Three weeks ago we kicked off our Fall term of Sunday School. Five weeks ago our ADM students headed back to class. Most of our college kids have gone off to colleges and universities. "Why do we place this emphasis on education?"

We need education to get along in this world, To prepare for life, To acquire wisdom. These responses are okay and sound good. They may indicate high and proper intentions. However, wisdom itself is not necessarily good. Wisdom or education is sometimes proposed as the solution to all the problems of the world in which we live. Yet, with greater education alone we do not build a utopia, a perfect world. Crime, hatred, violence, and terrorism are quite evident to us and some of the persons responsible for this may be educated, brilliant people.

As wonderful as education is, it alone is not the answer. Earlier in the third chapter James addressed the teachers and those who thought they were wise. James asked "Who is wise and understanding among you?" Does he them ask them to show their high school or college diplomas? NO he does not. This does not mean that they are not important. Instead James wrote, "By his good life let Him show his works in the meekness of wisdom."

Jesus, whom I consider to be the greatest teacher of all was meek. He demonstrated meekness of wisdom in gentleness, humility, courtesy, and consideration of others. We might contrast this to the bitter jealousy and selfish ambition sometimes seen around us today. James tells us that the source of that type of wisdom is not from God above but is earthly, unspiritual, and devilish. The result is disorder and vile practices. However, instead of possessing a wisdom with such an outcome, we who follow Jesus Christ are to have a wisdom that results in peace. That wisdom is from above.

Jewish teachers of the first century agreed that true wisdom comes from above, that it is not the attainment of man, but is a gift from God. Solomon who is often considered a wise man prayer for wisdom. For a few minutes this morning I would like us to examine James' description of wisdom.

Wisdom from God is:

I. Pure

The root meaning of the Greek was to be pure enough to approach the gods. At first it had only a ceremonial meaning. It meant nothing more than that a man had gone trough the ritual cleansings. If they were honest some of them would have said." My hands are pure, but my heart is not." However, as time went on the word came to describe the moral purity which can alone approach the gods.

This is illustrated by the inscription at the entrance of a temple. "He who would enter the divine temple must be pure; and purity is to have a mind which thinks holy thoughts." True wisdom is cleansed of all ulterior motives, so cleansed of self that it has become pure enough to see God. The Jews presented sacrifices for their sin. Those were looking forward to cleansing through the shed blood of Jesus Christ. As we repent and receive forgiveness we enter into a personal relationship with God. AS we learn and grow we might ask, "Are my motives pure?" Then these other qualities of wisdom should become evident.

II. Peaceable

Éípnvíkn is the Greek word for peaceable.
Éípnvn is the Greek word peace from which we get the name Irene.
Éípnvn refers to right relationships between human beings and other human beings. It also speaks of relationships between human beings and God.

Arrogant wisdom may separate. A person who thinks he or she is superior may show contempt on other persons. Cruel wisdom could delight in hurting others. Wicked wisdom seduces people away from purity and loyalty to God. These distortion of wisdom are not from above. They are the kinds of wisdom we see demonstrated in acts of terrorism, large and small.

Wisdom from God is peaceable, it promotes peace. It brings people closer to one-another and closer to God.

III. Gentle

Gentle is another description of godly wisdom. The NIV uses the word considerate, considerate in the demands it makes upon others. The word used speaks of going just beyond the written law; justice, but better than justice; that which steps in to correct things when the law itself becomes unjust.

This gentleness knows how to forgive when strict justice gives him a right to condemn; knows how to make allowances; when not to stand upon his rights. It tempers justice with mercy. While laws are important, there are greater things than rules and regulations. This consideration does not misuse laws. The quality in mind is the ability to extend to others the kindly consideration which we would wish to receive ourselves.

IV. Open to Reason

The characteristic of being open to reason is my way of trying to put together two meanings of the Greek word.

Ever ready to obey is the first meaning. According to the writings of William Law the first rule for life is, "To fix it deep within my mind that I have but one business upon my hands, to seek for eternal happiness by doing the will of God." I would concur that the wise man or wise woman is ready and willing to obey God.

The second meaning is easy to be entreated. The idea is to persuade, but not in the sense of being pliable and weak. It is to be persuaded because one is not stubborn, but willing to listen to reason and appeal. Docile speaks of not being unwilling to yield to reasonable requests. A wise person is skilled in knowing when to wisely yield.

V. Full of Mercy and Good Fruits

To be full of mercy and good fruits is another quality of a wise person. Such persons show active sympathy toward those who are suffering and sorrowing. In the previous verses that we have not covered this is mentioned. Christianity brought new meaning to the Greeks concept of mercy.

For the man who is suffering unjustly the Greeks called this pity and not mercy. However, Christianity taught mercy for the man in trouble, even if the trouble is his own fault.

We might be apt to say of someone who has gotten himself into trouble that it was his own fault and therefore we have not responsibility for him. Christian mercy is to be for any person in trouble. This mercy then results in good fruits, practical help; not merely feeling sorry, but turning sorrow and sympathy into deeds.

VI. Without Uncertainty

I thought maybe I should try to say this without the negatives, but then it might miss what I believe James is saying. Various renderings include undivided, without partiality, not making distinctions, not wavering, not hesitant, not vacillating. James is describing a person of wisdom who has certain convictions, who knows his own mind, who chooses a course and abides by it.

Some persons sit on the fence, thinking it is clever to not make up their mind. Back in James 1:6 James wrote of a person being tossed by the wind as an unstable person. Failing to make up one's mind about Jesus is not wise.

VII. Sincere

Sincere, literally means without hypocrisy, not acting a part. It is taken from the Greek of an actor on a stage who is playing the part of another. True wisdom from God is not acting the part of another, not a deception, not concealing of one's real aims and motives. In contrast, it is honest and does not claim or pretend to be what it is not.

Are you sincere in your relationship with God and with other persons?

Conclusion

Wisdom from God is: Pure, Peaceable, Gentle, Open to Reason, Full of Mercy and Good Fruits, Without Uncertainty, and Sincere.

When President McKinley took the oath of office as president of the United States, he placed his lips on these words, "Give me now wisdom and knowledge, that I may go out and come before this people that is so great." Though advanced to the highest honor possible, yet he was deeply conscious of his responsibility; and also felt his need of divine assistance.

Just after the inauguration, Rev. W.V. Morrison of New England, who had been one of McKinley's teachers when a boy, called upon the president. When leaving Mr. Morrison said; "You have a great responsibility devolving upon you, but the love and confidence of the American people are behind you." The president replied; "I hope I shall have the sympathy and prayers of yourself and all good people."

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