The Good Life (2)

“But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. Such ‘wisdom’ does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil. For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.” James 3:14-16 (NIV)

James distinguishes between earthly wisdom and heavenly wisdom. Your conversation and your conduct will demonstrate the kind of wisdom you are operating from. The way you treat others will indicate the wisdom you draw from. The earthly wisdom that James identifies comes naturally. Heavenly wisdom is supernatural and is reserved for the child of God. However, it is possible for a believer to operate in the realm of earthly wisdom and neglect the wisdom from heaven.

The poison of envy and the toxin of selfish ambition are earthly, unspiritual, and of the devil. The good life that God calls us to is not rooted in earthly wisdom which is marked by selfishness. Earthly wisdom feeds the cravings of the sin nature. The gratification of the flesh is centered in earthly wisdom. The devil seeks to get people to resist heavenly wisdom and to settle for the vanity of envy and selfish ambition. Disorder and every evil practice are the byproduct of a self-centered life steeped in earthly wisdom.

Take personal inventory. What kind of wisdom are you drawing from? Does your life give evidence to the good life God has designed for you?

Pursuing God,

Stephen Trammell
Executive Pastor