WISE UP!

(3): HEAVENLY WISDOM

(James 3:17-18)
July 28, 2019

Read James 3:17-18 –Bob is a contestant on quiz show. The MC says, “Bob,
answer this final question correctly and you go home with $1M. This is a
two-part question on American history. The 2nd half is usually easier. Which
part would you like first?” Playing it safe, Bob replies, “I’ll try the second
part first.” The MC nods, the audience leans forward. “Okay, Bob, here is
your question: And in what year did it happen?” Hard to answer if you don’t
have the first part, right? And it’s hard to be wise if you are missing info.

Wisdom is knowledge applied to life. It teaches us how to live. But there are
two kinds of wisdom – earthly and heavenly – human and divine. Earthly
wisdom assumes the universe is a closed system, limited to sensory
perception. It is oblivious to the spirit world and thus works with only half of
reality. It is missing the half where God lives! It’s like trying to make a bike
with only one tire. You might get a unicycle, but you’re not going far. So,
earthly wisdom always falls short of helping us live successfully.

We need is wisdom “from above.” We’ll see I. Its Essence (Where does it
come from?); II. Its Expression (What does it look like?) and III. Its End
(What does it produce?) Worldly wisdom falls short bc it’s man-centric and
temporal. Heavenly wisdom succeeds because it is God-centric & eternal.

I. Its Essence (Where does it come from?)

V. 17 tells us true wisdom is “the wisdom from above.” It’s not an earthly
product. It’s “from above” – outside the bounds of sensory perception. Huge
implications follow. This tells us the universe is not a closed system, limited
by physical realities. It includes a spiritual dimension – one we cannot access
by normal means of perception and experimentation. Yet, that “from above”
dimension is where wisdom originates. So how can mere mortals access it?

It can only come by revelation. God must tell us. And that is exactly what the
Bible is – God’s wisdom from above. Psa 51:6: “Behold, you delight in truth
in the inward being, and you teach me wisdom in the secret heart.” He didn’t
get that by experimentation or psychological or philosophical speculation. He
listened to God. Prov 2:6) For the LORD gives wisdom; from his mouth come
knowledge and understanding.” A transcendent God uses words to address
humanity. That’s the Bible, coming from on high to an earthbound race.
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Wisdom from above invades our existence from outside by means of special
revelation. Jesus defines the wise man who builds his life on solid rock as one
who “comes to me and hears my words and does them” (Lu 6:47).

And the wisdom of the written Word is amplified and exemplified in the
Living Word – Jesus. We look to both for wisdom. Every human philosophy
eventually crashes and burns on a dead-end street called “No Final Answers”.
If mankind is only “an accidental collocation of atoms” as stated by Bertrand
Russell, then meaninglessness and nihilism is the ultimate conclusion. We
may urge the interim benefits of philanthropy and good will, but if all ends in
cessation of existence there is no meaning. Earthbound wisdom is bankrupt.

So Col 2:8: “See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty
deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the
world, and not according to Christ. 9) For in him the whole fullness of deity
dwells bodily.” Get above earthbound wisdom. Get Christ – because Col 2:3:
“in [Him] are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.” Everything
you need to know, you’ll find in the written and living Word. Look there.

No wonder earthly and heavenly wisdom collide. I was at a conference panel

recently where John MacArthur told of submitting a book to a publisher
entitled, “Being a Dad Who Leads.” Simple, right? But the publisher insisted
on a change in title -- pushback from Xn bookstores on being a dad who leads.
Gender and authority had to go! Al Mohler said, “So they’d prefer ‘Being a
Parent Who Suggests.’” More PC. But God’s wisdom promotes homes where
Dad leads. Just one way we have to choose. God’s way or man’s. God would
remind us, “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways
higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts” (Isa 55:9).

II. Its Expression (What does it look like?)

So what does heavenly wisdom look like – the wisdom that defines saving
faith vs. imagined faith? Jas gives us 7 elements to compare against.

Pure – From the root word for holy – set apart -- free of contamination or
defilement – just what you’d expect if it originates with God, right? So we
could say to the extent our life is driven by heavenly wisdom, it will be God-
like – free of impure motives -- genuine. Jas follows the teaching of his
brother. “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God” (Mt 5:8). They
are not sly, inside or out. They want God above all. That’s wisdom.

