Two Wisdoms, Two Worlds Text: James 3:13-18
Introduction: The War of Wisdoms
We live in an age that is drowning in information but starved for wisdom. Our culture prides itself on being clever, on being savvy, on being "in the know." We have experts on everything, from microbiology to macroeconomics. But if you were to ask the average man what wisdom is, he would likely describe a kind of shrewd, self-promoting cleverness. He would describe the ability to climb the ladder, to win the argument, to build a platform, to get ahead. He would describe, in short, what the Apostle James here identifies as a wisdom that is earthly, natural, and demonic.
We must understand that the Bible does not present us with a buffet of wisdoms from which we may pick and choose. It does not offer "Wisdom A" for the spiritually inclined and "Wisdom B" for the practical man of the world. No, it presents us with two mutually exclusive, warring wisdoms. One is from above, from the throne room of God. The other is from below, from the dirt and, ultimately, from the pit of Hell. These two wisdoms are not just different approaches to life; they are the operating systems of two different kingdoms, the Kingdom of God and the kingdom of Satan.
You are, at this very moment, operating according to one of these two systems. There is no neutral ground. The thoughts in your heart, the way you interact with your spouse, the ambitions you harbor in your career, the way you engage in debates online, all of it is being driven by one of these two wisdoms. James is not writing a chapter for a self-help book here. He is a field surgeon, cutting to the heart of the matter to show us which spiritual blood type is flowing through our veins. The question he puts before us is this: are you wise like God, or are you wise like a demon?
This passage is a diagnostic tool. It reveals the source code behind our behavior. It shows us the fruit so that we can identify the root. And if we find the bitter root of demonic wisdom in our hearts, and we all will to some extent, the only remedy is the gospel of grace, which gives us a new heart and access to the true wisdom of God, who is Christ Himself.
The Text
Who among you is wise and understanding? Let him show by his good conduct his works 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 coming down from above, but is earthly, natural, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every evil practice. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruits, without doubting, without hypocrisy. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.
(James 3:13-18 LSB)
The Test of True Wisdom (v. 13)
James begins with a direct challenge, a call for self-examination.
"Who among you is wise and understanding? Let him show by his good conduct his works in the gentleness of wisdom." (James 3:13)
He asks who is wise and understanding. This is not a call for the intellectuals to raise their hands. Biblical wisdom is not about having a high IQ or a collection of degrees. It is skill in the art of godly living. It is practical, not theoretical. And because it is practical, it must be demonstrated. It must be shown. The proof of wisdom is not in the diploma on the wall, but in the life that is lived.
The evidence is twofold: "good conduct" and "works." A wise man's life is characterized by a consistent pattern of goodness. But notice the crucial qualifier: these works are to be done "in the gentleness of wisdom." The word here is prautes, often translated as meekness. This is not weakness or a cringing timidity. This is strength under control. Think of a powerful warhorse, perfectly responsive to the slightest touch of the reins. That is meekness. It is the opposite of the brittle, defensive, arrogant spirit that must always prove itself right. True wisdom is not harsh, loud, or abrasive. It is gentle. It has nothing to prove because it is secure in the truth.
The Profile of Demonic Wisdom (v. 14-16)
Now James turns to the counterfeit. He shows us the internal source and the external fruit of the wisdom from below.
"But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, do not be arrogant and so lie against the truth." (James 3:14 LSB)
The problem begins in the heart. The two tell-tale signs are "bitter jealousy" and "selfish ambition." Bitter jealousy is the spirit that cannot rejoice in the success of another. It views life as a zero-sum game, where someone else's gain is your loss. It is the spirit of Cain. Selfish ambition is the relentless drive for personal advancement, for building your own brand, for making a name for yourself. It is the spirit of the Tower of Babel.
If these things are in your heart, James says, your claims to wisdom are not only arrogant, they are a lie against the truth. You are living in contradiction to the way God made the world to work. To be arrogant with a heart full of envy and ambition is to be like a man covered in mud who insists he is clean. You are lying against reality itself.
In verse 15, James gives us the pedigree of this false wisdom.
