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Summary

James has been speaking about the tongue. Now he asks a question. “Who is wise and understanding among you?” (v. 13). He is not asking for a diploma. He is asking for a life. Let the wise person show it by good conduct, in the meekness of wisdom. Then James names a counterfeit. If bitter jealousy and selfish ambition live in our hearts, we must not boast, and we must not be false to the truth (v. 14). That kind of wisdom does not come down from above. It is earthly, unspiritual, demonic (v. 15). Its fruit is easy to see. There is disorder and every vile practice (v. 16). The other wisdom comes from above. It is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere (v. 17). And those who make peace sow in peace, and a harvest of righteousness grows (v. 18).

I believe James is still thinking of those who want to teach (v. 1). A teacher wants to be thought wise. So James asks who is truly wise. His test is not how well we speak. It is how we live. Notice also where each wisdom comes from. One is earthly. The other comes down from above. James has used that phrase before. “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above” (1:17). He has also told us how to receive it. “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him” (1:5). True wisdom is something we receive, not something we produce. That alone should make us meek.

Meditation Points

1. The meekness of wisdom (v. 13)

James ties wisdom to an unexpected word. Meekness. To modern ears, meekness can sound weak. In the Bible it is closer to strength that has bowed before God. The meek person does not need to win every argument. He does not need to be the smartest person in the room.

“Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom.” (v. 13)

We have met this word in James before. He told us to “receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls” (1:21). Wisdom begins with being taught. A wise person is first a good listener to God.

Jesus described Himself in this way. “Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls” (Matthew 11:29). The wisest Man who ever lived was also the gentlest. He did not grasp. He served.

Coaches know something of this. One of the ICF core competencies is called “Maintains Presence.”2 A coach who must prove himself cannot really listen. Neither can a pastor, or a parent. Meekness makes room. It makes room for the other person. And it makes room for the Holy Spirit, who is already at work in them.

2. Bitter jealousy and selfish ambition (vv. 14-16)

Now James names the counterfeit. “But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth” (v. 14). These two sins rarely announce themselves. They hide well, even in ministry. We hear that another church is growing. We learn that a colleague was invited to speak. Something tightens inside. Then we explain it to ourselves in spiritual words. James calls that being “false to the truth.”

Paul uses the same phrase. “Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves” (Philippians 2:3). Where ambition rules, quarrels follow. James says it plainly. “For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice” (v. 16). I think many broken friendships in ministry began right here.

Internal Family Systems (IFS) offers a helpful observation. Jealousy is often the work of a protective part. That part may be afraid of being overlooked, or afraid of not being enough.1 When we turn toward it with curiosity instead of shame, we often find fear underneath. I believe this observation is worth our attention.

But IFS goes a step further. It teaches that healing comes from a core Self within each person, a Self already marked by calm, clarity, and compassion.1 James points us in another direction. The wisdom we need “comes down from above” (v. 15). It is a gift we ask for (1:5). Paul tells us that Christ Jesus “became to us wisdom from God” (1 Corinthians 1:30). So I welcome the observation. But I cannot accept the conclusion. Our fears need gentle care. Our hearts need a Savior.

3. Sown in peace (vv. 17-18)

Then James paints the other wisdom.

“But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere.” (v. 17)

Notice the order. First pure, then peaceable. Peace from above is never peace at any price. It does not cover sin just to keep everyone comfortable. Yet it is gentle. It is open to reason. It is full of mercy.

Read the list slowly, and a face appears. Who has ever been pure, peaceable, gentle, full of mercy, impartial, and sincere? Only Jesus. This wisdom is His portrait. And Paul says, “For he himself is our peace” (Ephesians 2:14). He broke down the dividing wall of hostility in His own flesh. The peace we sow was first purchased for us.

James ends with a farmer. “And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace” (v. 18). A farmer does not dig up the seed every morning to see if it is growing. He sows, and he waits. Making peace is slow work. A gentle word in a tense meeting. An apology we did not want to make. Mercy toward someone who has not earned it. These are seeds. Jesus said, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God” (Matthew 5:9).

We sow. God gives the harvest.

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