Series: Fall Series

Sermon: Two Kinds of Wisdom

Today we have at our disposal today more knowledge than at any time in history. More information has been produced in the last thirty years than in the previous five thousand. We also know that there has also been a steep rise in mis-information.

Our world has plenty of knowledge and education, but it has not always translated into being wiser people. With so much information one has the difficult job of knowing which info is good and which harmful.

We used to talk about this thing called “common sense,” or the common ability to choose the right over wrong and to make wise choices based on God’s wisdom. But more and more what we see in our world is a rejection of God’s wisdom in favor of one’s own person wisdom based on one’s knowledge and experience.

What we use to call “Common Sense” is now “Uncommon Sense.”

James’ whole letter is an explanation about the about how to live wisely and faithfully in difficult times.

In chapter one, James’ advice to us who are struggling to live faithfully and wisely is this…
“If any of you is lacking in wisdom, ask God, who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly, and it will be given you.” (James 1:5).

James tells us to know our human limits of understanding and application of knowledge. He encourages us to humbly ask God for help. Asking for help is one of the wisest things we can ever do.

Having shared how a Christian’s loving, merciful and positive actions and words reveal their faith in Christ, James asks this question in verse 13,
“Who is wise and understanding among you? Show by your good life that your works are done with gentleness born of wisdom.” (Jas 3:13).  

Google may provide us with tons of information, but it doesn’t always help us to know how to apply that knowledge in specific situations.

You can read everything there is to know about car, its history, how it works, how even drive one, but you only learn to drive a car by getting the wheel and driving. Hopefully with a good teacher.

Wisdom is gained through applying what we know in real situations.

James makes the important observation in verse 13 that wise individuals will demonstrate their wisdom in the choices they make, the insights they share, how they live and by positive influence they have on those around them.

I thought of four people: C. S. Lewis (English Author) Mother Teresa, an elder from a previous congregation, and Billy Graham. All known for their love of Christ, their wisdom, and for the fruits of their lives.

I am sure we could name others.

We follow the wisdom of people who walk their talk. No one is perfect in the practice of all their beliefs, and no walks their talk all the time, but on the whole, a truly wise person’s life will back up who they follow and whose wisdom they live by.

James then goes on to tell us in our passage that there are two kinds of wisdom. There is the Wisdom that comes from God and the wisdom that comes from the humans.

How can you tell the difference? The same way James tells us that we can discern a faithful and wise person from the unfaithful foolish person. We tell by the fruit of character that is evidenced.

Earthly OR Human Wisdom (James 3:14-16)

First, there is human wisdom, which James says in verse 15

“Such wisdom does not come down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, devilish.” (Jas 3:15).

Earthly wisdom is based on the wisdom and knowledge of creatures and not of the Creator. Earthly wisdom measures success by human standards: wealth, achievement, popularity, etc. Its goals are self-serving.

According to James this type of wisdom is also unspiritual because the wisdom does not have any connection with God. It is unspiritual because it comes from those who close themselves off from God and rely on their own wisdom instead.

Any wisdom that opposes or rejects God’s love, distorts God’s truth, and encourages destruction and division can rightly be described as devilish.

In calling the wisdom of this world as earthly, unspiritual, and devilish, James is asking us to evaluate the source of the wisdom that comes to us before we embrace and follow it.

We sadly live in a time where we need to double check or fact check the information that comes to us through various means because there is so much mis-information floating around these days.

In verse 14, James gives us several criteria for determining if the wisdom we encounter is earthly wisdom.
“But if you have bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not be boastful and false to the truth.” (Jas 3:14).

This false wisdom is characterized by selfish motivations and actions. What is the motivation of the person sharing the wisdom?

Earthly wisdom reveals itself in Bitter envy or the attitude where one becomes upset or angry because another prospers or has more or has advantages that you don’t’ have.

Earthly wisdom has an angry edge to it and not a loving or joyous one.

Earthly wisdom is also characterized by Selfish Ambition. Who ultimately benefits from the wisdom, the giver or the receiver of the wisdom? What and who gains from the wisdom?

Earthly wisdom Boasts and is False to the Truth. If the wisdom we have encountered boasts first and foremost about the author of the wisdom and not God, then question it. If the wisdom intentionally opposes God’s revealed truth in Christ, then question it.

The Spirit always leads us to truth of what God has revealed in the Bible, while the evil one leads us to oppose the truth—even in our boasting.

In verse 16 James declares what the ultimate consequence or fruit of earthly wisdom.
“For where there is envy and selfish ambition, there will also be disorder and wickedness of every kind.” (Jas 3:16).

Following earthly and human wisdom divides, creates barriers between people, promotes the prosperity of a few at the expense of the many, and it promotes beliefs and behaviours that move people away from God

James provides us with a very strong standards for identifying, questioning and avoiding earthly wisdom.

God’s Wisdom (James 3:17-18)

Having identified the kind of wisdom to be avoided, James shares the kind of wisdom to be embraced and followed. In verse 17, James gives us a comprehensive and helpful description of God’s wisdom that he encourages us to continually embrace as we put our faith into action.

