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Now, here's today's message from Pastor Skip. We are calling the series Adulting. And that is Christian maturity, growing up in the faith. And we are in James chapter 3.
Now When uh it comes to uh animals. and you hear the term wisdom. I wonder what animal comes to your mind. Maybe a snake.
Now you say, not a snake, but remember, Jesus said, be wise as. Serpents. And harmless as doves.
So there is something to be said. For A snake is a symbol of wisdom. Or perhaps an aunt comes to mind. And why would that be?
Well, Proverbs 6, Solomon says, go to the ant, you sluggard. Consider her ways and Be wise. But Probably the animal that comes to mind for most of you is This animal, the owl. The owl has been considered a symbol of wisdom for thousands of years. In fact, in Greek mythology, the goddess Athena is pictured with an owl on her shoulder to symbolize wisdom and knowledge, that she possessed wisdom and knowledge.
In the ancient world, Uh owls. were considered wise for a few reasons. Number one, they had large eyes. Number two, their resolute posture. They just sort of stand dignified.
And third, their relative silence And there's something to be said for that because In Proverbs 17, we are told: even a fool who keeps silent. is considered wise. When he closes his lips, he is deemed intelligent. And if you just sort of sit there and say nothing, people figure you're contemplating something, you're thinking deeply about something. Not necessarily so, but.
Why ruin it if people are thinking that?
Now when it comes to people. I wonder. What person comes to your mind when you think about wisdom, a wise person? Who do you think of? when it comes to someone, some person being wise.
Well, that is. That is the question that James asks in verse 13 of chapter 3. Who is wise and understanding. Among you. What is it that makes someone wise?
Is it their gray hair? Is that the fact they wear glasses? Is it because they have PhD after their name? None of those things, of course, will bring wisdom or indicate wisdom necessarily, though we sometimes associate. those things with wisdom.
But let me ask you a more personal question, and I'd like a show of hands. How many of you here? Want to be wise. Yeah, I hope that's all of us. Self-included, we all want to be wise.
Well, that's where James chapter 3 comes in. Beginning in verse 13, James will outline two different Sources are two different types. of wisdom.
Now, wisdom was very important to the Greeks. The Greeks sort of trafficked in what they thought was The love of wisdom, the word philosophy coined by the Greeks, philosophia, philosophia, the love of wisdom. Even Paul said that the Greeks seek after wisdom.
So wisdom was very important in the Greek culture. But also wisdom was important in the ancient Jewish culture. Though They would often add a layer of spiritual overtones to the thought of wisdom. Wisdom to the Hebrews always included the notion of God. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.
Proverbs 9 tells us. In fact, in your Bibles, in your Old Testament, there's a whole section. That is called wisdom literature. Five books of the Old Testament known as the wisdom books: Job. Psalms.
Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon, all of those books. are considered books of wisdom. In James chapter 3, We have A test of spiritual maturity. Before I get to that. Let me just say that there is a difference between knowledge and wisdom.
You know, we live in what is called the information age, you can get information instantly. You Google it if you want to find out. Any kind of answer to any kind of question, it seems you can just put it in the computer and the AI part of Google or Google's search engine will spit out the answer. But where is wisdom to be found? Where is wisdom to be found?
Well, if you want the answer to that question. Google it. And I mean that. I did that. I did that early this morning.
I googled this question: where is wisdom to be found? Every single answer I got, the first 25 answers, the first two pages of answers from Google, were all scripture verses.
So even Google knows that the source of true wisdom is to be found in the Word of God.
Now in the book of James He is giving several tests on what it is to be a spiritual adult, what it is to be a mature believer. The first is the test of trials. How do you handle trials? Second is the test of temptation. How do you manage temptations when they come?
Third is the Word of God. What do you do with the Word of God? Are you quick to listen? Are you quick? Slow to speak, quick to react.
Or are you listening and doing the Word of God? The next test is how we handle other people. The next is How we Handle our own words, our speech. And the next after that is this test, the test of wisdom. Where do you go to get wisdom?
What is your source of wisdom? What is the font from which you drink up wisdom?
Now, just again, a reminder of the background: James, the author, is writing a Jewish audience 2,000 years ago, scattered throughout Asia Minor.
So you have a Jewish audience. Living in a Greco-Roman culture, a culture that defined wisdom in merely human terms. And so James writes to those people telling them what true wisdom is. He's already mentioned wisdom back in chapter one. If any of you lack wisdom, Let him what?
Ask of God who gives liberally, freely. And now he asks another question in verse 13, a rhetorical question. Who is wise? and understanding Among you. How would you answer that?
Who's wise and understanding among you? Most people would answer it this way.
Well, I am. I mean, right, most of us think that we have a valid opinion and that our opinion counts. In fact, many of us think that our opinion is better than anybody else's opinion. After all, it's our opinion. And we have wisdom, and you don't find many self-proclaimed fools, but you find a lot of people who claim to have wisdom.
Even if a person says, look, I'm not that educated, but I'm not an idiot. Certainly, I may not have knowledge, but I have wisdom.
