LEARNING DAILY

James 3:14-16, But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice.

Is there any doubt what James wrote about earthly or worldly wisdom – “For jealousy and selfishness are not God’s kind of wisdom. Such things are earthly, unspiritual, and demonic.” (new Living translation). John wrote it this way. “For all that is in the world — the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life — is not from the Father but is from the world.” (1 John 2:16). Worldly wisdom comes when one’s mind is set on earthly things and based on feelings. He writes for Believers to not deceive themselves!

Jealousy and selfish ambition are not of God! Jealousy means a greedy or prideful desire for something that belongs to another; it might be something another physically has or might be something like a skill. It might be an aggressive desire to promote their opinion or position on a topic that rejects every other person’s thought. Selfish ambition implies that a person will do whatever it takes to get ahead. Worldly wisdom cannot connect man with God; this view to life contrasts with the way God calls Believers to walk.

James wants to wake Believers up! There is danger walking (the broad way?) that is self-centered, seeking personal gain, and success at the expense of others. Proverbs14:12, “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.” 1 Corinthians 3:19, “For the wisdom of this world is folly with God. For it is written, ‘He catches the wise in their craftiness’." There is a consistent theme regarding worldly knowledge in God’s Word. There are many examples in God’s Word that give the causes and results of following the world’s wisdom. Eve made a choice to eat from the tree that would make her wise (the world’s way) because the devil’s deceit suggested a selfish desire leading to a sinful decision. Envy caused Cain to kill his brother Abel. Joseph’s brothers threw Joseph into a pit because of their envy.

Philippians 2:3, “Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.” This certainly reminds me of those in the political arena. It seems those running for a political position will say anything they need to anyone anywhere and at any time to get elected. Would you agree that this leads to confusion, conflict, division, and harm.

The wisdom of the world promises to give a person the desire of their heart. Instead, it fills one with envy; one is never really satisfied because he continually wants what another has. That only fills the heart with a selfish ambition which often leads harming another to get what we want. That leads to justifying actions for selfishness and more compromise to keep moving forward in the world’s system.

Tomorrow, I want to look at what James writes about those who follow the self-sacrificing way of wisdom from above. They experience a very different reality!