James series – “The Litmus Test for life”

James 3:13-16

If you are wise and understand God’s ways, prove it by living an honorable life, doing good works with the humility that comes from wisdom. ¹⁴ But if you are bitterly jealous and there is selfish ambition in your heart, don’t cover up the truth with boasting and lying. ¹⁵ For jealousy and selfishness are not God’s kind of wisdom. Such things are earthly, unspiritual, and demonic. ¹⁶ For wherever there is jealousy and selfish ambition, there you will find disorder and evil of every kind.

As we continue in the series “The Litmus Test for Life” James moves from words to wisdom something the church is desperately lacking today. Because wisdom comes from God’s Word and few spend time studying the scriptures. Sadly many Christians are more influenced by the Media than the Master. The real question we should be asking is not just are we in His Word but is His Word in us? Its here in James 3:13 that James reveals two kinds of wisdom. One that is based on the world and the other on God’s Word. We will start with worldly wisdom where we will see what a test failing wisdom looks. Then we will look at wisdom that comes from the Word and see what a test passing wisdom looks like. Why do we need Godly wisdom, because wisdom determines our walk. My pray as we walk through the wisdom test together is that we will trust in the true wisdom that only comes from God’s Word and not a test failing wisdom that comes from the world. 

INTRODUCTION – Vs 13

We all know that there is a big difference between being book-smart and being wise. Knowledge is not wisdom. Wisdom is the proper use of knowledge. Knowledge comes from learning but wisdom comes from the Lord. If you lack knowledge, go to school, but if you lack wisdom, get on your knees. Remember James 1:5 says ”If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you.” We need to be careful that we don’t confuse the knowledge with wisdom. While there is an abundance of knowledge in this world that we all benefit from, there is an atrophy of wisdom. Man may unlock the secrets of the universe, but he does not know what to do with them. Think about the quantum leaps being made in all areas of knowledge, from the medical field to computers. It’s estimated that medical knowledge, for example, doubles every seven years, and scientific knowledge doubles every twenty years. The total written knowledge in the world is said to have doubled between 1450 and 1750, and then to have doubled again between 1750 and 1900. Between 1900 and 1950, human knowledge doubled once more, and then again from 1950 to 1975. Now, it is believed to double every 900 days and shortly it is predicted to double every 72 days. But what are we doing with that knowledge? Now while there is a difference between knowledge and wisdom there are also different kinds of wisdom. James starts by describing two kinds of wisdom, what he calls worldly wisdom and the wisdom from above. That is man’s wisdom and the kind of wisdom that can only come from God. It’s here that we discover a powerful principle, your walk reflects your wisdom. Either you will walk according to the ways of the world or according to God’s Word. Faith in God means interpreting everything through his word, not interpreting his word through everything in the world. Now contrary to what the world says, you don’t have to be smart to pass the wisdom test you have to be surrendered to God’s Word. One of the reasons we often fail the wisdom test is because we worry about what other people will think. This leads to us trying to look wise in the eyes of the world instead of caring about how wise we are in the eyes of God. Many of us live foolish lives because we choose to walk according to the wisdom of the world instead of God’s Word. 

James series – “The Litmus Test for life”

James 3:1-12

Not many of you should become teachers, my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. ² We all stumble in many ways. Anyone who is never at fault in what they say is perfect, able to keep their whole body in check. ³ When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. ⁴ Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. ⁵ Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. ⁶ The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell. ⁷ All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and sea creatures are being tamed and have been tamed by mankind, ⁸ but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. ⁹ With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. ¹⁰ Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be. ¹¹ Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? ¹² My brothers and sisters, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.

The last principle I want to share to help move your mouth from misery to ministry is: 

• Use you Lips for Love

THE POWER OF THREE LITTLE WORDS James3:1-12;

Psalms 19:14 May these words of my mouth & this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.

If you want to HURT someone, the tongue is much more effective than THE FIST is. If you want to APOLOGIZE to someone, all the flowers in the world won’t accomplish what three little words like, “I AM SORRY’ can do. Some of the most significant messages people mouth can come in just 3 words.

Words have the Power to Forge New Friendships, Deepen Old Ones & Restore Relationships.

I’LL BE THERE – Being there for another person is the greatest gift we can give. When we are Truly Present for other people, important things happen to them & to us. We are renewed in love & friendship. We are restored emotionally & spiritually.

I MISS YOU – More marriages & friendships could be Salvaged & Strengthened if people Simply, Sincerely said to each other, “I miss you.” This affirmation tells partners they are wanted, needed, desired & loved.

I RESPECT YOU – Respect is another way of showing LOVE. & the feeling that another person is a TRUE EQUAL. .A.powerful way to affirm the Importance Of A Relationship.

MAYBE YOU’RE RIGHT – This phrase is highly effective in diffusing an argument & restoring frayed emotions. The flip side of “maybe you’re right” is the humility of admitting “Maybe I’m Wrong.”

PLEASE FORGIVE ME – Many broken relationships could be restored & healed if people would Admit Their Mistakes & Ask For Forgiveness. All of us are Vulnerable To Faults, Foibles & Failures. A person should never be ashamed to admit they have been in the wrong, which is by saying that they are wiser today than they were yesterday.

I THANK YOU – Gratitude is an exquisite form of courtesy. People who enjoy the companionship of good, close friends are those who Don’t Take Daily Courtesies For Granted. They are Quick To Thank their friends for their many expressions of kindness. People whose circle of friends is severely limited often do not have the attitude of gratitude.

COUNT ON ME – “A FRIEND IS ONE WHO WALKS IN WHEN OTHERS WALK OUT.” ” Loyalty is an essential ingredient for true friendship; Those who are rich in their relationships tend to be steady & true friends. When Troubles Come, A Good Friend Is There, Indicating “You Can Count On Me.”

LET ME HELP – The best of friends see a need & try to fill it. When they spot a hurt they do what they can to heal it. Without being asked, they pitch in & help.

I UNDERSTAND YOU – People become closer & enjoy each other more if they feel the other person Accepts & Understands Them. Letting others know in so many little ways that you understand him or her is one of the most powerful tools for healing your relationship.

GO FOR IT – Some of your friends may be Non-Conformists, Have Unique Projects & Unusual Hobbies. Support them in pursuing their interests. Rather than urging your loved ones to conform, encourage their uniqueness – everyone has dreams that no one else has.

I LOVE YOU.