Beloved Brothers and Sisters in Christ Jesus our Lord,
This Sunday morning we are beginning a series of messages from the Epistle of James. This is a New Testament letter that most of us are familiar with, at least in terms of the memorable verses that appear in the first chapter concerning various kinds of trials, and the summons to meet them all with great “joy” in the Lord (1:2). And we might also think immediately of the very strong words that James has written in chapter 2 about the relationship of saving faith in Christ and the outward evidence that accompanies true faith. James declares that, “faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead” (2:17). And there are other prominent themes in this letter: temptation and its source; the use of the tongue; the care for the poor and needy among God’s people; the grave dangers of worldliness; warnings to those who are rich; and suffering as a believer.
But there is another very important theme that develops quite apparently here in the five brief chapters of James’ letter. It is that of wisdom—the “wisdom” that is from the Lord above. This special wisdom is to be vastly distinguished from the kind of wisdom that circulates in the world in its estrangement from God. And though the actual word “wisdom” makes an appearance only 4 times in the Epistle, it is nevertheless most critical for understanding the letter that this man named “James” has penned. Let me show you where this key word is found in the Epistle:
1: 5 “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.”
3:13 “Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom.”
3:15 “This [see v. 14] is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic.”
3:17 “But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere.”
We might say, then, that one of the most important reasons for the writing of this New Testament letter was the need for God’s people to develop this “wisdom”—the kind that characterizes the Kingdom of God. In other words, it would seem that one of the vital needs of the Body of Christ in any age and place is that of the “wisdom from above.”
As we begin a summer-long study of this Epistle, let’s beseech the Lord to teach us to be wise, and to show us the pathway of wisdom upon which we must walk in a true and living faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.
Have a blessed weekend and I can’t wait to see you on the Lord’s Day,
Mike