Seeking for the help of God,
I direct your prayerful attention to James chapter 3 and reading
from our text, verse 17. But the wisdom that is from above
is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be entreated,
full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without
hypocrisy. James chapter 3 and verse 17. The wisdom which is from above
is described here not in wisdom about decisions to be made or
wisdom even of the grace of God or the gospel of God or wisdom
to know whether to do this or to do that or no thing is actually
specified but the spirit that accompanies that wisdom is what
is set before us here. Another part in the word we are
exhorted to try the spirits, whether they are of God or not. There are many matters that often
come before us and it is very hard to really decide between
one or another whether one way is correct or whether One person
is right and the other person is right, where there's a conflict
between two. And sometimes we are not in possession
of all or perhaps even any of the facts of one or both sides. But we are able to see something
of the spirit that is being evidenced how they speak, how they act,
what is their attitude, what are the fruits, how does it lead
that person to walk? And that is what is being set
before us here by James. And I feel it's a very important
principle to remember, especially at this particular time in our
nation. Of course, we pray for those
in authority over us, our Prime Minister and the Cabinet, the
Government, in seeking to make right decisions for the welfare
of the country, trying to balance on the one hand the spread of
the virus, restricting so the hospitals are not overwhelmed.
On the other hand, to try and keep people in work and provided
for. The demands on them is immense. The sources of information that
they are given from all of the statisticians, all of the medical
officers, varies tremendously. not only with the actual statistics,
but the people that are bringing them, each perhaps unsubconsciously
putting their own emphasis in their own way. And really it
is an unenviable task that they have to be able to chart a right
way through. Those of us who know the Lord,
who fear the Lord, we know where wisdom does come from. I remember several years ago,
and there was a proposal here in Cranbrook to have a Sunday
market. And I wrote to each of the counsellors,
many of them I know personally, and pleaded with them not to
do this. citing especially the Word of
God and for keeping the Lord's Day holy and for a day of worship. And many were appreciative of
it, and one of the counsellors, he said to me, he said, Roland,
he said, what we need, he said, we need the wisdom of Solomon.
And I said to him, well, you know where Solomon got his wisdom
from? Of course, we've read it, and
we've sung of it this evening. And I tried to point him. In
fact, I gave him the word of God where Solomon was given that
wisdom and the book of Proverbs and Ecclesiastes and exhorted
him to seek that wisdom from the same sources where Solomon
had it. Men can often speak sometimes
in a light way, not ever intending to seek it from God, but It is
right for us who know where that wisdom comes from to direct men
to that. There is a source for everything,
and we are told that every good and perfect gift cometh down
from the Father of lights, in whom is no variability nor shadow
of turning. And we are specifically told,
if any man lack wisdom, Let him ask of God, who giveth to all
men liberally, and abrideth none, and it shall be given him. It is a wonderful invitation
and direction to us that when we have not wisdom, and what
is wisdom? Wisdom, a definition of wisdom
is that knowledge, experience, and understanding, it is that
able to make a right judgment based upon the knowledge and
experience and understanding. We may feel to lack so much,
lack knowledge, and even when we have the knowledge, lack understanding
or lack the ability to actually apply it and to be able to put
it in a way of which finds out the truth or shows us the right
way to act. If we'd have read on in the passage
in 1 Kings, we would have read how God immediately provided
an illustration of the wisdom that he had given to Solomon
in 1 Kings chapter 3. And if we'd have read on from
verse 16, then you might say it's a very unlikely illustration
that God, who is a holy God, should so choose. But he chose
to use this. Two women that were harlots,
they came before the king, and both of them had had children. They're not married. They had
children out of wedlock. You might say their own lives
were very wrong, but God used their cases and used Solomon. Instead of just brushing them
off, he heard their case. What was their case? They both
had children, very close together, and then One morning, one was
dead, the other was alive. And the one that had the dead
child in her bottom, when she'd considered it, she realized that
that child wasn't her child. It was the other woman's, and
she'd swapped it. She'd overlaid it. And so the
other woman was claiming the live child was hers, and the
true mother was claiming the child was hers, and the poor
king was asked to decide who was the real mother in this case. How could he do it? Both were
coming with a different story. And the Lord gave him wisdom
really based upon the knowledge that a mother, a mother's love
for her own child, there's nothing that is really surpassing that. And the true mother would do
anything to protect the life of her child. So he made out
that he was going to kill the living child. He asked for a
sword, he made it look very realistic, and he said, you know, one says
the child is mine, the other says the child is mine, let's
divide it, give half to one and half to the other. And immediately
he had a response from the true mother that said, don't harm
the child. Give it to her rather than it
be slain. Let her have it. And the other
woman, she said, no, I don't want it, nor her. Let it be slain. And immediately Solomon said,
don't kill the child. Because he said, the one that
has their heart yearning after that child, that's the true mother.