Well, we're going to test that. When somebody says that kind of a statement, they are betraying the fact that they don't understand the true meaning of the word wisdom. Wisdom is not, as I said, knowledge. Wisdom is the right use of knowledge. We've all known smart people who can't even perform simple tasks.
They're highly educated, they're brilliant people, but get them to tie a shoelace and they find difficulty.
Well, the Bible doesn't care how much knowledge a person has. You can be smart intellectually, and you can be outright stupid morally. and spiritually. In 1 Corinthians, Paul says that the corporation is says as much. He says, you see your calling, brethren.
How there are not many wise. Not many noble according to the flesh. Who are called?
So, we're going to look this morning at four characteristics of true wisdom. We're going to look at the description of a wise person. We're going to make a contrast between worldly wisdom and godly wisdom. Four characteristics of true wisdom. The first characteristic is that wisdom is practical.
Go back to verse 13. Who is wise in understanding among you? Question mark. Let him Show. by good conduct.
that his works are done. In the meekness of wisdom. Remember How previously in chapter two, James says, faith without works is Dead?
Now it seems that James says, Wisdom without works. is dead. Because he asked the question: who is wise? And if you are so wise, Then prove it, show it, let him show. This is the original show and tell.
You can tell if a person is wise by what that person does. A wise life is a godly life. You may recall in Matthew chapter 11 and in Luke chapter 7, there are parallel passages. Our Lord Jesus is having a conversation with spiritual leaders who are attacking him and attacking John the Baptist. And in that conversation, Jesus says something very interesting.
He says, for wisdom. is justified by her children. Wisdom is justified by her children. In other words, wisdom is proved right. by her deeds.
Or we would say, actions speak louder. Then words. Actions speak louder than words. This is Connect the Skip Heitzig. Before we return to Skip's teaching, Have you ever wondered what it really means to grow up spiritually?
In Adulting, a study through the book of James, Pastor Skip Heitzig walks you through 21 powerful teachings that show you how to live a mature, Christ-centered life, one shaped by conviction, consistency, and character. This practical and encouraging series is yours when you give $50 or more to support Connect with Skip-Heitzig and share teaching like this one today with more people around the globe. Request adulting as a C D package or digital download at connectwithskiff.com slash offer or call 800-922-8888. Let's return now to today's message.
So then, wisdom is not measured by diplomas and degrees, but rather by actions and by deeds. Wisdom is not a bunch of theologians sitting around stroking their beards, discussing the fine points of eschatology. As D. L. Moody said, every Bible must be bound in shoe leather.
If you want to find a wise person, wisdom is very, very practical. Prove it by what you do in your life.
Now, there's one book in the Old Testament in that wisdom literature category that I just mentioned. There's one particular book that is devoted to the application of wisdom. Tell me what book that is. Book of Proverbs. And you said that because that is a common theme if you have read the book of Proverbs, and I recommend that you would make a practice of reading one proverb a day.
There's 31 proverbs you'll have every month covered. You'll read the book of Proverbs every month. And it gives you wisdom, and it says as much. 54 times in the book of Proverbs, the word wisdom or wise. Appears.
And it always appears with a practical nature to it. It says practical attribute.
Now I'm going to. I'm gonna turn to Proverbs. You don't have to. I'm just gonna read. uh a a sampling to you So, you get the flavor of the practical nature of this wisdom.
The book of Proverbs begins in chapter 1: the proverbs of Solomon, the son of David, the king of Israel, to show wisdom. And instruction. To perceive the words of understanding, to receive instruction of wisdom. Justice Judgment And equity to give prudence to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion. Also in chapter 1.
Going down a little bit further, wisdom is personified as a woman crying out.
Solomon says, Wisdom calls aloud. She raises her voice in the open squares. She cries out in the chief concourses. At the opening of the gates of the city she speaks her words. And among those words At the end of chapter one are these: Whoever listens to me will dwell.
safely. This is wisdom talking. Whoever listens to me will dwell safely and will be secure without fear of evil. Then in Proverbs chapter 2, don't worry, I'm not going to go through every Proverb. In Proverbs chapter 2, he continues: When wisdom enters your heart and knowledge is pleasant to your soul, Discretion will preserve you.
Notice how practical. Understanding will keep you, to deliver you from the way of evil. From the man who speaks perverse things, from those who leave the paths of uprightness to walk in the ways of darkness. Then in chapter three, last chapter, promise.
Solomon says in verse seven, do not be wise. In your own eyes. Fear the Lord And depart from evil. It will be health to your flesh. and it will be strength to your bones.
So, this is a theme, a mega theme that is strung through all of the Proverbs. And it's very, very practical. How to be wise, how to have wisdom. By the way, the Hebrew word that is used in Proverbs for wisdom is the word in Hebrew, chokma. And chokma is the word that means to have a skill.
or a practical Expertise, a practical expertise. In Proverbs, It means The skill to live well, don't you want that? Don't you want to have the kind of skill that you live well in life? It means the skill to live well or to be an expert in godly living. Or, to put it another way, wisdom is the ability to make the most God-honoring choice in every situation.
