“Such ‘wisdom’ does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil.” (James 3:15)
The world’s wisdom fails, even though it sounds like a pretty good worldview to us most of the time. Again, we’re talking about a plan of deciding what you want by looking at what other people have (“bitter envy”) and finding a way to get it in order to try to make yourself happy (“selfish ambition”).
It sounds good to us because it’s the way we’ve always looked at the world. It’s the operating system installed in our sinful hearts. James describes three problems with it.
First, it’s earthly, meaning this wisdom can’t provide a “bird’s eye view” perspective on life. Next, it is unspiritual, limited in understanding to only what the senses can perceive. And it was written by demonic sources.
So the serve-self-first view of life is earthbound, spiritually blind, and demonic. Yikes!
Think: What’s wrong with these three characteristics of worldly wisdom? What would be the advantage of wisdom that was heavenly, spiritual, and NOT of the devil?
Pray: Ask God to give you the desire and the courage to reject the serve-self-first wisdom of the world.
Do: Read John’s definition of everything in “the world” in 1 John 2:16.