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Wisdom from above loves God. Jas emphasizes this in 4:8c “purify (make
holy) your hearts, you double-minded.” To be impure is to have a dual agenda
– wanting God’s way, but my own way as well. Like the rich, young, ruler of
Luke 18 who wanted his wealth and Jesus, too, on equal terms. He was
double-minded, refusing the Lordship of Jesus. Heavenly wisdom obeys;
earthly wisdom wants it both ways. Like LA gangster, Mickey Cohen, who
professed faith in Christ during BG’s 1949 LA meetings. Months later, he was
still a racketeer. When confronted, he protested no one told him he’d have to
give up his life of crime to get Christ. If there were Xn football players, Xn
cowboys and Xn politicians, why not a Xn gangster?! He was still earthbound.
Heavenly wisdom roots out sin rather than trying to justify it. It’s pure.

Peaceable – Wise people seek peace. They don’t fight over non-essentials.
They don’t perpetuate their own selfishness. They don’t insist on their own
way. Phil 2:3: “Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility
count others more significant than yourselves. 4) Let each of you look not
only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.” How many people
do you know who actually look out for the interests of others above their own?
The world would be a lot more peaceful if that attitude prevailed, wouldn’t it?

Peacemakers would rather have peace than have their way. That’s a rare
person. Luther gave the example of two goats who met on a narrow bridge
over deep water. They could not go back and dared not fight. After a short
parley, one of them lay down and the let the other walk over him. Luther said
the moral is: Be content if your person is trod upon for the sake of peace;
your person, I say, not your conscience.” Don’t give in on moral issues or
salvation. Otherwise, fight to be the first to give up the right to be right!

Gentle – sensitive to the feelings of others -- forbearing, not overbearing.

Courteous, not curt. Earthly wisdom wants to crush anyone who disagrees. It
is quarrelsome and antagonistic. The gentle person sees the bigger picture:
God’s in charge. It helps to be gentle when you know someone has your back!

So Jesus says in Mt 5:10) “Blessed are those who are persecuted for
righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11) “Blessed are you
when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against
you falsely on my account. 12) Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in
heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” Paul says it
even more concisely in II Tim 2:24: “And the Lord’s servant must not be
quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil.”

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Can you do that? Do you do that? The wise man does. I’m afraid most of the
time I jump to my own defense. It’s hard not to get defensive – but it’s wise.

Charles Stanley said one church tried to kick him out saying all he preached
was how to get saved, the coming of Christ and how to be filled with the HS.
His defenses kicked in: “Well, God, I hope that is true.” But before he struck
back, the Lord spoke to him thru II Tim. "If you want to win this battle,
remember this: See everything that comes at you as coming from me. What
they say, what they do, no matter what you see, it's coming from me, not
from them. Then you won't defend yourself. You’ll forgive. See it all as from
me." That’s wisdom from above, isn’t it? Characterized by gentleness.

Open to Reason – Gentleness is about not reacting when you are right. Open
to reason considers, you may be wrong. It’s teachable, reasonable, flexible?
David did many favors for a boorish man named Nabal, but when he asked
some sheep for a feast, Nabal rudely spurned him. David’s reaction was
revenge. But Nabal’s wise wife, Abigail, found out, met David and argued
eloquently against violence. When he became king, she wanted him to “have
no cause of grief or pangs of conscience for having shed blood without cause”
(I Sam 25:31). David listens: I Sam 25:32-33: “Blessed be the LORD, the God
of Israel, who sent you this day to meet me! 33) Blessed be your discretion, and
blessed be you, who have kept me this day from bloodguilt and from working
salvation with my own hand! (taking revenge that is the Lord’s domain).”

Abe Lincoln personified both gentleness and reasonableness. One time he

ordered the transfer of certain soldiers to please a politician. Sec of War,
Stanton, refused to carry out the order. Word got back to Lincoln that Stanton
had called him a fool. Lincoln replied, “If Stanton said I’m a fool, then I
must be, for he is nearly always right. I’ll see for myself.” When Stanton
explained his reasons, Lincoln realized his order was a serious mistake and
withdrew it. He was open and teachable – practicing wisdom from above.

