James 3:13–17 Do any of you have wisdom and insight? Show this by living the right way with the humility that comes from wisdom. But if you are bitterly jealous and filled with self-centered ambition, don’t brag. Don’t say that you are wise when it isn’t true. That kind of wisdom doesn’t come from above. It belongs to this world. It is self-centered and demonic. Wherever there is jealousy and rivalry, there is disorder and every kind of evil. However, the wisdom that comes from above is first of all pure. Then it is peaceful, gentle, obedient, filled with mercy and good deeds, impartial, and sincere.
TO MANY PEOPLE ARE SPENDING THEIR TIME CHECKING OTHER PEOPLE, WHEN THEY NEED TO BE CHECKING THEIRSELF. THIS WORD APPLIES TO ALL PEOPLE INCLUDING DEACONS, MINISTERS, AND PASTORS. YOU ARE CHECKING OTHER PEOPLE BUT YOU ARE NOT CHECKING YOURSELF. CHECK YOURSELF!!!
Note the terrible effects of false wisdom and wrong teaching. The person who follows the false wisdom of the world, who selfishly seeks position, recognition, wealth, and authority—who seeks recognition for some novel idea or doctrine he has—who envies and strives with others—that person is a false teacher and he causes confusion and every evil work. When that person is a minister or teacher in the church …
• he causes confusion and evil in the church: people become disturbed, divided, form cliques, and begin bearing tales. They become angry and hold feelings against one another and some even leave the church and forsake God.
• he causes confusion and evil within families: various members question, wonder, and differ with other family members. They cease to grow and return to the world.
• he causes the weak to return to the world and to forsake God and His Word: the weak forsake Christ as the true Son of God, and Christ alone can save man.
• he causes persons to attach their lives to an earthly religion of ritual, ceremony, and morality—all of which die at the grave. The false teacher dooms the person to an eternity apart from the Son of God, even Jesus Christ our Lord who is the Savior of the world.
The confusion and evil caused by false wisdom and wrong teaching—by teachers who live and teach contrary to God and His Word—are endless. But this much needs to be said: the effects of wrong teaching, of following the false wisdom of this world, should cause every minister and teacher of the church to awaken and examine his life and his beliefs and ministry. The effects should stir many of us to repentance and confession before God.
The true wisdom of God.
The source of true wisdom is God. True wisdom comes from above, not from this world. It comes from God, not from the princes and scholars of this earth. True wisdom does not come from seeking the knowledge and wisdom of men and of this world; it comes from seeking God—from seeking the knowledge and wisdom of God.
The description of true wisdom is clearly stated. What is the wisdom of God? What is this wisdom that is so superior to the wisdom of the princes and scholars of this world? What is this wisdom that the ministers and teachers of God are to be teaching?
a. True wisdom is first of all “pure” (hagne). The word means to be pure from fault and defilement; it means moral purity; to be completely separated from impurity and wrong-doing and set apart unto God. It is not being half good and half bad, but totally pure and clean. A person who has true wisdom lives a clean and pure life.
⇒ A truly wise person keeps his body pure. He does not damage himself by overeating, drinking, taking drugs, smoking, and letting himself become flabby. He disciplines himself in all things and keeps himself fit in order to get maximum use out of life.
⇒ A truly wise person keeps his relationships pure. He lives a moral and just life, protecting his spouse, children, family, loved ones, the name of Christ, and his own testimony and ministry.
⇒ A truly wise person keeps himself pure before God so that his relationship with God is always open and so that God can use him as much as He wishes.
This is what true wisdom is. It is first pure, and note the word first. Purity is first in importance and the first thing that God gives to a man who seeks true wisdom. A wise teacher, minister and layman alike, is a teacher who lives a pure life and teaches that men must be pure before God.
DID YOU ENJOY THIS DEEP STUDY? SHOULD WE CONTINUE OUR DEEP STUDIES?
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PASTOR ANDRA HIGGINBOTHAM