16. "For wherever there is jealousy (envy) and contention (rivalry and selfish ambition), there will also be confusion (unrest, disharmony, rebellion) and all sorts of evil and vile practices."
To be wise is to see that our present circumstances do not and cannot reveal our real worth or limit our real ability to receive full life from God even now. This is such a wonderful reality... and not at all easy in this world. It's tempting to notice all that is out of place in our lives and so feel, we're not yet able to live in the fullness that we could be. Paul teaches us this very point when he says, "For I am sure that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, now depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord." Rom 8:38-39
It's hard not to compare our lives with others and we use those comparisons to puff ourselves up or tear ourselves down. James turns to these dangers, here in verse 16, saying, "But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth." When we are jealous or selfishly ambitious, we are not trusting in God's ability to give us wisdom, hope, patience, courage, "life", in the midst of our trials, and to lead us, through these very trials to become "perfect and complete, lacking in nothing."(1:4) We can be jealous of another's spouse, looks, children, financial situation, personality, happy childhood, good health, even their faith! And it is so easy to maneuver ourselves in ways to make us look good, wise, humble, attractive in others' eyes. God sees this. He knows that we are constantly bombarded by the temptation to compare ourselves and become jealous and selfish. He knows that when we are struggling with trials, this temptation is increased. So the first thing he is saying to his readers here is if you have these feelings in your heart, "do not boast and be false to the truth." God's wisdom, the wisdom of meekness, can NOT come out of a jealous and ambitious heart. These motivations are grounds for the charge of foolishness not confidence, much less pride and boasting.
17. "But the wisdom from above is first of all pure (undefiled); then it is peace-loving, courteous (considerate, gentle). [It is willing to] yield to reason, full of compassion and good fruits; it is wholehearted and straightforward, impartial and unfeigned (free from doubts, wavering, and insincerity)."
Here, the definition of God's wisdom reveals what is missing from the world's wisdom. For starters, the very nature of His wisdom is pure and undefiled... nothing in God's wisdom that can't be directly link to His loving compassion for every man, woman and child.
The Amplified expands. unfeigned, as a wisdom that is free from doubts... a decision made with God's wisdom does not waver... our yes means yes... and our no means no. There is NO insincerity in God's wisdom. Amen?
Let's pick up with James verse 3:18 next time.
I love you.
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