James 3:15

Earthly And Heavenly Wisdom

James 3:15 "This wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but is earthly, natural, demonic." "This wisdom" -That is the wisdom that some among James's readers were manifesting. The wisdom that included arrogance, bitter envy and selfish ambition. James makes it very clear that there is nothing Divine or godly concerning such attitudes. Paul also talks about. wisdom which isn't godly,. wisdom of this world (1 Corinthians 1:20; 1 Corinthians 2:4; 1 Corinthians 3:19; 2 Corinthians 1:12). "but is earthly" -"Its standards are earthly standards; its sources are earthly sources. It measures success in worldly terms; and its aims are worldly aims" (Barclay p. 109). (1 Peter 3:18 "…who set their minds on earthly things".) That is,. wisdom that doesn't take into account eternal and spiritual values or truths.. wisdom that arises no higher than this physical existence, an under-the-sun view of life. "it is earth-bound" (NEB). Carefully note, when God and the truths from God are not factored into our thinking processes, we are destined to manifest. mere earthly wisdom-which is very short-sighted. "false wisdom is based upon earthly standards, earthly sources, earthly aims---and measures itself by earthly success" (Draper p. 107). Macknight says, "mere worldly policy" (p. 380). Every human philosophy is nothing more than earthly wisdom."natural" -unspiritual, the person who lives, acts and thinks purely at. material level of existence (1 Corinthians 2:14; Judges 1:19). Natural wisdom opposes the things of God, refuses to accept the supernatural claims in Scripture. Refuses to factor God into the solution to any problem or the answer to any question. Evolution is. classic example of "natural wisdom". Those who claim that the Bible contains myth or error, are practicing natural wisdom. The atheist is. practitioner of natural wisdom. The attitude is, 'our reality is the only true reality'. The same word can be translated "sensual". The type of wisdom which is often based on physical impulses and desires, rather than higher considerations. The claim that homosexuality isn't. sin, is based on "natural wisdom", where selfish and twisted physical desires become the standard for what is true. This is the philosophy which says if. find myself wanting to do something, then what. want to do must be right. "demonic" -"demonic in origin" (Arndt p. 169); demonic or devil-like. The type of wisdom, rationalization and thinking practiced by the devil and his demons. Which means that the devil himself is filled with bitter envy, arrogance and selfish ambition. Whenever we start manifesting such qualities, we are acting like the devil himself. The devil tries to convince us that his path, the path of selfishness, putting yourself first, looking out only for yourself, and being completely unsatisfied unless you can have it all constitutes the way to gain happiness. This also reveals that false wisdom isn't neutral or merely useless, rather is it positively evil and will generate more sins.