Building a Faith that Works:  the Book of James

“Two Schools of Thought”
 James 3:13-18

What is wisdom?
              “the ability to live life well”

True religion vs false religion

James 1:26,27  “²⁶If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless. ²⁷Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.”

True faith vs false faith

James 2:14,17

          “¹⁴What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? … ¹⁷In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.”

True belief vs false belief

James 2:19

          “You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that–and shudder.”

True wisdom vs false wisdom
James 3:13-18

1. True wisdom makes me humble (3:13)

               ^“Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.”

2. True wisdom cleanses me from envy and rivalry(3:14-16)

               ^“14But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. ¹⁵Such "wisdom" does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil. ¹⁶For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.”

1 Corinthians 13:4-7

               ^“4Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. ⁵It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. ⁶Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. ⁷It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.”

3. True wisdom produces the fruit of the Spirit (3:17-18)

               Galatians 5:22,23

               ^“22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³gentleness and self-control.”

3. True wisdom produces the fruit of the Spirit (3:17-18)

               ^“17But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. ¹⁸Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness.”

          Knowledge knows
                    Wisdom ACTS 

A – attitude

C – care

T – truthfulness

S - service

How do we get this wisdom?

James 1:5

          “If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.”

Illustrations

Knowledge Isn't That Bad
Proverbs 23:23; Romans 1:22; 1 Corinthians 3:19-20; James 3:15
Knowledge; Wisdom; Worldliness

Scripture nowhere condemns the acquisition of knowledge. It is the wisdom of this world, not its knowledge, that is foolishness with God.

Citation: H. A. Ironside, Lectures on Colossians. Christianity Today, Vol. 30, no. 8.

Although the world tells us to be assertive, the Word tells us to be gentle.

Florence Littauer in The Best of Florence Littauer. Christianity Today, Vol. 34, no. 14.

There is an ancient tale about two people, one of whom was envious of the other. The envious person was once given an opportunity to ask a favor from the king, with the proviso that his rival would get twice as much of whatever he requested. This put the envious person in a difficult position. After much consideration, he asked that one of his eyes be plucked out.

Bitterness is like drinking poison and waiting for the other person to die.