Two Kinds of Wisdom

Wisdom from above

The author of Hebrews once described the word of God as a double-edged sword that is able to separate down to the soul and spirit, discerning the thoughts and intents of our hearts¹. Today, we will look at a passage that does exactly that; it will show us what drives our everyday decisions and actions. Once again, we find ourselves in the book of James.

Who among you is wise and understanding? 
     Let him show by his good behavior his deeds in the gentleness of wisdom. 
But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, 
     do not be arrogant and so lie against the truth. 
This wisdom is not that which comes down from above, 
     but is earthly, natural, demonic. 
For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, 
     there is disorder and every evil thing. 
But the wisdom from above is first pure, 
     then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, 
        unwavering, without hypocrisy. 
And the seed whose fruit is righteousness is sown in peace 
     by those who make peace.   
James 3:13-18 NASB

Forest Gump once said, “Stupid is as stupid does,” here, James explains that wisdom is as wisdom does as well. And what does wisdom do? It does good deeds in the gentleness of wisdom. I love the phrase “gentleness of wisdom,” being smart and being wise are two very different things. But from there, this passage takes a disturbing turn. He begins to describe another kind of wisdom, a wisdom that has a very different source. This is demonic wisdom.

Demonic wisdom

James describes demonic wisdom as having two identifiers: jealousy and selfish ambition. I don’t know about you, but these would not be my top picks for the fruit of demonic wisdom. But as I think about it, I can see his point. Far more evil grows from these two desires than we often realize. From jealousy springs resentment and covetousness, which in turn breeds theft, graft, adultery, and violence. Selfish ambition is even sneakier because it can more easily disguise itself as a virtue. But self-serving ambition grows in the same soil that jealousy does. Lies, greed, covetousness, graft, adultery, and violence are never far from the person motivated by selfish ambition.

To make matters worse, the world often rewards selfish ambition; be successful, and people will line up to hear your “wisdom.” But James tells us this kind of success is a form of self-deception. Disorder and evil will be the final result of this demonic wisdom. Jesus warns us about this sort of ambition in Matthew 6:

“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, 
     where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, 
but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys
     and where thieves do not break in and steal. 
For where your treasure is, 
     there your heart will be also.
Matt 6:19-21 [ESV]

The Wisdom from Above

Thankfully, James speaks of another wisdom - a wisdom from above. Look at the words he uses to describe this wisdom: Pure, peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy, and good fruits. This is godly wisdom, not the demonic wisdom of the world.

This wisdom is outward-focused and benefits others rather than self-centered and exercised at the expense of others. The definition of love is benefitting others at my expense. The wisdom from above flows from the love of God through us to others. God is love, so it follows that His wisdom flows out from that love. If we remember this, it is not hard to discern the type of wisdom we are hearing. Does it flow from love to life? Or is it focused on selfish gain? Let’s go back a few thousand years and see what the proverbs have to say on the subject.

Blessed is the one who finds wisdom, 
     and the one who gets understanding, 
for the gain from her is better than gain from silver 
     and her profit better than gold. 
She is more precious than jewels, 
     and nothing you desire can compare with her. 
Long life is in her right hand; 
     in her left hand are riches and honor. 
Her ways are ways of pleasantness, 
     and all her paths are peace. 
She is a tree of life to those who lay hold of her; 
     those who hold her fast are called blessed.
Prov 3:13-18[ESV]

This Week

As we begin a new year, and in the US, an election year at that, we are facing a year of loud voices, most of which will be motivated by the self-centered, grasping, and, according to James, demonic wisdom that is the common coin of this world. We must remember that another wisdom is available from above. This wisdom leads us to be those who plant “the seed whose fruit is righteousness [that] is sown in peace by those who make peace.” Let’s be sowers of this seed regardless of the chaos surrounding us this week.

Have a great week!

1. See Hebrews 4:12