James chapter 3 describes to us two systems of wisdom: one that will tend to death, and the other to life:
“… This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace” (Jas. 3:15-18).
It is plain therefore, that we must seek the Wisdom “that is from above” in order to become “wise unto salvation through faith” (2 Tim. 3:15), for the wisdom that is “not from above” can only produce sin, and “every evil work”.
The Apostle also contrasts these two systems of thought in his inspired letter to the Corinthians:
“in the wisdom of God, the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe” (1 Cor. 1:21), for “the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are being saved, it is the power of God. For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent”. (1 Cor. 1 – see whole chapter).
In these words, we find that there is enmity between the philosophies of Man, and the Wisdom of God. The wisdom of man is foolishness with God – and vice versa – but salvation can only come through the belief system which is foolishness to man: “Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men … God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things that are mighty; and base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea and things that are not, to bring to nought things that are: That no flesh should glory in his presence” (1 Cor. 1:25-29).
Notice that the whole arrangement is so that “no flesh should glory in his presence”. No man can boast that he found out the things of God by his ingenuity and intelligence, it has to be revealed to him by the foolishness of preaching. It requires the wise in this world to humble themselves before Divine Wisdom, which the majority are just not prepared to do, for “the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned” (1 Cor. 2:14). To embrace what the majority regard as folly takes courage and conviction; a willingness to stand out and be scorned by one’s peers. But this is the way of salvation, as ordained by the Great Creator Himself.
BENEATH OR ABOVE
James describes wisdom in terms of coming from above, or otherwise: “This wisdom descendeth not from above … But the wisdom that is from above is first pure etc.” (Jas 3:15, 17). The Lord spoke of himself in similar terms:
“…. He said unto them, Ye are from beneath; I am from above: ye are of this world; I am not of this world. I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins …” (Jno. 8:23-24).
To be from “beneath” is the bear the image of the earthy:
“the first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven. As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly” (1 Cor. 15:47-48).
And the true hope for the true believers is expressed thus:
“And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly” (vs 49).
So it is that the Proverbs teach “the way of life is above to the wise, that he may depart from sheol beneath” (Prov. 15:24), and the Apostle alluding to the same point wrote: “if ye be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affections on things above, not on things on the earth” (Col. 3:1-2). Rather than to dwell upon earthly considerations, the believer in Christ must aspire to heavenly things, trusting to bear the image of Messiah (Phil. 3:21), the Lord from heaven.
PURITY
The nations are likened to the troubled sea, casting up mire and dirt (Isa. 57:20), but by contrast, the Wisdom from above is both pure and peaceful – with purity coming first.
Hence in the next chapter, James continues his exhortation: “cleanse your hands ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded” (Jas. 4:8). As Isaiah has it, peace is the work of righteousness (Isa. 32:17) and cannot therefore be obtained in the absence of righteousness. So it was that in vision, John saw the peace to come upon the sea of nations in terms of “a sea of glass like unto crystal” (Rev. 4:6): no ripple of violence, and crystal-clear in terms of its purity.
This description of having clean hands and pure hearts comes from Psalm 24, in an interesting context:
“Who shall ascend into the hill of Yahweh? Or who shall stand in his holy place? He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart, who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully” (Psa. 24:3-4).
Notice that the context is again to do with ascending – albeit this time to the hill of Yahweh, described also in Isaiah chapter 2:2. Those privileged to ascend and enter the holy place of the Age to Come, will be those who make the ascent and have purified themselves with the wisdom that is from above, being clean in both thought and deed.
GENTLENESS
James continues to describe features of heavenly Wisdom: “gentle and easy to be intreated …” (Jas 3:17). This gentleness is reflective of that of our Heavenly Father, hence the sweet Psalmist of Israel said “… thy right hand hath holden me up, and thy gentleness hath made me great” (Psa. 18:35). So Paul spoke to the Thessalonians: “we were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children” (1 Thes. 2:7). Again he spoke these instructions to Timothy:
“The servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, in meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the Truth” (2 Tim. 2:24-25).
There are two aspects which are equally important, and which together provide a good balance. We must have no personal animosity and must not grudge one against another (Jas. 5:9). We must not be given to strife but rather be meek – as Messiah himself: “… learn of me, for I am meek and lowly in heart …” (Mat. 11:29). But there were also times when he overturned the moneychangers’ tables (Mat. 21:12, Mark 11:15), and when he severely rebuked the hypocrisy of the Jewish leaders (cp Mat. 12:34). Likewise, Messiah’s brethren have the duty to “earnestly contend for the faith, which was once delivered unto the saints” (Jude 1:3). There must be a proper balance – to contend when necessary, but overall to be gentle and without malevolence. It would appear that the ecclesia at Ephesus did not have that balance right – they hated false brethren, but were in danger of losing their first love (see Rev. 2:4-5). We must contend both out of love for the Truth (contrast 2 Thes. 2:10), but also out of love for those who may yet turn back from their sin. Whilst the faithful brethren are united and “… stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the Gospel” (Phil. 1:27), they have no personal quarrel with any man. Rather they show the spirit of meekness, mercy and longsuffering.
WITHOUT PARTIALITY AND WITHOUT HYPOCRISY
The servant of the Lord must be impartial and honest in their dealings with others. They must have no respect of persons – like God Himself, hence the judges were told:
“Wherefore now let the fear of Yahweh be upon you; take heed and do it: for there is no iniquity with Yahweh our God, nor respect of persons, nor taking of gifts” (2 Chron. 19:7).
And again,
“Thou shalt not wrest judgment; thou shalt not respect persons, neither take a gift: for a gift doth blind the eyes of the wise, and pervert the words of the righteous. That which is altogether just shalt thou follow …” (Deut. 16:1920).
This is the principle with which the Master himself will judge – not with respect of persons and a superficial appearance, but in righteousness and truth:
“ … he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears: But with righteousness shall he judge the poor and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth …” (Isa. 11:3-4).
The Pharisees respected persons in their judgement and delighted in the praise of men. They had a name that they lived, but were in fact spiritually dead (cp. Rev. 3:1):
“Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity” (Mat. 23-28).
But the Pure Wisdom which is from above, is “without hypocrisy” as well as being “without partiality”. Seeking not the praise of men, the brethren of Christ will not exercise favouritism in their dealings with others, but will judge righteously like their Lord.
THE LORD JESUS CHRIST
It is written of the Lord himself that he is “… of God made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: that as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord” (1 Cor. 1:30-31).
The book of Proverbs has the aspects of wisdom and foolishness as one of it’s main themes – and it is an interesting and profitable exercise to examine the attributes of Wisdom in relation to the Lord Jesus Christ. But the central exhortation is to seek after, and obtain true wisdom:
“… incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding; Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding; If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures; then shalt thou understand the fear of Yahweh, and find the knowledge of God” (Prov. 2:2-5).
The Lord Jesus Christ is the one “in whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” (Col. 2:3), being even wiser than Solomon. He is the “word” that was “made flesh” (Jno. 1:14), the One who came to do his Father’s will (Heb. 10:7). Our part is to lay hold of the embodiment of Wisdom that we see in him, eschewing the folly of world philosophy, and holding fast that the only Wisdom that can give life.
Christopher Maddocks
