“This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic… But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.”
James 3:15,17-18
There is true wisdom from God and there is worldly wisdom.
“Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?”
1 Corinthians 1:20
What seems to be practical and sensible to most people today is actually the subtle lies of the devil. Just as the serpent whispered to Eve (Gen. 3):
- “Did God really say…?” He always questions and confuses God’s Word.
- “You will not surely die.” He always downplays the consequences.
- “You will be like God.” He always shifts the focus from God to you.
Think about what passes for wisdom these days.
- Did God really say that marriage is just for one man and one woman for a lifetime?
- Did God really say that you are defined by your biological gender?
- Did God really say that there is only one way to heaven?
- Did God really say that you can’t live together before you get married (if you ever do)?
- Did God really say anything about hell?
And that’s just the first of the devil’s three plays.
The issue that James points out in the third chapter of his book is similar to what Paul identifies in 1 Corinthians: conflict.
“Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom. 14 But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. 15 This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. 16 For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice.”
James 3:13-16
The fruit of worldly wisdom is bitterness and division. And this isn’t surprising because the philosophy of the world can be summarized in two common expressions:
- Believe in yourself and
- Follow your heart
The assumption behind these apparently inspiring quotes is that the human heart is basically good – so you should believe in it and follow it. But what does the Bible say about our hearts (apart from Jesus)?
“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?” Jeremiah 17:9
“Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.” Psalm 51:5,10
“The hearts of the children of man are full of evil, and madness is in their hearts while they live, and after that they go to the dead.” Eccl. 9:3
“The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.” Gen. 6:5
“But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person. For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander. These are what defile a person.” Matt. 15:18-20
“For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being, but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?” Rom. 7:22-24
So to what extent should you “believe in yourself”?
To what extent should you “follow your heart”?
Only to the extent that your heart has been transformed by Jesus, filled with the Spirit and sanctified by the love of God. Our calling is not to believe in ourselves but to believe fully in Jesus. Our job is not to follow our own hearts but to follow the leading of the Holy Spirit.
Is it any wonder that when people believe in themselves and follow their selfish, sinful hearts the result is conflict?
“What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions.”
James 4:1-3
So hear this from God’s Word: don’t believe in yourself. And don’t follow your heart. The former is called “boasting” and is expressly forbidden (James 3:14). The latter is called selfishness and is also ruled out (Php. 2:1-4). Instead, let your trust in the goodness and grace of Jesus fill you with zeal to follow His Spirit into forgiveness, love and service to others. Because the fruit of God’s wisdom is harmony and peace.
“But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.”
James 3:17-18