STREET SMART, BOOK SMART, OR WORD SMART by Dr. Shah, Clearview Church, Henderson, NC
Introduction: Often times I will read about/hear about a book that was very popular at one time. So, I will go looking for it in a bookstore. It does not fail – they say “Sir, we don’t carry that book anymore, but we could order it for you.” I reply: “that’s okay.” Then I come home and try to find it online – Guess what? – it is no longer in print! It was very popular at one time but apparently not popular enough to keep on the shelf or in print anymore. Have you ever gone looking for a Bible and heard, “Sir, we don’t carry the Bible anymore.” I am not talking about a special Bible just an English Bible. It is the Word of God – it is Eternal Wisdom. We were in Belgium for a conference couple of weeks ago. We checked into a hotel halfway between Brussels and Louvain. Guess what I found when I opened the drawer in the nightstand? A Bible in German, French, English, and Dutch. It is the Word of God – it is Eternal Wisdom. There’s nothing like it anywhere. Furthermore, it has the Gospel that saves us.
James 3 (page #1852) 13 “Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom. 14 But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. 15 This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic.”
Overall Background: In the first century church, there were people who wanted to be teachers and leaders. James is cautioning them to evaluate their lives according to God’s wisdom. Last week, he focused on our words. This week, the focus is on wisdom. Listen again – 13 “Who is wise and understanding among you?” In technical terms, this construction is known as a pleonasm. It is like a synonym, but the meanings are not the same. “Wise” = “sophos” refers to “practical effects of knowledge,” and “Understanding” = “epistemon” means “an expert in the field.” All in all, it means “anyone who thinks they have wisdom.” 13 “…Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom.”
Application: It has often fascinated me how God sent some people in my life. They did not try to corner me or accuse me, but their “good conduct” persuaded me to listen to them. They guided me in real wisdom. They were not fault free, but they came in the “meekness of wisdom.” Greeks looked at humility as being unbecoming of a strong and confidant person. Jesus was meek and He said in Matthew 5:5 “Blessed are the meek, For they shall inherit the earth.”
Let’s keep reading – James 3 (page #1852) 14 “But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts (another pleonasm), do not boast and lie against the truth. 15 This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, (“epigeios” = earthbound – not God’s will) sensual, (human feeling and reason) demonic. 16 For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there.”
Application: You know what is interesting – people cannot solve their own problems, but they think they can help you with yours. I have had to face conflicts in my life. Do you know what was interesting? The people who came to point out my faults were usually people with glaring faults of their own. It is human nature – we like to fix other people’s problems because it gets the attention away from our own.
THE TEST OF TRUE WISDOM IS IN HOW YOU LIVE. What kind of a leader or teacher are you? Do you have evil speaking and self-seeking in your life?
James is going to list 7 key indicators of Godly Wisdom:
I. WISE PEOPLE MAINTAIN THEIR INTEGRITY.
17 “But the wisdom that is from above is first pure…”
PURE = “hagnos” = innocence & moral blamelessness as opposed to deceiving, lying, cheating, swindling, being unfaithful, backbiting, backstabbing and anything that is impure and underhanded. Anytime we do something that compromises the truth, it has become impure.
PURITY IS ANOTHER WORD FOR INTEGRITY AND INTEGRITY IS WHO WE ARE WHEN NO ONE IS WATCHING.
LOT OF SMART PEOPLE MAKE SOME STUPID MISTAKES.
For e.g. Heard about a guy who was very successful in what he did. He was very prosperous. Then he began to suffer with ulcers. He was puzzled and went to the doctor. In questioning, it came out that he had a girlfriend about 50 miles away. Twice he went to see her. Since he was often late in getting home, he had to come up with a new tale every time. HE WAS SMART BUT HE WASN’T WISE.
Old Saying: “If you lose your money, you haven’t lost anything. If you lose your friends, you have lost something. But, if you lose your integrity/PURITY, you have lost everything.”
WISE PEOPLE MAINTAIN THEIR INTEGRITY. THEY UNDERSTAND THAT ‘ONE CAN HAVE THEIR KICKS BUT THEN THERE ARE KICKBACKS.’
Proverbs 22:11 “He who loves purity of heart And has grace on his lips, The king will be his friend.”
Matthew 5:8 “Blessed are the pure in heart, For they shall see God.”
Application: Are you a pure person? Can you be trusted? Are you a person of integrity? Then you are Wise.
II. WISE PEOPLE PREVENT UNNECESSARY CONFLICTS
17 “But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable…”
PEACEABLE = “eirenikos.” It does not mean —
- a person who compromises and constantly gives in under pressure.
- “peace at any price.”
- silent or mousy or timid people.
Peaceable people are those who get no pleasure out of starting unnecessary conflicts.
For e.g. Here is an extreme example – I saw this firsthand in my father. We were at a train station in India during our mission trip. They have what they call porters – like skycaps. You pay them to carry your luggage. These guys are tough and they can be rough. Sometimes they will get into fist fights with each other over who was next in line. Fight breaks out. I had to literally pull my dad away from trying to break up that fight. A child of God cannot stand back and watch a fist fight or a contention of any sort.
For e.g. There are some people who are busybodies. They buzz around telling this person – “do you know what they said about you?” They get some sadistic pleasure out of disharmony and contention.
