Wisdom from Above
“But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic.” — James 3:14–15, ESV
Every time you read or listen to the Bible, something new has the power to speak to you. As I was listening to the book of James, the passage above leapt out at me. I found myself thinking, Did James just say earthly wisdom is demonic?
As I listened further and studied more closely, I realized James was addressing the spirit of jealousy and selfish ambition within our hearts. These do not come from God; they are earthly, and ultimately from Satan.
James was speaking to believers about true wisdom. He asks the question: “Who is wise and understanding among you?” His answer is that wisdom is demonstrated through good conduct and “the meekness of wisdom.” At the time, the Greeks considered meekness to be weakness. But James teaches that wisdom is not only intellectual—it is also practical and behavioral.
Jesus echoes this in the Sermon on the Mount: “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth” (Matthew 5:5, ESV). As the ESV commentary notes, Jesus is referring to those who are gentle, who do not assert themselves over others to further their own agenda in their own strength, but instead trust God.
It is God who honors and uplifts His people, as we see repeatedly throughout Scripture: David was raised up to be king, Esther to be queen, and Joseph to second in command over Egypt. God does not need our help to place us in the position He has already ordained for us. What He desires is a humble, gentle heart and an obedient spirit.
When we pursue self-honor, we step out of alignment with God and into alignment with the enemy. This was Satan’s downfall: “You said in your heart, ‘I will ascend to heaven; above the stars of God I will set my throne on high… I will make myself like the Most High.’” (Isaiah 14:12–14, ESV).
James warns us that “where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice” (James 3:16, ESV). We see this truth at work in the world around us today. That’s why we must continually return to God’s Word. As Joyce Meyer often says, we should “run to the throne, not to the phone.”
James gives us a clear picture of what true wisdom looks like: “But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere” (James 3:17, ESV).
Key Takeaways
Meekness is not weakness, but a gentle, kind spirit that comes from above.
Moving outside of God’s will places us in alignment with the enemy.
Wisdom from above will always produce a harvest of righteousness.
Affirmations: Matthew 10:20; Luke 24:32; Ephesians 6:19; Isaiah 55:11
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