James 3:13-18 – The Wisdom of the Meek

Reverend Leo H. McCrary II

In this week’s lesson from James 3 we take a deep look at the wisdom of the meek. Let’s explore how to fulfill our calling as God’s children to bear good fruit.

Introduction

Are your works truly good works, or have you spoiled them?

What a fitting lesson we have this week, especially in this season of politics and empty promises.  There are many who proclaim Christianity and speak of doing good, but their works betray their profession.  In our lesson this week, we’re taking a look at what good works consist of and what can spoil one’s efforts.  This week’s Sunday School commentary covers James 3:13-18.

Who Is Wise Among You

It, to me, is truly interesting that when wisdom is spoken of in Scripture, it rarely has anything to do with intellect–how smart you are.  

Wisdom not found in intelligence

Notice in James 3:13 that when James spoke of who is wise, he pointed to works done in meekness and good conduct.

It truly fascinates me how man’s wisdom is spoken of in Scripture.  In 1 Corinthians 1:20, Paul asked, “Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?”  Paul then said, in 1 Corinthians 1:27, “God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise.”

As we have seen in the book of Proverbs, Solomon repeatedly warned against one being wise in their own eyes and despising instruction.  Solomon warned that those who despise the wisdom of God will face certain calamity (Prov. 1:26-27, 32; 14:12).  

The prophet Isaiah preached, saying, “Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight (Is. 5:21).”  He then continued, saying, “As the fire devours the stubble, and the flame consumes the chaff, so their roots will be as rottenness, and their blossom will ascend like dust (Is. 5:24).”

So, is intelligence a bad thing in the eyes of God?  No, there is nothing wrong with being smart, but there is a line that one must not cross in their intelligence.  What is that line?

James pointed the line out to us.  In James 3:14-15, he wrote, “If you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth.  This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, and demonic.”

The line that one must not cross in their wisdom is a line that points back to Satan, as he is the father of crossing that line.

Wisdom not found in pride

There is a lamentation recorded in Ezekiel 28:11-19 for the king of Tyre, but when one reads through this passage, one will quickly recognize that God was not speaking of any man.  

Ezekiel 28:12-15, “You were the seal of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty.  You were in Eden, the garden of God; Every precious stone was your covering … The workmanship of your timbrels and pipes was prepared for you on the day you were created.  You were the anointed cherub who covers; I established you; You were on the holy mountain of God… You were perfect in your ways from the day you were created, til iniquity was found in you.”

Let’s be clear: God wasn’t speaking of Adam, nor was He speaking of Eve.  Who else was present in the garden?  The serpent – Satan.

Ezekiel 28:16,17, “By the abundance of your trading you became filled with violence within, and you sinned .. Your heart was lifted up because of your beauty; You corrupted your wisdom for the sake of your splendor; I cast you to the ground…”

Satan’s heart was lifted up in pride. What was his beauty that caused his heart to be lifted up?  Not his outward appearance, as many would suggest!  No, Satan’s heart was lifted up because of his wisdom, how he maneuvered!  

Satan moved wisely, but his movements, or works, became filled with violence (or corruption).  Satan believed his wisdom to be superior to the Lord and sought to sit on a throne above God.  In other words, Satan envied God, desiring to have what God has, and he chose to move out of bitter envy.

In Revelation 12:7-9, we see Satan’s rebellion in heaven, and Revelation 12:4 tells us that he drew a third of the angels with him in rebellion against the Lord.  The rebellion was thwarted; Satan was cast down, and to this day, he still moves pride, waging a war that he knows he has already lost and will never win.

Satan’s story is a warning to those who become so wise they believe themselves to be perfect, knowing everything, contending with God, needing help from nobody, not even the Lord.  God casts away such pride, constantly putting it to shame as He does so.  

So, beware of becoming so wise that you become envious, bitter, and self-righteous in your way.  As James said, “For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there (Jas. 3:16).”  

Wisdom is not found in the person of pride.  In the person of pride comes a way that stirs up strife and conflict.  Strife and conflict lead to anger and wrath.  The wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God (Jas. 1:19-20).  This is the wisdom and way that won’t stand in the eyes of God.

True Wisdom Comes from Above

In James 3:17, James stated that wisdom from above, which means from the Lord, is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy.  Again, I want you to notice that James does not mention anything about one’s intellect when he speaks of wisdom.  

How one’s actions become pure

James is stating that wisdom is in how one moves.  One’s movements ought to be pure, sincere, and genuine, without malice or hypocrisy.  How do one’s movements, or actions, become pure?  One’s heart must be pure.

