James - Wisdom Part 1 - Meta-Wisdom
Date: 5/18/08
Sermon Series: James – Faith, Wisdom and Behavior
Sermon Title: Faith Wisdom Pt. 1 – Meta-wisdom
Text: James 1:5-8
Theme:
This message will point out the fact that genuine wisdom comes from God, it has to be asked for and that it anchors us into a reality that we only get a glimpse of in the unreality in which we now live.
Introduction:
Relate the story of Mabel in the convalescence home. Real wisdom, the kind of special instruction which comes from God is like everything else that God provides it is unexpected. It is unlike the standard of wisdom which the world gives and transcends the power of wisdom which can be captured by any other means. It is not about making us look big or self accumulation it is clear reliance on God.
Transition:
In many ways wisdom is the central emphasis of the book of James. One of the commentators says of James that he gives wisdom, in his letter, the emphasis which John gives to love, Paul gives to faith and Peter gives to hope.
Wisdom in James is not any kind of special knowledge or academic excellence. It is instead the working out of God’s special truth in the lives of those who seek out God to be the guidance system by which they drive their lives.
Within the context of the passage James is telling us, his readers, that wisdom is the understanding that God is using whatever trials we are going through to shape our lives, or make a point to the world, or something f Kingdom benefit.
It is the special knowledge that God has not left you alone in the universe to tread water in the emptiness that surrounds you; He is busy at work with each of us.
I. Know that you lack wisdom
a. It is only to the seeker that God delivers wisdom.
b. A lot of us think that we are so smart that there is no reason for God to give us His input.
c. 2 Cor. 4 – In order to be jars that God can fill up with His light we have to become empty jars.
d. Emptying out is something which can be difficult for us to do.
i. First of all we have to evaluate what we are filled up with and ask ourselves whether or not the filling is what it should be. This kind of sifting through of our filling is scary. Here are some questions which we need to ask ourselves occasionally.
1. Am I the kind of person that other people are proud to know?
2. Do I do significant things for others?
3. What do I think God thinks of my daily schedule and behaviors?
4. Do I take responsibility for myself and my actions?
5. Have I filtered my priorities through God’s principles, laid out in scripture?
ii. These kinds of questions can be hard because they make our world a little shaky. But these kinds of evaluations are the only way that we can determine whether or not we are allowing our vessels to be filled up with the wisdom which comes from above, meta-wisdom, or the kind of things which come from below.
II. Know whom to Ask
i. Scripture shows that God was delighted with Solomon for asking for wisdom. Kings 3:10-12, :29-30.
ii. While Solomon left the wisdom which God gave him behind and pursued other matters instead. He still came back to the central core of wisdom – Ecclesiastes 12:13
b. Jesus was pretty big on asking the Father for significant things.
i. Matt. 7:7 – “Ask and it will be given to you”
c. The verb which is used here expresses the thought that this asking is not a one time event it is instead a continuous part of the Christian who wishes to attain God’s wisdom for their life.
i. Our asking means that we need to build into our lifestyle a continuous stream of communication which fills our lives up with the practical application of His wisdom on our existence.
ii. Just like Solomon said, although he had a difficult time living it out, keep your heart in reverence toward God and keep your lifestyle such that He is not ashamed of us.
III. Know that He Will
a. That God is the only author and progenitor of genuine wisdom. He is the source.
b. That He delights in giving it to you
c. The word for doubting which James uses here means something along the lines of having your mind divided.
d. James uses some word imagery to demonstrate a doubtful asker
i. A wave
ii. Double minded
iii. Unstable
e. All of these images paint a picture of a live lived in the instability which the world provides. Think about this with me for a minute, everything that we depend on in this world is going to pass away, people will die, stock markets crumble, we lose our health and vitality as time passes. Genuine wisdom is available only in one place – a sure knowledge of God’s presence in your life.
Conclusion: Psalm 46
