James worksheet 7

Earthly wisdom and heavenly wisdom
James 3:13-18

James 3:13-18 (NKJV) says ¹³Who is

and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the

Reveal Answer

of wisdom. ¹⁴But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. ¹⁵This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. ¹⁶For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. ¹⁷But the wisdom that is from

Reveal Answer

is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. ¹⁸Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

This section is about living wisdom. You cannot see outwordly if a person has much wisdom. You can notice a person’s wisdom from the way a person lives, by good life conduct. We need to use the owner’s manual for life, The Bible, to obtain more wisdom. True wisdom is shown by good conduct and meekness/humility.

Verses 14 through 16 describe what true wisdom is not, the opposite: earthly wisdom or dead wisdom. Marked by bitter envy, self-seeking, boasting, lying (verse 14). And not from above, but earthly, sensual, and demonic (verse 15).
What are these qualifications about?
Eartly is ‘having this life only in view’.
Sensual is ‘Animal-having for its object the gratification of the passions and animal propensities’.
Demonic is ‘Demoniacal-inspired by demons, and maintained in the soul by their indwelling influence’.
The fruit/result of human earthly dead envy and self-seeking is confusion and evil.

Q1 Knowing this, what kind of wisdom is planted in us by God, rather than promoted by Satan?

Q2 The contrast of dead wisdom is found in verses 17 and 18: the wisdom from above. What kind of characteristics/good_fruit/product/shalom do you find there? Is this alive in you?

Q3 In verse 17 we see the willingness to yield (NKJV). James states here that we shouldn’t be stubborn, obstinate, or dogmatic in non-essentials. Where should we give in or compromise? Certainly we as Christians should never compromise regarding essentials of the faith. In what kind of fundamentals/essentials or central doctrines are you not willing to compromise?

Guess what? Who was the person who had all of this wisdom from above? Of course Jesus.

If you fall short and lack any of the characteristics of living wisdom, simply ask our Lord to give it. Let’s pray for that from the Lord Jesus. Do it now.