The Wise: The Quest: Day 11.0

Those Pesky Designations

I believe the Bible is the inerrant word of God. It’s a real miracle that we still have, intact, with more proof texts than any other book around, this precious resource of foundation, direction, and wisdom, and truth. You can see that God has shepherded the text through hundreds of generations of scribes, guardians, and print editors. It is evident that He directed to minds and hands of a group of men and women we will refer to today as The Wise. Surviving editors is a miracle in itself! The wise may have known how to stay true to the fundamentals of the scripture as they moved between translations, but sometimes I question these here chapter markings.

Take, for example, the beginning of verse 13 in chapter 3 of James. Next, travel down to verse 18. At the end of 18, we come to a new chapter, chapter 4. So, this must be a logical separator designating the frontier between two ideas, right? I contend otherwise. What’s a poor expositor to do? In truth, I am pretty sure James 3:13-4:17 (the entirety of chapter 4) are all of one thought and theme. This only proves that the wise may sometimes err in practicalities.

Now, that’s a lot of scripture to cram into a single morning! Let’s see what we can do. If you are curious why I skipped right over James 3:1-12, it is because on Day 5.0 I surveyed all that James has to say about the tongue. At least, I tried to cover it all. I might have missed something here or there. James 3:1-12 featured heavily in that study.

A plan of attack

Perhaps the best way to properly get at James 3:13-4:17 is to divide it into categories, the Wise and the Proud, ala Proverbs. It worked for Solomon, so we can pray it will work for me. Rather than promise you a thorough going of all the verses in one day, let me go through the verses pertaining to the Wise. Tomorrow, Lord willing (thank you James!), I will cover the Proud.

The Wise

¹³ Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom.

¹⁷ But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. ¹⁸ And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

James 3:13, 17-18

⁶ But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” ⁷ Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. ⁸ Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. ⁹ Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. ¹⁰ Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.

James 4:6-10

A dose of the OT

When pride comes, then comes disgrace,
    but with the humble is wisdom.

Proverbs 11:2

The fear of the Lord is instruction in wisdom,
    and humility comes before honor.

Proverbs 15:33

And he said to man,
‘Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom,
    and to turn away from evil is understanding.’”

Job 28:28

Gonna Go Back in Time

To the tune of Huey Lewis and the News, let’s recall what James has written previously. In James 1:5 he writes that those lacking wisdom should ask of God. They should do so in faith, without doubting. (James 1:6). James says we are to receive with meekness the implanted word. (James 1:21). We are to be doers of the word (James 1:22), showing our religion to be true through action. (James 1:27). The wise should speak and act as those who are to be judged. (James 2:12) Our works are the evidence of real saving faith (James 2:14-26). We are to guard our speech (James 1:26, James 3:1-12).

Proverbial doings

In my first article on James (Day 1.0) and in the article on taming the tongue (Day 5.0) I mentioned the practical nature of James. In a Proverbsesque manner, James eschews delving much into theology and focuses primarily on what Christians are to do. Sometimes it almost seems too simple. What are we to do, James? “Be a doer!” Okay, we think, that’s pretty straightforward. You don’t want to drop some mystery or other on us? James seems to say, be quiet, take in the word, and go do the work. Be the wise.

Inner dichotomy

However, as I mentioned previously, (Day 7.0) the meat and potatoes of James is an understanding of human nature. He understands the inner man. James is suspicious of us, I believe, because he looked within himself. I think he saw a dichotomy at work within. This dichotomy was best summed up by Paul in Romans 7.

¹⁸ For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. ¹⁹ For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing. ²⁰ Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me.

²¹ So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand. ²² For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being, ²³ 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. ²⁴ Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? ²⁵ Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin.

Romans 7:18-25

Promises on the other side

If the above passage sounds dire to you, dear reader, please note that due to pesky designations, Romans 7 ends there. But, Romans 8 (and here I will not complain about arbitrary chapter separations. How could anyone complain about Romans 8?) starts with the following glorious verses.