Full of Mercy and Good Fruits – showing kindness to those who don’t
merit it. It is a God-like characteristic from above. Mt 5:7: “Blessed are the
merciful, for they shall receive mercy.” When we refuse mercy to others, we
show our own profession is suspect. How could we refuse small mercies after
the huge mercy God has shown us? Were we not enemies when he loved us
and died for us? Didn’t the good Samaritan in Lu 10 show mercy, even to his
Jewish enemy? And is not that our pattern as a true believer?

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Impartial – Earthly wisdom values people for their usefulness. Heavenly
wisdom loves people for themselves. The word literally means “unwavering”
– same treatment for all. It doesn’t play favorites. Not like the recently-
married elderly woman. Two friends wondered why. “Is he rich?” “No, he’s
on a pension.” “Well, is he good-looking?” The friend said, “No, he is rather
plain.” “Well, then, why did she marry him?” The friend replied, “Well, the
best I can figure, she married him bc he can drive at night.” That would be
earthly wisdom, using people, not heavenly. Wisdom from above is impartial.

Sincere – Not a hypocrite. Not two-faced. Earthly wisdom says be this here
and that there if it’s to your advantage. Run Heather down with Paula; run
Paula down with Heather. Not wisdom from above. During the 1940’s a
skeptic was contemplating suicide, sure religion was phony. But he decided
he’d listen if he could find someone genuine. He hired a PI to trail Will
Houghton, a preacher who became pres of Moody BI. His life was above
reproach; he was for real, driven by wisdom from above. The agnostic came to
faith in Christ and later sent his daughter to MBI. So, how would you do if
trailed by a PI? The great Methodist preacher Wm E. Sangster used to say,
“Are some people outside the church bc you’re inside?” Good question!

Now, don’t get buried. None of us practice wisdom perfectly, right? And we
all start at differing points. But there are two critical questions. First, is my
heart after this wisdom, even if my actions don’t always conform? Do I want
it? Second, am I making progress? Progress points to genuineness.

III. Its End (What does it produce?)

Earthly wisdom – disorder and every evil practice (16)? True wisdom is the
opposite. 18) “And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who
make peace.” Or another way to say it, “Peacemakers produce, in the
atmosphere of peace they create, the harvest of righteousness.” In other
words, wisdom reflects the character of God.

Earthly wisdom says, “Get even with your enemies. They deserve no better.”
Heavenly wisdom says, “Love your enemies (Mt 5:44) – just like God loved
you and died for you when you were still His enemy” (Rom 5:8). Earthly
wisdom says, “Do whatever it takes to get ahead. You deserve it.” Heavenly
wisdom says, “Whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his
life for my sake will save it” (Lu 9:24). See how it works? No – it’s not easy.
No one said it would be. But righteous living results, rewarded by God.

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Imagine sitting in a small art gallery. The room is empty except for two
contrasting portraits on opposite walls. The first portrait shows a bedeviled
fellow, ridden with anxiety, leaving chaos in his wake as he advances toward
goals labeled ambition, wealth, comfort and prestige. The caption reads: “The
Unwise painted by Self.” The other portrait, totally opposite – showing a man
with gentle demeanor, relaxed posture, aiming at peace, joy and contentment,
surrounded by children and adults alike copying his example. The caption:
“The Wise, painted by the Spirit of God.” That’s the contrast Jas paints.

Conc – Let me close this series with this. Xns don’t put their minds on the
shelf, but when there’s a choice, they choose God’s revelation over man’s
speculation. They set their watches by the sun rather than the town clock, see?
They choose wisdom from above over guesses from below. A great old pastor,
A. J. Gordon once said it this way: “One of our preachers lately declared that
all thinkers now accept the doctrine of evolution as true. That may be or
may not be. But how is it about believers? Thinkers accept one another’s
opinions: believers accept the voice of God. Thinkers base their
conclusions on a ‘Thus saith science’: believers rest their faith on a ‘Thus
saith the Lord.’ It may seem stupid not to think with the great thinkers, but
we prefer to believe with the great believers. Let who will choose for himself
the accolade: ‘He thought with the great thinkers and it was counted to him
for originality.’ We prefer to take our place with faithful Abraham, if with
him we may win this epitaph: ‘He believed God and it was counted unto him
for righteousness.’” I trust we will be counted with the believers, seeking
wisdom from above. Let’s pray.