Wisdom and Peace

James 3 : 13 - 18

When we read James 3:13–18, we see a contrast between wisdom from above and earthly wisdom. James begins with a rhetorical question: “Who is wise and understanding among you?” This question does not imply that no one is wise, but rather emphasizes that wisdom and understanding should be reflected in good conduct and works. If someone claims to be wise but has bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in their heart (verse 14), they are being dishonest and possess distorted knowledge. That’s why James warns, “Do not boast and be false to the truth,” because such wisdom does not come from above but from below (verse 15). Interestingly, James does not contrast heavenly wisdom with worldly foolishness, but rather with earthly wisdom. So, it’s a comparison of wisdom (heavenly) vs. wisdom (earthly). Earthly and demonic wisdom is characterized by jealousy, selfish ambition, disorder, and vile practices.

There is a distinction between jealousy and envy. From a theological perspective, jealousy can have both positive and negative connotations, but envy is always negative—it is one of the seven deadly sins. In this passage, James uses the word “jealousy” with a negative connotation, not in the sense of God’s jealousy for His people (Israelites) or the healthy jealousy found in marriage. Here, “jealousy” can be understood as envy.

Why are people jealous? We live in a fallen world driven by a competitive spirit. People compare themselves to others, become insecure, and ultimately fall into jealousy. A child is compared to other children, a husband is compared to someone else’s husband, and a church is compared to other churches. Sadly, this kind of comparison rarely leads to growth. The one considered inferior may resist judgment and fight to prove themselves superior. Those who promote such competition actually serve their own selfish ambitions. When we look at someone smaller or less accomplished than ourselves and feel better, this is a form of gloating. Here, we see the connection between jealousy and selfish ambition. This is earthly and demonic wisdom. Unfortunately, churches are not immune to such influences. The church must be critical of and resist worldly wisdom, or it risks becoming just like the world—full of jealousy and unable to be a safe haven.

Verse 17 contrasts this with the wisdom from above, which is “first pure.” This is the general term of heavenly wisdom. What does purity mean in this context? We can understand it by comparing it to the purity expected in marriage—the relationship between bride and groom. Purity is crucial in holy matrimony, and the church, as the bride of Christ, is expected to be pure and undivided. Purity is closely tied to the virtue of love. Under this general term of purity, come the seven qualities of wisdom from above: peaceable, gentle, open to reason (submission), full of mercy, good fruits, impartial, and sincere. Let’s talk about some of these qualities:

“Peaceable” is the opposite of jealousy. Jealousy leads to restlessness because it fosters a desire to outdo others. A jealous person cannot live in peace, as they see others as competitors rather than partners. However, peaceable wisdom recognizes that life is not about winning or losing, dominating or being dominated. Instead, life is about peaceful, loving relationships, where people enrich one another’s lives.

“Gentleness” (sometimes synonymous with meekness or humility) is the precise opposite of selfishness. Why? Because gentleness reflects sensitivity to the needs of others. When we encounter someone who is suffering, we naturally respond with gentleness. You demonstrate maturity when you can show gentleness toward those who are struggling. A selfish person, on the other hand, only cares about themselves. When we look at the life of Jesus, we see that He described Himself as gentle and humble—lowly in heart (Matthew 11:29). This tells us that gentleness and humility cannot be separated. Throughout Jesus’ life, we see His gentleness as He cared deeply for sinners.

“Open to reason,” or submission, from the original Greek translation, means being easily persuaded. Those with heavenly wisdom tire of those who try to dominate conversations or win arguments. Unfortunately, this tendency is also present in theological discussions, where everyone is focused on winning, rather than listening and understanding. This attitude reflects earthly and demonic wisdom. Those who always try to dominate and refuse to listen to others are showing immaturity. The more mature we become, the more we are open to reason and willing to listen to others’ perspectives. However, our fallen world teaches the opposite: if you dominate others, it means you have greater knowledge and understanding, and thus you are the leader, not the one being bullied. Regretfully, the world does not comprehend the goodness of heavenly wisdom.

Our sinful nature leads us to embrace worldly wisdom, but as we grow in Christ, we become more mature and gain wisdom from above—not our own wisdom. Let us humbly pray to God for heavenly wisdom, asking to be purer, more peace-loving, more submissive, and more gentle. God bless us. (G.N.S)