“But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without a trace of partiality or hypocrisy.” (Jas 3:17).

The definition includes the following descriptions of God’s wisdom.

Pure. It is a wisdom that honors God first and foremost compared to self-focused and self-promoting wisdom of our age.

God’s wisdom is Peaceable. It is wisdom that brings peace, wholeness, and well-being to people. God’s wisdom brings people together and builds up the community.

God’s wisdom is Gentle. To be gentle is have soft touch. It is considerate of others. Paul writes to Titus “to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show every courtesy to everyone.” (Titus 3:2). The current political Attack adds don’t meet this criteria.

God’s wisdom is Willing to yield. This has the sense of being open to God’s teachings. The wise person is open to being taught, willing to admit their mistakes, willing to see another’s perspective, and is willing to learn from those wiser than they.

A characteristic of the wise is they listen first and then speak.

God’s wisdom is Full of mercy. Jesus’ parables of the Lost or Prodigal Son and the Good Samaritan reflect the wisdom God’s mercy demonstrated in forgiveness and generosity to others. All that Christ taught and did was reflection of God’s mercy toward us and all people.

God’s wisdom is recognized in the good fruit of character it produces. Jesus declared that people would identify us as his followers by the good fruit we produce by abiding in him. The fruit of God’s wisdom within us is summaries by Paul in Galatians 5:22-23 as
“love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.”

God’s wisdom shows no hint partiality toward anyone because it recognizes that all have fallen short of God’s intentions and we all need God’s help no matter who we are. We all stand on equal footing before God both in receiving both judgment and in receiving God’s mercy.

Godly wisdom is without hypocrisy. God’s wisdom is the real deal. God clearly reveals His motives, intentions and goals through what God says and does. In Christ, God’s grace and truth are clearly revealed for all to see clearly and plainly.

James reveals in verse 18 that end result of embracing God’s wisdom.

“And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace for those who make peace.” (Jas 3:18).

The Goal of God’s wisdom is always to move us closer to Him and closer to one another. Those who live by God’s wisdom have a positive role to play in pulling people together and not apart as so many are doing these days

In an age and time where so many people embrace so much foolishness that harms and destroys individuals and communities, it is imperative that we be wise students and practitioners of God’s wisdom.

As James asks, “Who is wise and understanding among you?” (James 3:13)

Let our answer be
“It is us, for we listen and follow the wisdom that God teaches us through Christ
and those are inspired by Him.”

To God who is all wise be honored, praised and followed.
Amen.

Sadly, our video recorder/editor has moved out of town. We are grateful for the work he has done for us. So in until we can find a new person, we will provide just a manuscript of the sermon for you.

On this Labour Day Weekend, I thought we would spend some time reflecting on work.
Just for kicks and giggles, how many different paid jobs or employers have you had? Think for a moment from your first to your current or last?

1-2? 3-5? 5-10? 10-15? More than 15?

The statistic that is frequently quoted on-line is that the average North American male or female will have 12 jobs in their lifetime.
If you are older, then this number will be smaller. For example my father worked essentially 4 jobs in lifetime: paper boy, stock boy at his father’s story, and for 2 companies in his 40 year career as an Electrical Engineer.

And if you are younger, this number will be greater for we live in a time where jobs comes and go at the drop of hat.

One of the most important things Christians have in common with those without or little faith is that we go to work just like they do. Work and Retirement is common ground for getting to know people.

You know how important work is to our society by realizing that one of the first questions we tend to ask people is “What do you do for living?” Or if they are retired, “What did you do for a living?”

We spend most of our waking hours engaged in some kind of work, whether it is paid or unpaid work such as raising a family or maintaining a household.

It is therefore not surprising that our work and worth have become closely related in our contemporary society. And too many people find retirement difficult, because giving up their job means losing a part of their identity. And those who were not able to work or find work during the pandemic suffered in numerous ways.

The Rev. John Stott, an Anglican minister and church leader, provides us with a helpful definition of work in his book “Issues facing Christians today,”
Work is “the expenditure of energy (manual or mental or both) in the service of others, which brings fulfillment to the worker, benefit to the community, and glory to God” (John Stott, Issues Facing Christians Today, p.162.).
 
In this way of thinking,
• the unemployed person cleaning up the streets by picking up pop cans,
• or the person who volunteers in schools or retirement homes,
• or the retiree who volunteer with any community group,
• or parents changing diapers or cooking meals,
are working and in fact contributing to the greater good of society as much as a person who is paid for their work.

During the pandemic, besides those who work in the health care and those who continued to work without interruption during the pandemic were those in the skilled trades like the building and road construction trades. This is a reversal from other periods where university trained individuals were in high demand.

Regardless of what you may have heard or read, about what the oldest profession is, according to the Bible the oldest profession is not prostitution, but farming and taking care of the creation.
“The LORD God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to till it and keep it.” (Genesis 2:15).

If you explore the wide-ranging biblical imagery of divine work can give us a greater sense of being junior partners in God’s work of creation, preservation, and redemption. Work is not a curse, but rather an opportunity to work with God.

