Living Out Our Faith Skillfully - James 3:14
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Introduction
Introduction
Tonight, after a brief break, we are back to our study of James. We are still in James chapter three. Our verse for consideration this evening is verse 13. However, before we look into that verse, let’s read the entire last paragraph.
13 Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom. 14 But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. 15 This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. 16 For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. 17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.
You may recall from our previous study that the Holy Spirit is changing the topic. He moves us from the subject of words to that of wisdom. Note again verse 13.
James 3:13 (KJV 1900)
13 Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom.
Remember that our overall theme of this chapter is “Living Our Our Faith Skillfully.” We must be skillful with our words which requires wisdom. Wisdom only comes from God. A wise man learns to control his tongue by his daily submission to God through obedience to God’s Word. Additionally, an intelligent person demonstrates a life skillfully lived by outward deeds (thoughts, words, and actions) that match a meek and humble life of submission to God. That was the essence of verse 13.
Now we move to verse 14, which states:
14 But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth.
GRAMMAR NOTES
GRAMMAR NOTES
You have my work in the handout given to you. Here are my thoughts from that work. Grammatically, there are a few things that stood out to me.
We have four nouns. They are:
envying[(base word)excitement of mind, ardor, the fervor of spirit ; an envious and contentious rivalry, jealousy ]
strife [electioneering or intriguing for office...hence, apparently, in the N. T. a courting distinction, a desire to put one’s self forward, a partisan and factious spirit which does not disdain low arts; partisanship, factiousness ]
hearts [heart. Refers literally to the vital organ, but is more often used metaphorically for the inner person. ]
truth [truth, true, sincerity, integrity. Indicates the quality or state of being real or genuine—often in the sense of visible and verifiable reality, demonstrated by facts, actual events, or proven character. ]
There are three verbs.
ye have [to contain or have some aspect or feature]
glory [to glory against, to exult over, to boast one’s self to the injury of (a person or a thing) ]
lie [to lie. Refers to the act of lying or deceiving by lying ]
There is also only one adjective and no adverbs. The adjective is bitter, meaning something harsh or virulent.
As you look then again at this verse, we understand a condition. The condition is “IF” you have bitter envying or strife in your heart. Bitter envying or strife is understood as a harsh spirit of rivalry or jealousy (envying) along with a harsh spirit of always putting one’s self before others, causing division. IF that is you, then the Holy Spirit says to “glory not” or not boast of oneself. Additionally, you are not to lie against the truth.
SPIRITUAL APPLICATION
SPIRITUAL APPLICATION
Our first question is this.
What is the Holy Spirit talking about?
What is the Holy Spirit talking about?
Wisdom is still the subject at hand- a subject that began in verse 13.
What is the Holy Spirit saying about wisdom?
What is the Holy Spirit saying about wisdom?
In this verse, the Holy Spirit describes an unwise person.
As we already noted, a wise person seeks to put God first by humbling submitting through faithful obedience to His Word. However, in verse 14, the Holy Spirit describes the person who focuses on themselves. In particular, it is a believer fixated upon pleasing self instead of pleasing God. They have the characteristics of “bitter envying and strife.” They have lost their focus on God and are now back to the old habits of pleasing themselves. Such a believer must stop doing two things immediately. They must stop glorifying themselves and stop deceiving themselves concerning the truth of God’s Word.
It is interesting to note the contrast between God’s wisdom and the world’s wisdom. God says a wise person is one who, in verse 13, is endued with His knowledge and then lives a life of humility, demonstrating their reliance upon Him. However, in contrast, the world is always promoting self-love.
The world is always harping that you must learn to love yourself, you must raise your self-esteem, you must forgive yourself so you may find peace, you are of infinite worth, and that you must “get in touch” with yourself and your feelings. The person who does so will then find love, help from others, peace, and fulfillment in living. All of these are lies. Each time a person becomes self-focused, they drive others away and, internally, they are a mess; nothing ever satisfies.
Unfortunately, this same worldly philosophy is often found in many churches today. There are way too many so-called teachers, ministers, and laypeople who preach and teach self-love. They teach the false wisdom of this world. It is no wonder that our society is such a mess today.
False Wisdom and Flawed Teaching Arouse Bitter Envying/Jealousy
False Wisdom and Flawed Teaching Arouse Bitter Envying/Jealousy
If you go back to our verse, note that again that it says,
James 3:14 “14 But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth.”
Remember that these words are for believers. We established this fact in the James 1:1. The Holy Spirit constantly reminds us by using the phrase, “My brethren.” Thus, the Holy Spirit reminds us that the world’s wisdom and teaching often creep into churches through those who would teach such things. They are teachers who are full of themselves, and the result of their labor is “bitter envying and jealousy.”
Isn’t it amazing how people, even believers, are often filled with envy and jealousy? I know of a situation right now where a church and its pastor have ostracized a retired pastor and his wife simply because the pastor of that church is afraid that his people might like the retired pastor and his wife. What is happening there? There is jealousy and envy. People become envious in many ways. Some become envious and jealous of a position in the church. I have seen pastors become envious of another pastor’s preaching or teaching ability. Leadership and recognition are often the focus of envy and jealousy. Some are envious because one person possesses more charisma and receives more attention than they. We could go on and on about all the things that are the focus of bitter envying and strife. The biggest issue here is the constant comparison of ourselves to others. It will lead to bitter envy and strife every single time. Listen to the Holy Spirit’s words in 2 Corinthians.
