Post by Char on Oct 26, 2008 13:57:56 GMT -6
THE WISDOM WHICH IS NOT FROM ABOVE
JAMES 3:14-16
I. THE PRESCRIBED COURSE; THAT REQUIRED BY AND INDICATIVE OF TRUE WISDOM. V. 13
WHO IS A WISE MAN AND ENDUED WITH KNOWLEDGE AMONG YOU? LET HIM SHEW OUT OF A GOOD CONVERSATION HIS WORKS WITH MEEKNESS OF WISDOM.
WISE—that is, gifted with spiritual discernment and discretion, with capacity and enlightenment in regard to divine things.
ENDUED WITH KNOWLEDGE—having large information, acquaintance with facts, doctrines, precepts.
Well, how is such a person to proceed? How is he to prove his character, how evince (To win a point...to constitute evidence of show.) his wisdom? LET HIM SHOW OUT OF A GOOD CONVERSATION HIS WORDS.
He is to manifest what he really is, to give open evidence of his spiritual understanding and prudence. His light is to shine, his principles are to appear.
These fruits of the spirit are to come out as the separate, noticeable features, and prove the nature of the tree on which they are found growing.
The expression is remarkable–THE MEEKNESS OF WISDOM–that is, the meekness which is characteristic of wisdom, which is its proper attribute. Meekness is gentleness, mildness, sub-missiveness. Wisdom is a thing calm, quiet, peaceful.
This meekness is not a feeble, crouching, despicable thing; on the contrary, it is strong, noble, and victorious.
Jesus was meek and lowly in heart; He did not strive nor cry, when reviled He reviled not again, when he suffered He threatened not; and yet He was most perfectly steadfast, immovable as a rock in the prospect of—yes, and under the pressure of — sorrows and suffering not only infinitely beyond human endurance, but even as far beyond human conception.
The prophet testifies, IN QUIETNESS AND IN CONFIDENCE SHALL BE YOUR STRENGTH.
II. THE OPPOSITE COURSE; WHAT IT IS AND WHAT IT INDICATES..VERSE 14
BUT IF YE HAVE BITTER ENVYING AND STRIFE IN YOUR HEARTS, GLORY NOT, AND LIE NOT AGAINST THE TRUTH.
The word rendered ENVYING is literally zeal, but it often had the meaning of jealous, emulation, rivalry. It originate in bitter feelings, not in attachment to truth, but in opposition to persons. It’s root is evil.
If you have this BITTER ENVYING AND STRIFE IN YOUR HEARTS, it is in YOUR HEART, not in your conduct, your proceedings. No; and the manner in which the thing is put here teaches, as it doubtless was designed to do, more than one important lesson.
The spring of this whole evil lies withing, in the region of the heart. It is all to be traced to its carnal lusts, its depraved principles and propensities. And it must be dealt with there, if dealt with thoroughly, dealt with to any good purpose.
It intimates that there might be much of this envying and strife in the bosom, while it did not fully appear, but was skillfully disguised in the life. And still farther, it teaches that we are not to judge here by mere appearance. For as in one case our decision might be to favorable, as we have seen, so in another it might be the very opposite. It is not always what outwardly seems to be envying and strife that is so in reality.
We are to contend earnestly for the faith which was once delivered to the saints, and we may do it most resolutely without being in the least degree actuated by such a spirit.
He says, if you have these feelings in your hearts, GLORY NOT, AND LIE NOT AGAINST THE TRUTH. GLORY NOT—boast not of your alleged wisdom, pride not yourselves on any such supposed attainment. And LIE NOT— bringing out still more strongly the contrariety, the direct and thorough actively expressed opposition. They professed to believe, and even presumed to teach, the Christian system. They set themselves up as its witnesses and advocate.
Missionaries from India and elsewhere, tell us that this is perhaps the very greatest hindrance with which they have contend, and that no argument is more frequently used or more difficult to combat.
It is wholly different from the heavenly in its origin and nature.
It is EARTHLY----It belongs to this lower, clouded sphere, this world of sin and sense, and bears throughout its impress.
Not to be despised in its own place, this has nothing spiritual an saving in its composition. It is marked by earthly principles. It labors for the meat which perishes, not for that which endures unto everlasting life.
SENSUAL, what is intimated is, that this wisdom, however imposing it may seem, and however useful it may really be, pertains not to our nobler being—the soul—as it is when possessed and purified by the Holy Ghost. It is limited to the harrow, inferior domain of self with its circle of objects and interest, it is unspiritual. It is demoniacal, satanic. Not from above, it is from below.
The tongue was said to be set on fire of hell; and the wisdom which keeps company with envying and strife has the same origin. What a dark and dreadful description. This account of it he justifies by the effects which it produces.
FOR WHERE ENVYING AND STRIFE IS, THERE IS CONFUSION AND EVERY EVIL WORK. V 16.
The wisdom consists with, if not in, ENVYING AND STRIFE; and where such a spirit prevails, what are its natural fruits its inevitable results.
The terms are the same as those used in the 14th verse, without the qualification of BETTER, that being understood, and not requiring repetition.
There is no confusion—disorder, anarchy, tumult, all kinds of agitation and disturbance.
AND EVER WORK–they are productive of what ever is bad and base, of all sorts and measures of wickedness. There is not error, no folly, no vice, no crime to which they do not readily conduct. They shut out everything good, they open the door to everything evil
As the fruit reveals the species of tree on which it grows, so do the effects here the nature of those principles from which they proceed.
