Sermon Tone Analysis

*Tonight I want to talk to you about wisdom.*

*

General Mark Clark was asked what was the wisest piece of  advice he ever got.

The general thought for awhile then replied, “Well, the best advice I ever had was to marry the girl I did—my wife.”

And then he was asked the follow-up question, “Well, sir, who gave you that advice?”

General Clark replied, “She did.”[i]

Who do you turn to when you need wisdom?

Wisdom is one of those fuzzy words that needs to be clearly defined.

The best definition I’ve heard is this: /wisdom is the set of principles which enable you to live skillfully and successfully./

We usually sense our need for wisdom when we face a crucial decision, or a perplexing problem.

What do I do?

Which way should I go?

How do I handle this?

We turn to somebody who we think will give us the wisdom to know what to do, to know which path to choose, to get a handle on our dilemma.

But you have to be careful.

*            *Some folks are wise and some are otherwise.—Tobias

George Smolett

     The trick is to tell which is which.

There is no shortage of folks who are glad to share their wisdom with you.

You can switch on the TV and Oprah or Dr. Phil, or even Judge Judy will offer their advice.

You can make a phone call to your parents, or grandparents, or some other relative and they’ll probably be glad to share their insights.

Your best friend, your coworker, your boss, even your spouse might offer to help you choose.

Whether it’s a problem with your marriage, your kids, or a major decision about your job or your salary, or how to invest your money or who to vote for, I can /assure/ you /somebody/ will offer some advice about the wisest road to take.

Even preachers have been known to offer a word of wisdom on occasion.

Some of what you hear is good; some is not-so-good; some is downright bad.

Some will be wise, and some will be otherwise.

How can you tell the difference?

Tonight I want to look into God’s word and find some guidance.

Turn with me to *James 3:13-18*, and let’s look at the difference between wise and otherwise.

*PRAYER*

/            /James starts right off addressing the issue with a question: /Who is wise and understanding among you?

/I can see the hands going up.

/            I am! I’m the oldest!

that makes me the wisest!

/

/            I am! I’m not the oldest, but I’m definitely the most experienced!/

/            I am! I’m the most intelligent!

/

/            /The people James writes to have a problem understanding the difference between being wise and otherwise.

So James gives them some criteria.

He begins in *vs.

13* with how wisdom demonstrates itself, then goes on in *vs.

14-15, 17* to describe the character of true wisdom vs. the character of false wisdom, and finally in *vs.

16* and *vs.

18* he shows us the fruit of the wise and the otherwise.

How do you identify a person who is truly wise?

James says in *vs.

13* they demonstrate their wisdom by a …/good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom…/

/            /Do you notice how James repeats a theme throughout this epistle—/what you do is the real test.

/If you are truly wise, then you will live a /good life/= /a godly life, a life that pleases God, a life that shows off God’s goodness.

/You live your life skillfully, not carelessly.

Your habit is to do what is good, as opposed to what is evil.

True wisdom is not just talked about but lived out.

Living this good life is motivated by the …/humility that comes from wisdom…/James makes a crucial connection between humility and wisdom.

A wise person is humble.

He~/she is humble before God.

The Bible says in

*Pr 9:10* /The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding./

The idea here is not just that fearing God is sensible; it’s that wisdom involves knowing and understanding Who is the Boss, Who is in Control, Who is worthy of your utmost respect and reverence: /God alone/.

Wisdom begins by humbly acknowledging /there is a God, and you’re not Him.

/

/            /But this humility also extends to the reality that /God has all the answers, you don’t./

…/the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding./

The wisdom we need for life cannot be found apart from God.

The only way you and I get wisdom we need is to receive it from God.

Otherwise, all you really get is the best guess you, or somebody else, can come up with.

This wisdom that comes from humility before God also shows up in our attitudes toward other people.

*Is 5:21* /Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes, And prudent in their own sight!/

Wisdom means understanding your own limitations.

No matter how wise you get, you still need to keep a humble attitude toward others, because you still have a lot to learn.

/Who is wise and understanding among you?

/James says /prove it!

/

/            /Prove it by how you live.

Wisdom is not just about speculation or theory.

It has to work in practice if it’s real.

You don’t prove your wisdom by your words, but by your works.

If your wisdom or the wisdom of anybody else doesn’t work in real life, it’s not wise, it’s otherwise.

Prove it by your humility.

True wisdom shows up in a healthy reverence for God, a healthy dependence on God, and a healthy humility towards others.

Any so called wisdom is that fails the humility test is not wise, it’s otherwise.

James is telling us when you need wisdom, you need to begin by humbly asking God, Who, by the way, loves to answer that prayer.

*Jas 1:5* /If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him./

/            /But it’s just as important not to just ask for wisdom, but to put it into practice.

/Wisdom doesn’t do you one ounce of good if you don’t put it into practice!

/

A school teacher lost her life savings in a business scheme elaborately explained by a swindler.

When her investment disappeared and her dream was shattered, she went to the Better Business Bureau.

“Why on earth didn’t you come to us first?” the official asked.

“Didn’t you know about the Better Business Bureau?” “Oh, yes,” said the lady sadly.

“I’ve always known about you.

But I didn’t come because I was afraid you’d tell me not to do it.”

[ii]

            The truly wise person humbly receives wisdom from God and puts it into action.

But there’s another question James answers in *vs.

14-15* and *vs.

17*: /what are the characteristics of true wisdom?

/He answers with a contrast between demonic wisdom and divine wisdom.

*Vs.

14-15* describe demonic wisdom with 4 phrases:

            /Bitter envy= /describes a person who simmers with rage because of what someone else has.

/            Selfish ambition/= a deep desire to rise above others, to keep the focus on yourself and on your own needs and desires

/            Pride= boasting about yourself and your own accomplishments.

/

/            Denying the truth//=refusal to recognize reality.

/

/            /This is a perfect profile of Satan and his demons.

*Is 14:12-15* /12“How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning!... 13For you have said in your heart: ‘I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God;… 14I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High.’ 15Yet you shall be brought down to Sheol, to the lowest depths of the Pit./