And the wisdom that God had given him was shown in making that
judgment, in bringing about the situation that he could tell
without doubt who the true mother was. And we read that all Israel
heard of the judgment of the king, and they feared God and
feared the king. And it is in these matters, you
might say, a simple matter, that true wisdom is found and is displayed. And so, at this time, how much
need there is that there is true wisdom given to those in authority
over us, but then there's also needing to be wisdom for us,
and especially as Christians, to know how we should act in
a way that glorifies God, in a way that God would have us
to act. And again, there are many voices
from different perspectives, many things that are separating
even the Lord's dear people at this time. And we need that wisdom
from the Lord. But if the Lord gives us wisdom,
If he gives us that which is truly from himself, then we need
to be aware of what James says here. How will that wisdom be
displayed without naming the individual difficulties, decisions
and sides that may be taken, but to actually show what the
Spirit of true wisdom is and that we seek to walk in that
way, whatever difference we may have or however we may be seeking
to apply the wisdom that God has given us, that we apply it
and that it has the effect on us in the way that is described
in this chapter, in the latter part of the chapter. So I want,
with the Lord's help, to look at three ways. Firstly, what the wisdom from
above is contrasted with, and that is the several verses that
are before our text as a contrast to the text. And then to look
at the wisdom which is from above, that is the words of our text,
and how it is described. And then lastly, the wisdom that
we need. And under this head, I just want
to look at that spiritual wisdom. We need the wisdom of salvation. Anything that we have of this
world will soon pass away. And yes, we do need that wisdom
in the things that we do here below. but we want to concentrate
that on the one thing needful. So firstly, the wisdom that is
from above, it is contrasted in its fruits with what goes
before our text. We read from verse 13, who is
a wise man and endued with knowledge among you. Let him show out of
a good conversation, and that is not just words, but his life,
his conduct, his works with meekness of wisdom. But if ye have bitter
envying and strife in your hearts, glory not and lie not against
the truth. This wisdom descendeth not from
above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. For where envying and
strife is, there is confusion and every evil work." What a
description of the wisdom that is from beneath, that is not
from above. The fruits that it actually leads
to. We know in the epistle to Jude
that there are those that, having people, men in admiration, it
is in verse 16, those are described as murmurers and complainers
walking after their own lusts, their mouths speaking great swelling
words, having men's persons in admiration because of advantage. And I often think this when there
may be a dispute about something and one person is trying to win
the argument, as it were, and put their point across and they're
not succeeding. The other one is really showing
wisdom and showing what is right. So as a last resort, they turn
around and say, listen, I've got a degree in this. You know,
I've got a master, I'm skilled, I'm wise. And they put over that
advantage, having person, those that are looking on, they think,
oh, this man's got a degree, he's highly, skilled and knowledgeable,
whereas this other one, though he's putting in a better argument,
maybe hadn't been to university at all. And people flock to those
who can provide some greater knowledge or understanding. They've
got a degree, they've got something that other people don't have,
and they have people in admiration. They wander after them. And it
colours how they hear, how they listen on that person. And it is using then their position
to put over the wisdom that they've got, really in a wrong way. But the way that James sets before
us here, it's a contrast of the wisdom from above that is speaking
of everything that is stirring up the old nature, bitter envying,
strife in your hearts, an earthly sensual one, envying and strife,
confusion and every evil work. And I would that we might really
remember this. It doesn't take much for our
old nature to be stirred up In the beginning of this chapter,
James speaks about the tongue and that no man can tame the
tongue. And especially in things that
we're seeking to know the right or wrong way or what to do or
wisdom in something, it is there, the tongue can be used so, so
quickly. Or it may be through emails or
other communication things used today. And there comes out the
venom and the old nature coming out. And this should be a really
warning sign for us that fear the Lord. If that's the effect
in our hearts, it's not a right effect, it's not a right way.
And we should be mindful all the time that we have a heart
that is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked. Over
many years and different experiences, I've found so many times and
some of the most difficult things is when someone is championing
a good cause, what they're arguing for and pleading for is right,
is good. But they're pleading for it in
a wrong way, a wrong spirit. And it's bringing all of this
confusion. And it makes those who, as it
were, would want to take sides in a very difficult position.
