James 3:13–18
There is a difference between knowledge and wisdom. Knowledge is the accumulation of facts while wisdom is the ability to take facts and put them into action at the point of need. Wisdom can come from two sources. It can either come from the world’s system or it can come from the Word of God.
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The wisdom of the world (vv. 13–16) has its origin in the secular (“earthly”), the sensual (“unspiritual”) and the satanic (“of the devil”). Its outcome results in “envy,” “self-ambition,” “disorder,” and “every evil practice.”
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The wisdom of the Word (vv. 17–18) has a divine origin. It “comes from heaven” as a gift from God and is found in the Living Word, Jesus Christ, and the written Word, the Bible. Its outcome results in “purity,” “peace-loving,” patience (“considerate, submissive, and merciful”), and productivity (“full of good fruit”).
We must each choose between the wisdom of the world and the wisdom of the Word. The choice is ours. The wisest decision we could ever make is to say an eternal yes to the Lord Jesus Christ.
For the complete message from this text with accompanying Greek word studies, pick up a free copy of Getting Down to Brass Tacks when you stop by the GuideStone booth at the SBC in Orlando.