JAMES 3:14-16
I. THE PRESCRIBED COURSE; THAT REQUIRED BY AND INDICATIVE OF TRUE WISDOM. V. 13
WHO IS A WISE MAN AND ENDUED WITH KNOWLEDGE AMONG YOU? LET HIM SHEW OUT OF A GOOD CONVERSATION HIS WORKS WITH MEEKNESS OF WISDOM.
WISE—that is, gifted with spiritual discernment and discretion, with capacity and enlightenment in regard to divine things.
ENDUED WITH KNOWLEDGE—having large information, acquaintance with facts, doctrines, precepts.
Well, how is such a person to proceed? How is he to prove his character, how evince (To win a point...to constitute evidence of show.) his wisdom? LET HIM SHOW OUT OF A GOOD CONVERSATION HIS WORDS.
He is to manifest what he really is, to give open evidence of his spiritual understanding and prudence. His light is to shine, his principles are to appear.
These fruits of the spirit are to come out as the separate, noticeable features, and prove the nature of the tree on which they are found growing.
The expression is remarkable–THE MEEKNESS OF WISDOM–that is, the meekness which is characteristic of wisdom, which is its proper attribute. Meekness is gentleness, mildness, sub-missiveness. Wisdom is a thing calm, quiet, peaceful.
This meekness is not a feeble, crouching, despicable thing; on the contrary, it is strong, noble, and victorious.
Jesus was meek and lowly in heart; He did not strive nor cry, when reviled He reviled not again, when he suffered He threatened not; and yet He was most perfectly steadfast, immovable as a rock in the prospect of—yes, and under the pressure of — sorrows and suffering not only infinitely beyond human endurance, but even as far beyond human conception.
The prophet testifies, IN QUIETNESS AND IN CONFIDENCE SHALL BE YOUR STRENGTH.
II. THE OPPOSITE COURSE; WHAT IT IS AND WHAT IT INDICATES..VERSE 14
BUT IF YE HAVE BITTER ENVYING AND STRIFE IN YOUR HEARTS, GLORY NOT, AND LIE NOT AGAINST THE TRUTH.
The word rendered ENVYING is literally zeal, but it often had the meaning of jealous, emulation, rivalry. It originate in bitter feelings, not in attachment to truth, but in opposition to persons. It’s root is evil.
If you have this BITTER ENVYING AND STRIFE IN YOUR HEARTS, it is in YOUR HEART, not in your conduct, your proceedings. No; and the manner in which the thing is put here teaches, as it doubtless was designed to do, more than one important lesson.
The spring of this whole evil lies withing, in the region of the heart. It is all to be traced to its carnal lusts, its depraved principles and propensities. And it must be dealt with there, if dealt with thoroughly, dealt with to any good purpose.
It intimates that there might be much of this envying and strife in the bosom, while it did not fully appear, but was skillfully disguised in the life. And still farther, it teaches that we are not to judge here by mere appearance. For as in one case our decision might be to favorable, as we have seen, so in another it might be the very opposite. It is not always what outwardly seems to be envying and strife that is so in reality.
We are to contend earnestly for the faith which was once delivered to the saints, and we may do it most resolutely without being in the least degree actuated by such a spirit.
He says, if you have these feelings in your hearts, GLORY NOT, AND LIE NOT AGAINST THE TRUTH. GLORY NOT—boast not of your alleged wisdom, pride not yourselves on any such supposed attainment. And LIE NOT— bringing out still more strongly the contrariety, the direct and thorough actively expressed opposition. They professed to believe, and even presumed to teach, the Christian system. They set themselves up as its witnesses and advocate.
Missionaries from India and elsewhere, tell us that this is perhaps the very greatest hindrance with which they have contend, and that no argument is more frequently used or more difficult to combat.
It is wholly different from the heavenly in its origin and nature.
It is EARTHLY----It belongs to this lower, clouded sphere, this world of sin and sense, and bears throughout its impress.
Not to be despised in its own place, this has nothing spiritual an saving in its composition. It is marked by earthly principles. It labors for the meat which perishes, not for that which endures unto everlasting life.
SENSUAL, what is intimated is, that this wisdom, however imposing it may seem, and however useful it may really be, pertains not to our nobler being—the soul—as it is when possessed and purified by the Holy Ghost. It is limited to the harrow, inferior domain of self with its circle of objects and interest, it is unspiritual. It is demoniacal, satanic. Not from above, it is from below.
The tongue was said to be set on fire of hell; and the wisdom which keeps company with envying and strife has the same origin. What a dark and dreadful description. This account of it he justifies by the effects which it produces.
FOR WHERE ENVYING AND STRIFE IS, THERE IS CONFUSION AND EVERY EVIL WORK. V 16.
The wisdom consists with, if not in, ENVYING AND STRIFE; and where such a spirit prevails, what are its natural fruits its inevitable results.
The terms are the same as those used in the 14th verse, without the qualification of BETTER, that being understood, and not requiring repetition.
There is no confusion—disorder, anarchy, tumult, all kinds of agitation and disturbance.
AND EVER WORK–they are productive of what ever is bad and base, of all sorts and measures of wickedness. There is not error, no folly, no vice, no crime to which they do not readily conduct. They shut out everything good, they open the door to everything evil
As the fruit reveals the species of tree on which it grows, so do the effects here the nature of those principles from which they proceed.