On one side, they want to side with the person that is pleading
for what is right. But on the other hand, they don't
want to join with that person's spirit. or how they're acting. And it can make things very,
very, very difficult. But really going right over it
all, James in a way is saying, even if it be a good thing that
is pleaded, even if you could argue that that is the right
side to take, where the spirit is wrong, you don't go along
with it. is very clear, this wisdom descendeth
not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. And so one
aspect regarding the applying of wisdom or seeking to know
what to do is try the spirits, whether they are of God or not. So this is the background and
sometimes it's And I marvel at this, that throughout the scriptures,
very often, the way that the truth is taught is by showing
both sides of it. If there's going to be a describing
what God's people are, then it's a describing what those that
are not. If God would show what is the
right way of worship and wrong way of worship, Right at the
very beginning, he has Cain and he has Abel, a blood sacrifice
and a non-blood sacrifice. Then we have the case of Esau
and Jacob from the same womb. And we're shown both sides, and
Jacob not perfect by any means, but shown as the choice and blessing
of God and how that works out through his life and through
Esau's life. And we have here as well. If
God would show us what is the true wisdom and what is not,
he gives a contrast. And the contrast firstly then
is showing all that is wrong. So that is the first point. That
wisdom which is from above described in our text in verse 17. But the wisdom that is from above,
and you might say here it is different. It is different. It is first pure, that is, it
is not sensual, It is not of a sexual nature. It is not of
a cursing or a swearing or unholy nature. It is pure. And another aspect with pure
is if something is pure, it is not mixed with anything else. If we have pure gold, It's not
an alloy mixed with something else. If we have something pure,
it is just that thing and nothing else mixed in with it. And you know, it doesn't take
much to be mixed in with something to make it impure. And so the
very first thing here, that which is from above, is pure. how different than this world. One aspect of that purity, we have the Word of God from
beginning to end and we believe as the Word of God states it
is, every Word of God is pure. And it's only when we start to
add and subtract or put in man's word, then it becomes impure. And so we need to remember that
when we're seeking wisdom, how much is it of the word of God,
and how much is it, yes, the word of God, but made impure
by that which is put in by man. When we would discern God's word,
It is comparing scripture with scripture, not comparing scripture
with something of man. But then it is peaceable, gentle
and easy to be entreated. Now, I know, and when I'm meditating
upon this, I thought of former years that Those of the Lord's
dear people that were raised up to preach the gospel, there
was from time to time differences of opinion amongst them. And
in a way, it'd be a great blessing if it was so today that they
cared very much for the things of God. They fought for liberties
they had, And where they discerned that the things that they held
to be the truth were being assailed and not held by others, they
defended them very, very vigorously. And sometimes, sadly, it was
not in a very peaceable, gentle, or easy-to-be-treated way. And we shouldn't, in that way,
look upon those who've gone before and imitate them in that aspect. but though the zeal for the truth
is a good thing to have that. But the apostle Paul says of
a servant that he should not strive, but be gentle unto all
men, apt to teach. And as a pastor, I find it a
very difficult thing, a thing I need help to actually put into
practice. And yet the direction here is
that wisdom from above. It doesn't say, well, if it's
in this situation or that situation, then it's peaceable, gentle,
and easy to be treated. No situation is mentioned here. It's not saying, well, in some
situations, you can be angry and forthright and blunt and
hard. be in such a spirit that people
are afraid to come to you and afraid to ask your opinion or
afraid to ask what you think. No, if that comes from above,
it should be peaceable, gentle and easy to be entreated. You know what Abigail said of
Nabal, when David sent his men at the time of shearing to get
some provision, and Nabal, he refused to give it to them. But
when Abigail came to stop David slaying all of the people of
Nabal's household, she says, you know him, that he is such
a man that you cannot speak to him, even his own wife. when
he was intoxicated with his wine, and even it implied that when
he wasn't, he wasn't one that you could approach and reason
with or speak with. And James, he says that, that
wisdom is not from above. It should be open to listening
to the other side or to be entreated or pleaded with. And it's not
put here as weakness, and meekness is not weakness. Moses was very
meek, but he was a firm leader of his people, of the children
of Israel. And so these qualities here,
they don't say, well, if someone is peaceable, gentle, and easy
to be treated, It means they're not standing for the truth, they're
not holding it firm. No. But that is their spirit that
they've got. Full of mercy and good fruits. Mercy. Undeserved. Mercy is undeserved. And we are to imitate the Lord in
the way that we deal with our fellow men and that those fruits
that they also show from where they come from. Our Lord says
that from me is thy fruit found. And those fruits that are gracious
and good, they come from the Lord. And I would put this in
a very practical way as well. And especially at times like
this, when there may be those that need acts of mercy, charitable
deeds. The Lord gave the illustration
of the Good Samaritan, who is my neighbour. And where we have
those that are round about us that need our help or practical
help, then whatever wisdom that we have, that we should do that. We mentioned the case of the harlots coming before Solomon. Solomon didn't say to them, well,
the kind of lives you lead, you get what you deserved. If you
hadn't have walked in this way, You wouldn't have had the children
in this way. But he didn't. He acted in a
way of mercy. The women, one of them especially,
in distress and in need. And he met that need. And instead
of setting forth first his judgment and refusing to help them, he
helped them in a practical way, you might say. And we are to
do the same without partiality. You know, saying, well, I'm going
to deal one way with you because you're of my blood, you're my
family, but a different way with you, you're not of my family,
or you're from a church background, or you're a believer, but you're
an unbeliever, so I'm going to act differently towards you.