God reveals his character and activity among us as an architect and a builder (Prov 8:27-31), a doctor-healer (Mk 2:12, 17), a teacher (Mt 7:28-29), a weaver (Ps 139:13-16), a gardener/farmer (Gen 2. 8-9; 3:8; Jn 15:1-8), a shepherd (Ps 23; Jn 10), a potter/craftworker (Jer. 18:1-9; Rom 9:19-21) and a homemaker (Lk 15:8).

By seeing our work in the light of God’s work, we can see God’s hand in our everyday tasks. Our work will have meaning when it is connected to God’s ongoing work and mission in our world.

Our work is meant to be an expression of our worship and fellowship with God. It should not be confused with or replace our corporate worship, but it is an everyday offering of our whole selves, bodies, and minds, to God as Paul says in Rom. 12:1-2. Paul also says in Ephesians “Render service with enthusiasm, as to the Lord and not to men and women” (Ephesians 6:7 NRSV).

God graciously invites us to work. The world is not yet finished. There is still work to be done in God’s creation, and lots of room is left for human creativity.
 
As Christians we believe that we all we have and are, is a gift of God. We are saved by God’s grace, not by human works. And God is also the giver of all work, the giver of skills, talents, and opportunities. These are given to us to be used to love and honor God, to love neighbor, and used in the service of God. God gives us voices to sing his praises and gives us hands to work to put food on our tables.

When our work becomes the sole purpose and focus of our lives, then we either end up frustrated with it like the Preacher of Ecclesiastes proclaims, or our work ends up becoming an idol. A life totally devoted to work and nothing else can become an act of rebellion against God.
 
Therefore, we are challenged in the Scriptures to strive for a greater integration of our faith and our work.
We do so by recognizing the fact that we spend more of time as the church scattered, that is in the workplace or in retirement, in our homes, and at play, than we do as the church gathered on Sunday morning.

This simple observation must shape and direct our ministry and mission in the communities where we live.

We don’t cease to be God’s people when we leave the church building. Instead God sends us out and scatters us, like a farmer sowing seed, in our communities Monday to Saturday to love, serve, bless and witness to others as His representatives.
We follow the example of Christ’ work as our Prophet, Priest, and King.
 
First, the Prophetic: Advocacy in the Workplace. Economic life is more often spoken of as the sphere of sin rather than an area of blessing in the Bible. As a result of this, the Old Testament shows a remarkable concern for economic justice, giving attention to minute details of wages (cf. Jer 22:13), contracts, and fairness. “You shall not keep back a hired man’s wages till next morning” (Lev. 19:13).

The Bible never condemns the poor for their poverty, but rather see it a great tragedy. On the other hand, those who can work should work and not be a burden either on the church or society as Paul says in 2 Thessalonians 3:12.

In washing his disciples’ feet, Jesus demonstrated that no job or task is never seemingly too small or out of bounds for one of his followers. All are to be appreciated for their work and contributions to church and society.
 
Therefore, advocating for jobs in one’s area, or for the fair treatment of employees, affordable housing for workers, and fair wages are issues that are within the bounds of our Biblical principles and by our Presbyterian heritage of being actively engaged in local, national, and global justice issues.

Secondly, we fulfill our priestly role in supporting those who are in the work force or who have retired to find meaning in their work.
Like the Preacher in Ecclesiastes who wrestled with the meaning of work, my dad wrestled with his work as at a munitions plant during the Vietnam War years. It was a good paying job, but he struggled ethically as a Christians with the kind of work he was involved in.
 
Thankfully, he was able to retire early and went to work using his administrative and organizational skills with company called LIFE SERVICES. This company provided important services for struggling Seniors who needed a helping hand. He was much happier working for Life Service than for his previous employer.

His example helped me to understand the importance of these Biblical questions about work.:
• “Are we giving to our job or work that which should only be given to God?” (i.e. our highest devotion)

• “What are the limits that we should expect of ourselves in our work? (i.e. Work and Family Balance)

• What changes ought to be made in our patterns of our work / retirement so that they reflect a more Biblical understand of calling? (i.e. How does it serve God’s purposes)

And finally, The Kingly role: Living to the Glory of God. How we work and find balance between life and work witnesses to our loyalty to Christ our King? This does not matter if our work is paid or volunteered, done at home or at a designated work place.

How we work or volunteer, what we say and do at work, the compassion we show to fellow workers, how we serve them testifies loudly to our faith in Christ. We are Christ’s representatives wherever we work or volunteer.

I love this quote from American Presbyterian Pastor and Author Fred Buechner about calling.
“The place God calls you to is the place where your deep gladness and the world’s deep hunger meet.”

Just as our Lord saw his primary calling as that of glorifying God and drawing people to God in his person and in his work, so too are we challenged to see this as our primary calling as well.

May God help us to more fully integrate our faith into all areas of lives including our working, retirement and our volunteering, so that we may glorify God Monday thru Saturdays just as we do on Sundays. AMEN!