WISE PEOPLE PREVENT UNNECESSARY CONFLICTS. THEY UNDERSTAND THAT YOU CAN DISAGREE WITHOUT BEING DISAGREEABLE; YOU CAN HAVE UNITY WITHOUT UNIFORMITY; YOU CAN WALK HAND-IN-HAND WITHOUT SEEING EYE-TO-EYE.
Proverbs 20:3 “It is honorable for a man to stop striving, Since any fool can start a quarrel.”
Matthew 5:9 “Blessed are the peacemakers, For they shall be called sons of God.”
Application: Children look like their parents. We look more and more like God when we spread peace and unity.
III. WISE PEOPLE HAVE A GENTLE SPIRIT
“But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle…”
GENTLE = “epiekeis” means considerate, courteous and nonjudgmental.
For e.g. Do you know people who are hateful, condescending, short and harsh? When you are done talking with them, you feel the wind has been knocked out of you.
IT IS NOT NECESSARILY THE VOLUME BUT THE TONE.
Then there are people that when you are done talking to them, you feel lifted. Again, we are not talking about people who are flimsy or go with the flow type. They are people who are determined and focus and hold you to the task but they are gentle in their spirit.
Someone said: “Abraham Lincoln was a man of velvet steel.” A GENTLE GIANT
Proverbs 15:1 “A soft answer turns away wrath, But a harsh word stirs up anger.”
Jesus was a gentle person. That’s why parents brought their children to him. That’s why women and outcasts came to him. That’s why the sick and hurting came to him. Listen to how he described himself in Matthew 11 28 “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”
Application: Are you a gentle person?
IV. WISE PEOPLE ARE TEACHABLE.
James 3 (page #1852) 17 “But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield”
Willing to yield comes from the Greek word “eupeitheis.” This is the only time it is found in the New Testament. It is a military term that means “to be willing to take instructions” or “easily taught.”
THE WISEST PEOPLE I KNOW ARE LIFELONG LEARNERS AND STUDENTS.
For e.g. How many times I’ve heard someone say, “I am a bullheaded person.” That translated means “I do not listen to anyone.” Can I ask you something? Are you proud of that? Growing up I knew a guy in our church who wore a smirk on his face the whole time through the message.
For e.g. W.A. Criswell taking notes when Rick Warren got up to speak.
Proverbs 9 8 “Do not correct a scoffer, lest he hate you; Rebuke a wise man, and he will love you. 9Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser; Teach a just man, and he will increase in learning.”
Luke 2:52 “And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.” As fully God, he made everything. As fully man, he was teachable.
Application: Are you teachable? Then, you are wise.
V. WISE PEOPLE ARE NOT BITTER
17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, (another pleonasm)…”
FULL OF MERCY means “when people don’t meet your expectations,” “when people don’t treat you right,” “when people have treated you wrongly – you let mercy direct your actions.
WISE PEOPLE DO NOT KEEP GRUDGES. THEY DON’T CARRY EXCESS BAGGAGE.
GOOD FRUITS = as opposed to sour fruits that come due to the soil, water or nature.
For e.g. Have you ever met people like that? Do they ever make friends? No – Why not?
THEY ARE SOUR.
For e.g. Someone asked the preacher’s wife, “Do you wake up grumpy?” “No – I let him sleep.”
Proverbs 11:30 “The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, And he who wins souls is wise.”
Matthew 18 21 Then Peter came to Him and said, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?” 22 Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.
Luke 23:34 Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.”
Application: Do you hold grudges?
VI. WISE PEOPLE PLAY FAIR.
James 3:17 “But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality.”
without partiality = “adiakritos” = not unfair, not indecisive, not underhanded.
WISE PEOPLE ARE SINCERE AND HONEST AND JUST.
Proverbs 24:23 “These things also belong to the wise: It is not good to show partiality in judgment.”
Matthew 7:1 “Judge not, that you be not judged.”
Romans 2:11 “For there is no partiality with God.”
Galatians 3:28 “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”
Our world is full of partiality. We as believers should be the first to play fair. That’s when the lost world realizes that we are people of wisdom and people of God.
Application: Wise people know that PLAYING FAVORITES ALWAYS BACKFIRES.
VII. WISE PEOPLE DO NOT PRETEND TO BE PERFECT
James 3:17 “But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy.”
Without hypocrisy = “anhupocritos” – WISE PEOPLE DO NOT PRETEND TO BE WHAT THEY ARE NOT.
Application: When you start telling people your weaknesses, they won’t be surprised. THEY ALREADY KNOW.
Matthew 23 17a “Fools and blind!…27 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness.”
Finally, in James 3:18 “Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.”Because of lack of wisdom, there was conflict in the early church.
Conclusion: If you think that you can walk around with this 7-point checklist, you will fail and fail miserably. Instead, here’s the secret to wisdom:
1 Corinthians 1 (page #1754-55) 18 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19 For it is written: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, And bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.” 20 Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? 21 For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. 22 For Jews request a sign, and Greeks seek after wisdom; 23 but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness, 24 but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
Matthew 7 24 “Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: 25 and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. 26 “But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: 27 and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall.”
Invitation: Is Christ your Savior? Are you building your life on his Word?