I'm going to help one, but not another. We're not to act in
a way where there's partiality and then without hypocrisy. Hypocrisy is saying one thing
and doing another. One rule for others, another
rule for ourselves. Peter, he says that we should
be ready always to give a reason of the hope that is within us.
with meekness and with fear to everyone that asketh us. And
it's a good principle. If people are asking, why do
you do things that we don't do? And why do you don't do things
that we do? It is because they're observing
how we're walking, what we're actually doing that they're asking
us. And it's good when The testimony that we give is
flowing out from what we're actually walking. Instead of saying, this
is what I believe and do, and people look at our walk and conduct
and say, well, that doesn't add up. You're not doing what you
say. And so that wisdom, which is
from above, doesn't lead to saying one thing and doing another thing. It's walking. according to what
we're setting before others, walking the same ourselves. So in our text there's this description
of the wisdom that is from above, and without actually specifying
what the actual matter is, In other words, whatever it is that
comes before us, whatever wisdom we must apply in a situation,
then we should run it through and see how we are acting and
what that wisdom leads to, is it fitting of the wisdom which is
from above. We'll want to then look just
briefly at our last point, the wisdom that we need. However much we might have the
wisdom of earthly things, we need that wisdom from above as
regarding our souls. And really it applies in two
aspects. It all centres in what the Lord
gives in the new birth, being born again of the Spirit, being
quickened into spiritual life. And that life then consists in
a knowledge and in an understanding and then it leads to experience
and it leads to an application of that experience in our lives. The true converting work of God,
or the new birth, brings one to be under the law, feelingly,
as a guilty sinner. All have sinned and come short
of the glory of God. By the law is the knowledge of
sin. And there is no man that doeth
good and sinneth not. Sin, we are born in sin and shapen
in iniquity. Our first parents, Adam and Eve,
fell and we fell with them. And the knowledge of ourselves
as sinners is that which is vital. The wisdom from above shows a
person what he truly is in the sight of a holy God. And in one
sense, that is a key to our text. Because the more the Lord shows
us what we are in his sight, the more humble we will be in
our own eyes. We will see our own sin. We will feel it. We will know
what goes on in our own heart. We'll look upon others, and as
the scriptures say, esteeming each other better than ourselves. Why? Because we cannot see another's
heart, we cannot see their motives, but we know ours and we know
our sin. Every heart knoweth its own bitterness. Every man that shall know, says
Solomon in his prayer at the dedication of the temple, shall
know the plague of his own heart. And that is the wisdom from above,
to open up and to show us what we really are in God's sign. And the true wisdom of God then
is to humble ourselves before the mighty hand of God, to plead
for mercy through the Lord Jesus Christ. The wisdom of God brings
us to seek that wisdom from the word of God, to the law and to
the testimony If they do not speak according to these things,
it is because there is no light in them. All things must be brought
to the Word of God. We think of the eunuch who was
reading the Word of God, and yet he couldn't understand it.
And God sent him Philip to preach to him from the very passage
and text that he couldn't understand. And he preached unto him Jesus.
That sermon was blessed to him. He was brought to believe in
the Lord Jesus Christ, to testify that Jesus is the Son of God,
and to want to be baptised, and to follow and walk in his ways. That true wisdom from above,
very often, as it was in my case, when the Lord first opened my
eyes, it was to see how ignorant I was, Brought up under the sound
of truth but knew nothing of that truth in my heart. Knew
a smattering in my head but that head knowledge was so imperfect
and wrongly applied. And so that wisdom from above
brings down first and then raises up again. Brings us low in self
and exalts us in Christ. and exalts the Lord Jesus Christ
and makes him precious. And that wisdom that is from
above, it leads to above where Christ sitteth at the right hand
of the throne of God on high. Whatever the Lord has revealed
to us and given us wisdom to know our own sin and own shame,
may we have the wisdom to apply it in a right way, not in despair,
but to flee unto the Lord and to seek Him and to seek His mercy. It may make us also to be very
tender to those who do not know the Lord and those who also are
seeking the Lord themselves. We would also seek that in all
of our lives we don't just have a compartment for religion and
a compartment for the rest of our lives. If we know that true
wisdom in Christ, may we apply it to everything, the smallest
things, the greatest things. Asking of the Lord what his will
is, what he'd have us to do, and the way that he would have
us to go. I will instruct thee and guide
thee in the way which thou shalt go, I will guide thee with mine
eye." So may this word be a help to us, may it be a help to us
in our interactions with those who differ with us, and may it
be a help to us in seeking that which is from above and that
which is saving for our souls. It is that wisdom which shall
Deliver us from all the snares of this world and that shall
bring us to be with the Lord forever at last. May the Lord bless us with this
wisdom. Amen.