James 3:13-18: Understanding Earthly vs. Heavenly Wisdom

Summary:

This sermon by Pastor Greg Mah explores the concept of two types of wisdom as described in James 3:13-18.

The sermon begins with an analogy of Time Magazine's "Person of the Year," highlighting society's innate desire for recognition and significance, which is reflected in the pursuit of certain kinds of wisdom [Image 4] [Image 6].
It identifies "earthly wisdom" (James 3:13-16) [Image 9] as being driven by bitter jealousy and selfish ambition, leading to disorder and "vile practices." This wisdom is described as unspiritual and demonic.
The sermon then contrasts this with "heavenly wisdom" (James 3:17-18) [Image 11] [Image 13], characterized by:
- Purity: The foundational motive behind actions.
- Gentleness: Strength under control, not born of weakness, illustrated by Yoda [Image 16] and a bridled horse [Image 18].
- Openness to Reason: Being teachable and open to learning from God's perspective, using a Waze analogy [Image 20].
- Sincerity: Authenticity without hypocrisy or performance.
- Peaceableness: Striving for unity and love among people [Image 25].
- Impartiality: Showing equal treatment to all, without favoritism, exemplified by the story of David Berkowitz ("Son of Sam") [Image 27] [Image 29].
- Love of Mercy: Rejoicing in God's forgiveness for others, understanding everyone's need for a savior.
These characteristics together form a "GOSPEL-driven" life, emphasizing that true wisdom is centered on Christ, not self-glory [Image 31].

Introduction to the Sermon and Veterans Day [0:00]

[Image 0] The sermon opens by acknowledging Veterans Day and thanking the veterans present for their service and sacrifice [Image 2], drawing a parallel between their service and the gospel's message of self-giving.

The Search for Significance: Time Magazine's "Person of the Year" [1:05]

The pastor introduces the sermon's theme using Time Magazine's "Person of the Year" award, which recognizes the most influential newsmaker of the year.

He cites examples:
- Pope Francis in 2013 [1:23]
- Barack Obama in 2012 [1:31]
- Mark Zuckerberg in 2010 [1:39] [Image 4]
The "Person of the Year" in 2006 was "You" [1:57] [Image 6], representing the rise of user-generated content and social media platforms like YouTube and MySpace.
This reflects an innate human desire for significance, recognition, and popularity [3:13], which has been present since ancient times (Genesis). This desire often drives people to become "someones" [2:44].

Prayer for Community Issues [4:00]

Before delving into the scripture, Pastor Mah leads a prayer for those affected by the California fires and the recent shooting in Thousand Oaks, highlighting the safety and peace of the church community and asking for God's mercy and presence for the victims and first responders.

James 3:13-18: A Tale of Two Wisdoms [6:21]

The main text for the sermon is James 3:13-18, focusing on the distinction between two types of wisdom.

Context of Teachers in James' Time [6:40]
- Jewish teachers, or rabbis, were held in high regard, seen as positions of privilege, power, and influence.
- It was believed that parents brought a child into this world, but a rabbi could lead them to the life of the next, giving them "eternal influence."
- Many desired this position and the respect it commanded, even wanting to be "covered in their dust" (a saying implying deep discipleship).
Earthly Wisdom: Driven by Selfish Ambition and Jealousy [7:40]
- James addresses those eager for recognition, warning against the motivations of the heart. [7:40]
- James 3:13-16 (ESV) [7:52] [Image 9]: "Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom. But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice."
- This wisdom is not from above [8:40], but is earthly, unspiritual, and demonic [11:27].
- It is characterized by:
  - Bitter jealousy (or envy) [8:51]
  - Selfish ambition [9:00]
- The pastor illustrates this with:
  - Jealousy over a colleague's success or a sibling receiving more favor [9:47]
  - Desire for popularity on social media [10:09]
- He warns against being driven by such motivations, emphasizing that these desires, while seemingly innocent, are deeply rooted in human nature.

Heavenly Wisdom: The Attributes of a Gospel-Driven Life [12:50]

In contrast to earthly wisdom, James describes wisdom that comes from above [Image 11]. This wisdom is characterized by a series of attributes, leading to a "GOSPEL-driven" life.

Pure [13:06] [Image 13]: The purity of one's motives is paramount.
- It's the motive that drives the desire for wisdom. [13:58]
Gentle [15:07]: This refers to "prautes" in Greek, meaning power with reserve, strength that is bridled and under control, not weakness. [16:05]
- An analogy is given of a wild horse broken and controlled by its master [17:20] [Image 18].
- This implies having tremendous potential and ability but submitting it to God's will [17:53].
- Yoda from Star Wars is also used as an example of wisdom and gentleness [17:20] [Image 16].
Open to Reason [19:22]: Being teachable, open to suggestions, and continuously learning from God's perspective. [19:31]
- The pastor uses a personal anecdote about relying on his own navigation vs. Waze (GPS) to illustrate the importance of being open to a "better way" provided by a higher authority (God) [20:29] [Image 20].
- This also means being open to counsel from others, understanding that God can speak through people. [24:11]
Sincere [26:25]: Without hypocrisy, authentic, and real. [27:08]
- The pastor shares a story about a salesman acting genuinely, then revealing a hidden agenda, illustrating hypocrisy. [27:43]
- Nothing drives people away more than hypocrisy. [32:28]
Peaceable [33:00]: Peace-loving, striving for unity among believers and in relationships. [33:10]
- Jesus prayed for unity among his followers (John 17:20-23) [35:43] [Image 25].
Impartial [38:19]: Showing equal treatment to all, without favoritism, regardless of wealth, race, or background. [38:28]
- This means seeing everyone as needing a Savior.
- The story of David Berkowitz ("Son of Sam"), a notorious serial killer, finding Christ in prison is shared as an example of God's impartial mercy and transforming power [40:49] [Image 27].
- David Berkowitz learned from Romans 10:13, "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved," and realized God has no favorites and welcomes all [44:28] [Image 29].
Loves Mercy [46:12]: Rejoices when others experience God's forgiveness and grace, even those who seem undeserving. [46:25]
- It is not natural to love mercy for all, but it is a characteristic of heavenly wisdom.

Conclusion: Living a Gospel-Driven Life [50:14]

The sermon concludes by summarizing these characteristics using the acronym GOSPEL [Image 31]:

Gentle
Open to reason
Sincere
Peaceable
Equal treatment
Loves mercy The call is to live a life driven by these heavenly wisdoms, seeking God's kingdom and His will above all else, trusting in His perfect ways.