Jesus taught the apostles, saying, “Not what goes into the mouth defiles a man; but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man (Matt. 15:11).”  We often think what comes out of our mouths begins in our thoughts, yet what is the beginning place of one’s thoughts?  I am essentially asking:  what are your thoughts drawn from?

Your thoughts, and all of the decisions you make, begin in the spirit.  In 1 Corinthians 2:11, Paul wrote, “For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him?”  

In your spirit lie your principles and what you put your faith in.  The decisions you make come from those principles and beliefs that lie within your spirit.  IF your thoughts are impure, it is because what lies within your spirit is impure.  If your actions are impure, it is because your thoughts, which again lie within your spirit, are impure.

Now, who or what can help to purify our spirit so that our thoughts and actions become more pure?  God’s desire is for you to receive His word and for His word to dwell in your spirit.  God also desires for you to receive the Holy Spirit so that the Holy Spirit may abide with your spirit.  “Be transformed by the renewing of your mind, “ is what Paul said (Rom. 12:2).

When one knows the word of God, Paul spoke in Romans 7:13-25 of the war that takes place within between the law of the mind, which is earthly/sinful, and the law of God, which again is from above.  Though the word of God dwells within, we still feel the pull of sin and are drawn to temptation, which can cause us to do sinfully.

So, then what if we still sin with the word of God dwelling within?  This is where the Holy Spirit is needed.  The Holy Spirit is there to clean up and to help lead us in the direction that is righteous (John 16:13).  

Truthfully, we cannot be perfect without the Holy Spirit, and honestly, we ought to stop trying to be.  One who becomes pure of heart must lean on the Holy Spirit and permit the Holy Spirit to lead and guide them in thought and deed.

The need to be meek

So, if you truly desire to have good works, bearing good fruits, then you must let go of pride and humble yourself to receive the Holy Spirit.  Keep in mind, James said, “Show by good conduct that [your] works are done in the meekness of wisdom.”  

Let me repeat to you:  Without the Holy Spirit, one will move in a self-righteous manner, and again, no good will come from that.

When one humbly submits to receiving the Holy Spirit’s guidance, James said that leads to one becoming peaceable and gentle.  Now, as I said in the commentary – A Soft Answer over Wrath – the believer doesn’t become so gentle that they roll over to evil.  Being peaceable does not mean you don’t put up a fight.  Jesus fought for the truth to be known, at times turning over tables and rebuking the scribes and Pharisees. 

Learning to be a keeper of peace is something you cannot do without the Holy Spirit’s guidance.  Again, it will take one being meek and not trying to establish peace according to their own direction.  

As has been proven throughout history, man does not know how to establish peace without war and violence.  Man’s pride is why bombs are still dropped today and why one does not trust the other.

I want to highlight in James 3:17, James’ saying, “willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruit, without partiality and without hypocrisy.”  Pride does not yield.  Pride refuses to show mercy.  Pride does not know how to be impartial, nor does it know how not to be a hypocrite.

However, when one humbly heeds the Holy Spirit’s guidance, one learns the way of grace.  The one thing about grace is that grace received will be returned.  Are you familiar with the saying “grace for grace” or the concept of paying it forward?  Typically, when one receives grace, they are moved to give grace to someone else, and that is the beauty of grace.

Grace has been shown to mankind by the Lord.  God could have condemned and destroyed this world long ago, but He didn’t do it.  Why didn’t God condemn mankind?  Because God loves the world.  

Sadly, man has struggled mightily to pass forward the grace that the Lord has shown us.  Man is filled with pride and stubbornness, and it has blocked the path from us truly being able to flourish and prosper.  Iff we truly desire to flourish and prosper as a people, we must humble ourselves, heed the Spirit, and let Him lead us in the way of grace.

When we learn the way of grace through the Holy Spirit, we learn how to pass forward grace.  In passing forward that grace, we learn how to yield to others rather than being unyielding, because, again, God permits us to choose how we will live.  As James said, we will better show each other mercy, which is certainly needed because none of us are perfect.

When we learn the way of grace, grace will break down the walls of partiality, bias, and prejudice.  This, I truly believe, is needed if we are to flourish and prosper.  We have let stubborn pride block us from true growth because pride has caused so much division, especially in this land, but all over the world as well.

Peace is the goal.  Yet, it has to be asked today:  What is peace?  Peace is when we live together in fellowship with each other, helping one another to prosper.  How do we come together in such fellowship?  

James stated, “The fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace (Jas. 3:18).”  Those who make peace, who should be the biggest preachers of fellowship, are the children of God.  We fail when we attempt establish an earthly peace, rather than the peace that is of the Lord.