"This wisdom is not coming down from above, but is earthly, natural, demonic." (James 3:15 LSB)
He provides a three-part genealogy that traces it right back to Hell. First, it is "earthly." It is horizontal. Its concerns, goals, and methods are all confined to this world. It has no eternal perspective. Second, it is "natural." This refers to the unregenerate soul, man operating according to his fallen nature, apart from the Spirit of God. It is the wisdom of the clever ape. Third, it is "demonic." This is the ultimate source. The Devil was the first to be filled with selfish ambition, desiring to ascend to the throne of God. This kind of wisdom is not just a bad human idea; it is a spiritual strategy authored by demons.
And what is the result? Verse 16 tells us plainly.
"For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every evil practice." (James 3:16 LSB)
Here is the litmus test. Look around at your church, your family, your company. Is there disorder, confusion, instability, chaos? Is there a cesspool of vile and worthless practices? If so, you can be sure that the wisdom of demons is at work. Envy and ambition are the termites that chew through the foundations of any community, leaving behind nothing but a heap of rubble.
The Character of Heavenly Wisdom (v. 17)
In glorious contrast, James now describes the wisdom that is a gift from God.
"But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruits, without doubting, without hypocrisy." (James 3:17 LSB)
This wisdom "comes down from above." You cannot work your way up to it; it must be given to you. And it has a distinct character, a spiritual DNA. Notice the first attribute: it is "first pure." Before it is anything else, it is holy. It is not contaminated with selfish motives or manipulative tactics. Its intentions are clean.
From this purity flows everything else. It is "peaceable," meaning it makes peace, it does not stir up strife. It is "considerate," or gentle, not insisting on its own rights. It is "submissive," which means it is teachable, open to reason, not stubborn. It is "full of mercy and good fruits," meaning it is actively compassionate and productive of real, tangible good. It is "without doubting," which can also be translated "without partiality." It is consistent and does not play favorites. And finally, it is "without hypocrisy." It is sincere. The face it presents to the world is the same face it has in secret. There is no mask.
The Harvest of Peace (v. 18)
James concludes with a beautiful agricultural metaphor that summarizes the entire argument.
"And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace." (James 3:18 LSB)
Righteousness is a crop. It doesn't just happen; it must be cultivated. The seed for this crop is the wisdom from above. The soil in which this seed must be planted is peace. You cannot grow the fruit of righteousness in the acidic, toxic soil of conflict, jealousy, and ambition. It will not take root.
And who are the farmers? They are "those who make peace." This is an active verb. Peacemakers are not simply conflict-avoiders. They are those who actively, courageously, and wisely step into situations of disorder to bring about the peace of God. They are the ones who sow the seeds of heavenly wisdom, and they are the ones who will reap a harvest of righteousness for the glory of God. This is a direct echo of the beatitude: "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God" (Matthew 5:9).
Conclusion: Christ, Our Wisdom
After reading this, the honest man is left with one question: where can I get this wisdom? We look at the list in verse 17, and we look at our own hearts, and we see the discrepancy. We see the bitter jealousy when a rival succeeds. We feel the pull of selfish ambition. Our wisdom is so often earthly, natural, and shot through with demonic pride.
The answer is that we cannot generate this wisdom ourselves. We must receive it as a gift. And God has given this wisdom a name. The Apostle Paul tells us that Jesus Christ "became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption" (1 Corinthians 1:30). Jesus is the perfect embodiment of James 3:17. He is the man who is first pure, then peaceable, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.
The cross is the ultimate expression of the two wisdoms at war. The wisdom of the world, the demonic wisdom, looked at Jesus and saw a failure. It saw a man who should have seized power, who should have crushed His enemies. It saw foolishness. But God's wisdom, the wisdom from above, was displayed in a man who laid down His power, who loved His enemies, and who sowed Himself in the ground like a seed in order to bring forth a great harvest of righteousness.
To become wise, then, is not to try harder to follow a list of virtues. It is to be united by faith to Wisdom Himself. It is to repent of our demonic cleverness and to cling to Christ, the wisdom of God. When we do that, the Spirit of God begins to work in us, cultivating the soil of our hearts, planting the seed of His Word, and causing the fruit of righteousness to grow in a harvest of peace.