Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom. But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace. — James 3:13–18 (NKJV)
Wisdom needs to be meek? Isn’t this just an argument against being pedantic?
No, I think it’s much stronger than that. James uses two Greek words, “wise” (σοφὸς, sah-phahs) and “understanding” (ἐπιστήμων, e-pis-tay-moan) here because the Hebrew language (and, thus, the Israelite culture) is so nuanced on this topic, and he wants to be clear.
No words can do this justice, though. There are a lot of different kinds of smarts and a lot of kinds of wisdom too. They’re all useful, but our sinful nature gets in the way.
Knowing, say, how to treat a burn is genuine wisdom, as is knowing how to sharpen an axe. People with this kind of wisdom can be very useful—or very annoying if they think this makes them better than everyone else.
Absolutely.
And that’s James’s point here. Wisdom can get competitive. You can use your wisdom to help people—as your works are done in the meekness of wisdom.
But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, then it all goes wrong. This wisdom does not descend from above (the practical wisdom lacks spiritual wisdom), and so it is earthly, sensual, demonic.
That’s shocking. Sure, self-promotion isn’t admirable, but demonic? That seems a bit over the top.
Maybe. So, James backs up his extreme assessment.
For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there.
Sin ruins everything, even something as beautiful and important as wisdom.
This reminds me of Henry Kissinger’s famous statement:
“Academic politics are so vicious precisely because the stakes are so small.“
Kissinger was actually paraphrasing Sayre’s law, which states, “In any dispute the intensity of feeling is inversely proportional to the value of the issues at stake.” Sayre adds, “That is why academic politics are so bitter.“
Money, fame, and good looks are the main status symbols in our society, but wisdom connotes status in some circles. A university faculty lounge is definitely one of those circles.
This can get incredibly annoying. Fortunately, it’s not universal. In my experience, the most illustrious professors (especially physics professors) don’t seem to have a chip on their shoulder.
And the seminary professors I’ve known seem to be especially immune. They’re almost universally peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits.
Good professors seem to love their students instead of themselves.
Yeah, I’ve known some folks without that emotional baggage, too.
Hmmm. That’s an interesting take on this. James doesn’t describe this in terms of emotional baggage, but in terms of “bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts.”
I think this shows two sides of the same coin, and that coin is pride. Emotional baggage is more about wounded pride, while self-seeking is more general.
Bitter envy is definitely pride too.
Right. As I’ve already noted, pride is at the heart of sin, and partiality is all about pride. Plus, James explicitly said, “do not boast,” so the connection to pride is obvious.
This is the key to understanding this passage. Wisdom obviously has the potential to feed pride, and James is warning us to avoid that.
And, boy, is his warning stern.
This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there.
Frankly, that’s his writing style for just about everything.
Yes, he was highly motivated to write this letter. I think that’s justified. I’d be highly motivated too.
And there is the larger point that James must have been troubled because he was seeing a lot of so called “Christians” doing a lot of unimpressive things.
That certainly applies today.
Absolutely. James is going to get even harsher in tomorrow’s passage.
