Who is wise? Who is intelligent? Every generation has their own prime examples of intelligence I’m sure. A long time ago the paragon of intelligence may have been Abraham Lincoln. A more modern example of intelligence is Steve Jobs. I’m sure younger people than me in the congregation can think of their own example who I know nothing about. There’s no doubt that the world values intelligence for contributions to technology, politics, and culture. What about us here in the church? Is there anyone wise and knowledgeable here at Our Savior Lutheran Church? And what value does the wisdom which comes down from heaven have? James tells us that we as Christians ought to be asking these kinds of questions, and the answers that Christians have are different than the answers the world has- Where is the wise man?

              This is the question James opens with- Who is wise and intelligent among you? You might be wondering what does it mean to be wise? What is intelligence? Whatever the world says about being smart, the important thing for us is what the Bible says about it. What does the Bible say about wisdom? It probably won’t surprise you to know that it says quite a lot! For an extended definition of wisdom you can read the book of proverbs. That’s a lot to read, and it’s a good use of time, but for today we can consider Biblical wisdom to be knowing the right thing to do, in the right situation, at the right time. The second word James uses the EHV translated as intelligence. Perhaps I would suggest a better translation is something like understanding or insight. We usually think of intelligence as something basically unchangeable, you either are smart or not. This word has to do with putting your knowledge into practice. That’s important because while some people may truly be born smarter or less smart- all Christians ought to be concerned with wisdom.

               Wisdom is not about knowing a lot but about putting what you do know into practice. Biblical, Christian wisdom is about putting the knowledge of your salvation into practice into your life! James gives us a practical example. We can be measured by the life we live. James focuses a lot of time in his letter on putting faith into practice. HE says let the wise and intelligent man put his works into action in humility. Everyone’s probably experienced the know-it-all. You know how off-putting he can be. Someone might truly have lots of good information but knowledge often merely gives someone a swelled head. James says demonstrate your knowledge with action done in humility.

Humility is so central to our faith for a simple reason: Our salvation was accomplished by Christ in humility. Jesus humbled himself to be born, grow, live, and die as a man. God has chosen to bring salvation to us through humble means- word, water, bread, wine. Through Jesus’ humble death on a cross he accomplished the greatest act of service done in history, and the greatest act which ever will be done. That is the knowledge from which wisdom truly flows.

              We are not saved by the good conduct in our life. James’ point is that this knowledge of salvation will have an impact on how you conduct your life.

              Knowing the pure teaching of the Gospel may sometimes lead us Lutherans into a temptation to pride and arrogance, leading to an opposite of humble acts of service! Don’t get me wrong- I believe Lutheran doctrine is absolutely correct and is what the Bible teaches. We unashamadely claim to teach Biblical doctrine in our adherence to the Book of Concord. There’s nothing bad at all about that, but it means sometimes Lutherans are more interested in being correct than about anything else! Someone can have the right doctrine, and the wrong life. James doesn’t really address any doctrinally incorrect ideas but he talks about what a church can look like when humility does not characterize the church.

              James says, But if you have bitter envy and selfish ambition in your heart, do not boast and lie against the truth. That is not wisdom from above but earthly, natural, demonic. Destruction to the church comes from envy and selfish ambition, in the heart. When James warns against boasting and lying he points out the danger in misusing the tongue. We so often downplay the importance of words in our every day life. The English proverbs says, Sticks and stones will break my bones but words can never hurt me. The Biblical proverb says Life and death are in the power of the tongue. That’s a pretty big difference. I’m sure some of you have experienced the destructive power of envious and arrogant words in a church, when leadership, or a pastor, or even other people in the congregation seek their own interest above their own.

The three words that James uses to describe the non-wisdom of envy and selfishness highlight by contrast the value of true wisdom. First, earthly. The world might have some form of knowledge. There might be practical things that the world does, and even Jesus says the world’s children are more cunning in their dealings than the children of God. Christians are sometimes seen as naieve and sheltered. Sometimes that’s true. It doesn’t make being worldly any good either! Let’s do our best to dissuade people from that stereotype of Christians being naïve without rolling in the mud with the world. Envy is unspiritual. It works against the Holy Spirit, who brings the comfort of salvation, unity in the body of Christ. Finally, James warns us against the demonic nature of the bad attitude and behavior being discussed. The source of discord and division is from the demons, who love to see the body of Christ divided.

                  James lays out a far different and better picture of Christians living in wisdom which comes from God. First it is pure- just like God’s Word is in the words of psalm 12, The Words of the Lord are Flawless, like silver refined in a furnace, like gold purified sevenfold. It is the Word that also purifies our own tongues, which have power of life and death, power of death when used in service of envy, and life when used in the service of Jesus Christ. Then wisdom is peaceful, making peace in the knowledge of peace with God. Gentle is to not insist on your own way or to be quarrelsome. Reasonable is to be open to changing your mind, not on what the truth is but on the questions of wisdom, what is the right action in the right time. James had talked about impartiality in the beginning of the chapter, which is to not show preference to people for what they can provide for you.

              And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who practice peace. The wisdom, understanding, and righteousness are all gifts promised to those who trust in Jesus. It’s a grand picture of a church, how can we preserve this harvest and continue sowing peace? By continuing to trust in the promise.

                Where is the wise man? We return to the question from the beginning of the sermon. If anyone must have wisdom in the congregation, one must be then pastor! One problem that I have is simply that I am very young. True wisdom comes first from the Scriptures as promised by God, then from experience of life, which is also given to us by God. One of the goals I have with starting a men’s Bible study or men’s group of some kind is to connect the wisdom of older men with the younger men in the congregation. A goal of studying the Bible together as men is to grow together in wisdom just as James assumes is happening in the churches he is writing to. Older women have their own unique wisdom for younger women as well, which is worth passing down through the ages. Where is the wise man, where is the intelligent? Let’s once again dedicate ourselves to the knowledge of God’s gracious gift of salvation in the cross of Jesus Christ- through which he has promised eternal life and wisdom for this life. Amen.