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Review: From out of the overflow the heart the mouth speaks.  What we say is evidence of who we are and what we think.  Our tongues are capable of incredible power that can move others towards unwise paths that will be destructive in life, or inspire a life filled with actions that build others towards things that last. 

Today we will compare the wisdom the world versus the wisdom that God authors.  The one celebrates personal ambition and the other promotes peace for the sake of all.

Read James 3:13-18

Who do you think of as being very wise and could trust to give you sound advice?  [A life you would recommend anyone emulate.] 

What are the traits of that person that gives you confidence in their wisdom?

• Practically: successful, rarely make mistakes, respect their way they go about things.
  
  
• Relationally: people want to follow them, they are trustworthy, sincere, value people.

What are the traits of a successful person you would not seek for personal advice?

• Ambitious at all costs. Not careful as to who they take advantage of or hurt in their pursuit of the top.
  
  
• Rarely advocate for others unless it betters their position.
  
  
• Cutting corners is common if the end is accomplished.
  
  
• Any advice given would have to be filtered for truth, sincerity, and motive.

Wisdom and understanding that comes from God benefits the person of wisdom and all those influenced by that person.  (13)

• True understanding is evidence by a person can make sense of or assess the moments that we experience in daily life.
  
  
• True wisdom is applying that understanding or “moral insight” in everyday life. BKC
  
  
• Wisdom and understanding are (shown) evidenced by a life that is lived with a gentle and gracious spirit.

The wisdom promoted by the world benefits the ambitious achievers who are all about climbing the societal ladder.  (14)

• Their wisdom has a harsh edge to it—bitter envy.
  
  
• The heart behind this wisdom has the ambitious aim to promote oneself.
  
  
• The selfishly ambitious person boasts about their accomplishments even at the cost of truth.
  • The results they boast of are often skewed and inflated.
  • They speak of others but not at the cost taking credit for themselves.

Demonic values promote a wisdom that is all about you. (15)

• It lacks the Spirit of God.
  
  
• It is an operation from the Devils play sheet—Adam and Eve.
  
  
• It is a secular ideal not a heavenly one.

There are two outcomes of worldly wisdom and selfish ambition. (16)

1. Such wisdom and ambition create chaos for those who got in the way.
   • There are no norms to expect other than what serves that person the best.
   • Everyone is operating for their own best interest which causes them to often work against each other.

2. Such wisdom and ambition will create a culture that lacks a moral compass.
   • A sense of boundary or consideration of others will not be valued, leading to a culture of looking out for oneself and disregarding others.
   • Relational trauma results in mistrust and anger becoming the norm for human engagement.
   • To survive you must quit caring about integrity, truth, or anything ethical.

The wisdom of God applied will benefit you and others. (17)

• Pure and holy in motive.
  
  
• Loves to bring true peace regardless of the challenge.
  
  
• Considers the impact upon others when making decisions.
  
  
• Operates with reasonability “submissive” with others.
  
  
• Is merciful towards others even when wronged.
  
  
• Impartial—doesn’t play favorites.
  
  
• Integrity is evident.

God’s wisdom plants seeds of peace with others to accomplish good things.  (18)

PRAY

Would your life be defined being ambitious or wise?

Who has benefitted by your life?

In light of those two questions, do you need to change the strategy of your life?

Who, someone of godly wisdom, can you seek guidance from in making such changes?

What do you want to be the harvest of your life?  A righteousness that multiplies or a career that earned you very few friends?

Benediction:  Solomon asked for wisdom to benefit a nation.