“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
Do you think it is possible to have a completely different understanding of wisdom from someone else? Maybe you think it is wise to save money, and your friend thinks it is more wise to spend money as soon as you get it. People might not always agree on what is most wise.
In this text, James is not talking about differences in wisdom between persons but rather differences in wisdom between those who love God and those who don’t. In fact, there is a type of “wisdom” that is the wisdom of demons!
Demons don’t love God; they hate him. And what is most wise in their minds is doing those things that oppose God. Demons love bitterness, jealousy, and selfishness—bitterness because it shows that we are not trusting God to deal with those things that make us angry, jealousy because it communicates to God that we are not thankful for what he has provided, and selfishness because it robs us of our joy in God and others.
So if you are not repenting of bitterness, jealousy, and selfishness, you are aligning yourself with demons, those who hate God. Thankfully it doesn’t have to be that way. There is a much better path to wisdom. It starts with repentance. Through it, we can see God and his truth revealed. Isn’t that great news? Jesus is the path to wisdom and everlasting life.
Read
“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.”
- According to this verse, do you think God would give wisdom if you asked him?
- Is there any bitterness in your life right now that you need to repent of?
- Is there any jealousy in your life right now that you need to repent of?
- Is there any selfishness in your life right now that you need to repent of?
Pray
Father, we know that you defeated the devil and his minions when you died for our sins and rose from the dead. We don’t want to be on their team; we want to be on your team. We know that they love to deceive us into thinking that sin is the best pathway to life. But we confess that you have all power over them, and when we are aligned with your wisdom, that power will flow from our lives. Thank you for these truths. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
This devotion is adapted from the James Study Guide. Pick up a copy today for only $9.99. The Study Guide includes a 15-week curriculum, a small group study, a group inductive study, as well as 75 daily devotions for your personal or family worship.