There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.² For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. ³ For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, ⁴ in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.

Romans 8:1-4

What ought we to do?

If then there is no condemnation, and we are set free, what ought we to do? James is glad you asked. Be on of the wise. And, if you lack wisdom, ask in faith. (James 1:5-6) Then, show your works in the meekness of wisdom. (James 3:13) Remember that wisdom is a gift of God, and God is unchanging. (James 1:17) But what is this wisdom that is a gift of God? The wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere.

As in 2 Peter 1:3-10, we have here another list. And, like the list in 2 Peter, this one has an order. Let’s go through the list. I will attempt to include verses that might help flesh out each concept into practical (doable) concepts. Once again, I will leave out any comments of my own, and focus on what scripture says in addressing each concept.

Pure

• Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work. – 2 Timothy 2:21
• Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. – Colossians 3:5
• the fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever. – Psalms 19:9

Peaceable

• ¹¹ Come, O children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord. ¹² What man is there who desires life and loves many days, that he may see good? ¹³ Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking deceit. ¹⁴ Turn away from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it. – Psalms 34:11-14
• ¹⁴ And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. ¹⁵ And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. – Colossians 3:14-15

Gentle

• ¹⁰ Behold, the Lord God comes with might, and his arm rules for him; behold, his reward is with him, and his recompense before him. ¹¹ He will tend his flock like a shepherd; he will gather the lambs in his arms; he will carry them in his bosom, and gently lead those that are with young. – Isaiah 40:10-11
• ⁶ We were not looking for praise from people, not from you or anyone else, even though as apostles of Christ we could have asserted our authority. ⁷ Instead, we were like young children among you. Just as a nursing mother cares for her children, ⁸ so we cared for you. Because we loved you so much, we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well. – 1 Thessalonians 2:6-8
• ¹³ And who will harm you if you are deeply committed to what is good? ¹⁴ But even if you should suffer for righteousness, you are blessed. Do not fear what they fear or be disturbed, ¹⁵ but honor the Messiah as Lord in your hearts. Always be ready to give a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you. ¹⁶ However, do this with gentleness and respect, keeping your conscience clear, so that when you are accused, those who denounce your Christian life will be put to shame. ¹⁷ For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God’s will, than for doing evil. – 1 Peter 3:13-17

Open to reason

• “Seek the Lord while he may be found; call upon him while he is near; ⁷ let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the Lord, that he may have compassion on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. ⁸ For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. ⁹ For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. – Isaiah 55:6-9
• ¹⁴ Remind them of these things, and charge them before God not to quarrel about words, which does no good, but only ruins the hearers. ¹⁵ Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth. – 2 Timothy 2: 14-15
• ⁶ For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding; ⁷ he stores up sound wisdom for the upright; he is a shield to those who walk in integrity, ⁸ guarding the paths of justice and watching over the way of his saints. ⁹ Then you will understand righteousness and justice and equity, every good path; ¹⁰ for wisdom will come into your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul; – Proverbs 2:6-10

Full of mercy and good fruits

• ²² But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³ gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. – Galatians 5:22-23
• Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. – Matthew 5:7
• ¹² Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, ¹³ bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. ¹⁴ And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. – Colossians 3:12-14

Impartial and sincere

• The one who states his case first seems right, until the other comes and examines him. – Proverbs 18:17
• ¹² For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. ¹³ For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit. – 1 Corinthians 12:12-13
• ⁴ Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant ⁵ or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; ⁶ it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. ⁷ Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. – 1 Corinthians 13:4-7
• ⁹ Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. ¹⁰ Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. ¹¹ Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. – Romans 12:9-11

The long defeat

Once again, you have thwarted me! I thought to get through the positive side of James 3:13-4:17, The Wise, in today’s study. But, ’twas not to be. I will have to cover James 4:6-10 tomorrow.