Memory verse: 4:7
How has James described wisdom previously? (James 1:5-8)
As we learned earlier, James speaks of wisdom as the ability to make wise decisions in difficult circumstances, about practical discernment.
What does he say is the evidence of wisdom in Verse 3:13?
Wisdom is demonstrated by one's 'good life' and by deeds done in humility.
How does he characterize 'earthly wisdom?'
From time to time all of us experience jealousy and selfishness. When that happens, James says, don't brag about it. It's all to easy to get together with some of the guys and start talking around the themes of "ain't it awful -- he's so lucky -- boy, I'd llike to go tooling around in a Corvette." With talk like that, you're actually boasting about your envy and selfishness, which James says is earthly, unspiritual, and of the devil.
What is the result of 'earthly wisdom?'
In Verse 16, James says that envy and selfish ambition, it leads people to cause trouble and do cruel things. Does this sound like James is exaggerating? He's not. A guy I know, Steve, scours garage sales every weekend buying up junk and selling it on eBay. Well, he bought a sword for $5 and then sold it for $280. That became the talk of some guys in our club and boy, were they envious. Some of them quit giving Steve leads to good garage sales and then one guy, Big Ed, sent him off on a wild goose chase to another state. Big Ed bragged about it and got a good laugh. No one criticized his boasting yet I think we all felt a bit uncomfortable. Looking back on it now, I see it as a cruel prank, clearly 'of the devil.'
How does he describe 'heavenly wisdom?'
Wisdom of heaven is pure, friendly, peace-loving, considerate, submissive, kind, helpful, genuine, and sincere. Can you see that heavenly wisdon is everything that the example above is not?
What does it produce?
James says that peacemekers who plant seeds of peace will harvest justice or righteousness.
What is the similarity that James shows between 'faith' and 'wisdom' (or understanding)? (Compare James 3:17 with Galatians 5:22)
In Galatians 5:22, Paul says that God's spirit makes us loving, happy, peaceful, patient, kind, good, fraithful, gentle, and self-controlled, almost exactly the same characteristic that James says are in wisdom that comes from above. Paul calls this the 'fruit of the spirit' while James calls it 'wisdom from heaven' but, in fact, they are the same thing.
In Verse 4:1, who is fighting and quarreling?
You. The Jewish Christians to who he is writing and all of us today.
If you experienced fighting and quarreling in your family or where you lived, how would you be tempted to explain it?
Think about this and discuss the various answers with your group. Some people will say it was a way of life. Others will say it happened from time to time. Still others will say they never saw it going on. In reality, it is a very rare family or fraternity or camp or living group where there are not occasional (or frequent) fights and quarrels.
How does James explain it?
James says that most fighting stems from envy, from jealousy, from wanting something you don't have.
Where does the spiritual battle take place?
In your mind. The devil is placing envy and selfish desires in your mind.
What is James criticizing in Verses 4:2-3?
James criticizes us expressing our envy in unspritual, aggressive, and cruel ways rather than praying to the Lord to meet our needs. But he also criticizes praying to the Lord to meet our selfish desires.
In Verse 4:4, why does James use the phrase 'adulterous people?' (Jeremiah 31:31-34)
By 'adulterous people' James refers to the broken covenant between the Lord and the Jews that were led out of Egypt. Jeremiah describes the breaking of the old covenant and the making of a new one with the putting of the law into the hearts of the people through the Holy Spirit.
What did Jesus say about God and the world? (Matthew 6:24, John 15:18-19)
First, you cannot serve two masters: God and money (the world). Second, if you belong to the world, the people of the world will love you, but if you don't belong to the world, its people will hate you.
Can we love both God and the world?
NO!
What happens if we try to love both? (1 John 2:15-16)
Foolish pride and selfish desires prevent us from loving God and receiving his grace. James says that if we try to embrace both God and worldly values, we actually become an enemy of God.
How can we avoid loving the world? (James 4:6, Proverbs 3:34)
By being humble and praying to God in our humility. We must admit that we don't have the strength on our own to turn away from earthly values. We must completely surrender to God and put ourselves in His hands.
James now offers ten commands. Let's name them:
- Submit (or surrender) yourselves (to God)
- Resist the devil
- Come near to God
- Wash your hands (or clean up your lives)
- Purify your hearts
- Grieve
- Mourn (or be sorry)
- Wail
- Change your laughter (to mourning)
- Humble yourselves (before the Lord).
"Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind."
What was Jesus' second commandment? (Matthew 22:39)
"Love others as much as you love yourself."
What is James saying in Verses 4:11-12? (Matthew 7:1-5)
Do not judge one another. By judging others, we are not keeping the law, we are breaking it. Only God can judge.
Of the so-called 'seven deadly sins,' which are we guilty of when we judge others? (Psalm 94:1-2, Proverbs 6:16-19, 8:13, 11:2, 13:10, 16:18)
Pride and arrogance.
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