Wisdom is the ability to make the most God honoring choice in any situation. Foolishness is the inability to discern the consequences of unwise choices.
So we have the difference between foolishness and wisdom in the book of Proverbs. It's all very, very practical. James is also practical and says, Are you wise? Are you a wise guy? Prove it.
By what you do, let it be very, very practical.
Now this was Solomon's mistake, wasn't it? He wrote the book of Proverbs. He had wisdom. In fact, you remember the conversation he had with God when God said, Solomon, ask for anything, anything. I'll give you whatever you want.
We wish that God would do that with us, right? I'll give you carte blanche. You name it. You fill out the check. I'll sign it.
Solomon didn't ask for riches, he didn't ask for status, he didn't ask for fame, he asked for understanding, a wise and understanding heart to govern. The people. And God said, Because You didn't ask for riches or fame or status, but you asked for an understanding and wise heart. I'm going to give you a wise and understanding heart, but I'm also going to give you what you didn't ask for. Because your heart was right and your motives were pure, and I'm giving you more.
So God gave him wisdom and he was wiser, it says, than all of the kings on the earth. He was able to make wise governmental and administration decisions, something we, I think, could use around the world. These days Solomon had it. But he failed, did he not, when it came to spiritual wisdom? God gave all the wisdom it was available to Solomon.
And he had it on a human level. He didn't have it on a spiritual level. He didn't apply his heart. to God's truth. What he did is he married many women.
One wasn't enough. He married a thousand different women. Wives and concubines. What a nightmare. For him and his wives.
And those wives, the Bible says, turned. His heart. From the Lord.
So brilliant, so wise on one level, on another level, not so much.
So, wisdom is practical. The second thing to make a note of in the book of James is that wisdom is humble. Go back to verse 13 and notice. Let him show by good conduct That his works are done In the meekness. Notice that word meekness.
of wisdom.
We're familiar with the word meekness, are we not? It's one of the first words. That are red. in the New Testament.
Some of the first words recorded that Jesus ever spoke was the Sermon on the Mount, in which Jesus said, Blessed are the meek. for they shall inherit the earth. The trouble with the word meekness is that most people think meekness is weakness. That's the trouble with the word. It doesn't mean that, but if you look up meekness in the English dictionary, It has synonyms like docile.
or passive or even timid. That's how we think of meekness. But the Greeks And this is a Greek word. Praos is the word used in Greek for meekness. or meek.
Praas is a very colorful and surprising term. A wild stallion that was broken, brought under the control of a trainer, was called Meek. Carefully chosen words that soothed strong emotions were known as meek. Words Ointment that took away fever and the sting of a wound that soothed That person was called meek.
So the actual meaning of meekness is this: it is power. Under control. Isn't that good? under control.
Now go back to that first little illustration I just mentioned, an unbroken horse. A wild horse will buck will kick and will resist the bit and bridle. But eventually As it gets used to the hand of the trainer and the bit in the bridle, eventually the horse will have dignity. and poise. it will be at peace.
It's still very, very powerful creature. But it is power under control.
So for believers. Meekness is the willingness to be under God's sovereign control. Paul said, part of the fruit of the Spirit is to be meek. Jesus used that word referring to himself. In Matthew 11, Jesus said, Take my yoke upon you and learn.
From me, for I am gentle. The word is meek. I am meek. power under control and humble in heart. But go back to the 13th verse where we are currently and notice this little phrase.
It said, let him show by goodness. or by good conduct that his works are done In the meekness of wisdom. That's a very interesting phrase. The meekness of Wisdom. And I say it's interesting because meekness is the right use of power.
Wisdom is the right use of knowledge. You put both of those things together, you have a very powerful individual. The meekness of wisdom. This is a person who, though he could or she could, won't manipulate. Another person.
He would use his power. in a very controlled manner. He doesn't demand things for himself. He is, in other words, God's gentleman. Power under control.
And this kind of a person, when they enter a room, when they enter a situation, they produce a calming effect. Just like that broken horse who has dignity and poise. I ha I heard of a a class, a young kids class. where they were asked to write an essay on the Quakers. And so One young girl wrote this in her paper.
Quakers are very meek people. who never fight and never answer back. My mother is a Quaker. But my father is not. The meekness of wisdom.
What does it mean?
Well, when you think of others first. When you are patient with other people, When you practice self-control, when you refuse to intimidate someone in order to make yourself feel strong. When you welcome other people's opinion, that is the meekness of wisdom.
So Wisdom is practical. Wisdom is humble. Third characteristic Wisdom is spiritual. We're so glad you joined us today for Connect with Skip Heidzig. Before we go.
Don't miss this opportunity to request Pastor Skip's series Adulting, a study through the book of James. This 21 message series dives deep into what it means to live a spiritually mature life. full of faith, character, and Christ-like purpose. Adulting is our thanks for your generous gift of $50 or more to help share God's word with more people. Call 800-922-1888 or visit connectwithgift.com slash offer.
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