12 For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.
A few verses down, the Holy Spirit concludes.
17 But he that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord. 18 For not he that commendeth himself is approved, but whom the Lord commendeth.
The world’s wisdom says glorify yourself because no one else will. God’s wisdom says glorify me and me alone. Thus, when believers give in to the world’s wisdom and return to seeking their desires, it immediately opens the door for “bitter envying and strife.”
Here is the first point: false wisdom and wrong teaching arouse bitter envy and jealousy. It soon results in a division between fellow believers, often disrupting church unity. Thus, no believer should ever envy another person’s ability, position, or recognition. There is no place for such things in those who seek to live the true wisdom of God. And indeed there is no place for such things in those who teach the true wisdom of God. Bitter envying and jealousy are wrong and ungodly.
15 Some indeed preach Christ even of envy and strife; and some also of good will: 16 The one preach Christ of contention, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my bonds: 17 But the other of love, knowing that I am set for the defence of the gospel.
Here is the next point.
False Wisdom and Flawed Teaching Arouse Strife
False Wisdom and Flawed Teaching Arouse Strife
James 3:14 (KJV 1900)
14 But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth.
The word “strife” is a word of self ambition. Remember that in Greek, it carries the idea of electioneering. It is a political word. One of the things that we dislike the most about politics is the selfish promotion of ego. Each politician campaigns on how they are needed to make the necessary changes to help us better our nation. It is the most extensive display of self ambition and promotion ever seen. We suffer through it each election cycle. It is the essence of the word “strife.” It is also one of the dangers of being a teacher or preacher of God’s Word. It is a danger for any believer. Yet, it seems to be a considerable danger for those in positions of authority. It is easy for a person to start ambitious for the Lord. As they do, the Lord blesses, and soon, in their hearts, self and pride begin to creep back in. The next thing you know, that ambition for the Lord becomes self- ambition. No longer is that person promoting the things of the Lord. Instead, they begin to put forward the idea they are wise and knowledgeable. They are the teacher, the preacher, the leader. Their position of authority goes to their head, and now they see themselves as the only ones who can teach or preach God’s Word the correct way. Their self- ambition then leads them to gather those who listen to them and recognize them as their leader. Something that often leads to opposing even God’s man in God’s position.
I have seen this happen in many churches. Someone within a church decides they have a better grasp of teaching and preaching God’s Word than the man called by God and spent most of his life studying God’s Word. But now, all of a sudden, this person knows better. So they leave that church and start their own Bible study drawing others away with them. Their ambition is not for Christ. If it were for Christ, they would know that Christ loved the church and gave himself for it. Thus, their love would be for the local church and the things of God. Instead, their ambition is for themselves. Such false wisdom and wrong teaching will always lead to strife.
3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. 4 Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.
24 And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient,
Here is another point found in this verse.
False Wisdom and Flawed Teaching Arouse Self Glory
False Wisdom and Flawed Teaching Arouse Self Glory
Note again our verse.
James 3:14 (KJV 1900)
14 But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth.
“Glory” means to boast of one’s self. Most boasting is not outwardly, even though men do. The majority of boasting is inward. We often think more of ourselves than we ought. It is, for this reason, we have the warning in Romans:
3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.
That is our problem. We often think of ourselves “more highly than we ought to think.” The Holy Spirit reminds us that we have a massive problem in our text. We have an issue with boasting. How many times do we “glory” in that wonderful lesson we just taught? Or how many times do we “glory” in how well we sang a special or performed musically? We could list many things here. The thought is this. How much do we spend glorifying our accomplishments versus glorying the gospel of Christ? Unfortunately, if we are truly honest with ourselves, we admit that we often seek pride. A position that often stands opposed to the wisdom and teaching of God’s Word.
3 For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself.
Christ said:
12 And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.
Here is our last point for the night from our text.
False Wisdom and Flawed Teaching Arouse Lies Against the Truth
False Wisdom and Flawed Teaching Arouse Lies Against the Truth
James 3:14 (KJV 1900)
14 But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth.
This phrase contains two thoughts.
The first thought is this. False teachers are inconsistent with the TRUTH of God’s Word. Here is what I mean. They do not live or teach God’s truth. If they live a lie, they will eventually teach false doctrine. If they are teaching false doctrine, they will live a lie. To live a lie is to teach a lie. To teach a lie is to live a lie.
Here is the second thought. False teachers are inconsistent with what they teach and do. For them, it is “Do what I tell you to do, not what I do.” They have the philosophy that speaks what is good for the goose is not suitable for the gander. Thus, their lives do not match what they teach. They are inconsistent.
16 They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.
Conclusion
Conclusion
Here is what we have learned from this verse this evening. There is a vast difference between the world’s wisdom and God’s wisdom. At the heart of that difference is the object of our glory. The world says glorify self. It appeals to our flesh. We naturally desire to promote ourselves. However, God says, “Glorify me.” The wise believer and teacher seek to glorify God with their deeds (thoughts, words, and actions). The false believer and teacher seek to promote self. When a believer gives in to the wrong wisdom of this world and teaches it instead of the truth of God’s Word, it arouses with them bitter envy and strife. It also feeds their desire for more self-glory. Additionally, it causes them to live a lie against the truth of God’s Word.