psyche**, life
  + common with animals
  +  of **nature**, instinct
+ *demonic*: of **demons**
+ the **consequence**:
+ *disorder*: **instability**
  + no moral **compass**
+ *evil practise*: **deeds**

---

# Have I confused
# **passion** and **ambition**
# with **wisdom**?

>>>
+ who are my role models?

---

## [James 3b:](# "ref") Faith that Demonstrates Wisdom
+ Practise, not Pretense [(v13)](# "ref")
+ Free of Bitter Passion [(v14-16)](# "ref")
+ **Peacemaking** [(v17-18)](# "ref")

[Samuel Ferrara](https://unsplash.com/photos/IEHPDNk2-8w "caption")

---

But the wisdom that comes from **heaven** 
is first of all **pure**; then **peace**-loving, 
**considerate**, **submissive**, 
full of mercy and good fruit, 
impartial and sincere.

[James 3:17 (NIV)](# "ref")
[Iceland. Davide Cantelli](https://unsplash.com/photos/H3giJcTw__w "caption")

>>>
+ *comes from above*:
  + not virtues to **chase** after
  + but **recognise** God's gift
+ 8 attributes in 4 couplets
+ *pure*: **holy**, set apart
  + what does **wisdom** have to do with **holiness**?
+ *peace-loving*: peaceful
  + *shalom*: right, whole **relationship**
  + w/God, w/others
+ *considerate* (ἐπιεικής): **meek**
  + kind, clemency, compassion
  + of **judge** / king / in power
  + lenience to **letter** of law
  + to uphold **spirit** of law
+ *submissive* (εὐπειθής): easily **persuaded**
  + **yields** to truth / reason

---

But the wisdom that comes from heaven 
is first of all *pure*; then *peace*-loving, 
*considerate*, *submissive*, 
full of **mercy** and good **fruit**, 
**impartial** and **sincere**.

[James 3:17 (NIV)](# "ref")
[Iceland. Davide Cantelli](https://unsplash.com/photos/H3giJcTw__w "caption")

>>>
+ what is **abundant** in wisdom
  + what is **absent** in wisdom
+ *mercy*:
  + **emotion** of compassion, sympathy
  + manifest as **action**:
  + withholding due **punishment**
  + and/or extending **aid**
  + (Lk10:37) good **Samaritan**
+ *good fruit*: works
+ *impartial* (ἀδιάκριτος): w/o:
  + separation, distinction, **prejudice**
  + **wavering**, ambiguity
  + cf **1:6** ask God w/o doubting
  + (but not **2:1** favouritism)
+ *sincere* (ἀνυπόκριτος): w/o:
  + **hypocrisy**, playing part
+ e.g., **responding** w/wisdom to ungodly words
  + e.g., FIL **jokes** at others' expense
  + wants us to **laugh** along
  + JJ: "that's not funny", "**crazy** talk"
  + ⇒ respond w/ **compassion**
  + **worth** from Creator, not bc push down others
+ "God, give me **wisdom** how to respond"

---

If any of you **lacks wisdom**, 
you should **ask God**, 
who gives **generously** to all 
without finding **fault**, 
and it will be **given** to you.

>>>
+ wisdom **attainable**?
+ 4 do not have because do not ask

---

**Peacemakers** who **sow** in peace 
reap a **harvest** of righteousness.

[James 3:18 (NIV)](# "ref")
[Ju On](https://unsplash.com/photos/e6XsI7qqvAA "caption")

>>>
+ a **fruit** of righteousness
  + in peace is **sown**
  + by those who **do** peace
+ e.g., TWU custodian Al+wife

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# Do I **recognise** the **peace**-makers, the **meek**, and the **merciful**?

>>>
+ who do I know who is peaceable?
+ that is true wisdom

---

**Peacemakers** who sow in peace 
reap a harvest of **righteousness**.

[James 3:13 (NIV)](# "ref")
[Samuel Ferrara](https://unsplash.com/photos/IEHPDNk2-8w "caption")

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