11/6 Sermon on James, Part 7

This past Sunday at Gainesville's Family Church our pastor, Philip Griffin, continued his series of talks about the New Testament book of James, with this seventh installment being about wisdom: how to recognize what it is, how to obtain it, and how to know when you have it.  The scriptures covered are James 3:13-18, which are shown below, in the New International Version via the Bible Gateway website...

¹³ Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. ¹⁴ But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. ¹⁵ Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. ¹⁶ For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.
¹⁷ But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. ¹⁸ Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.

Regarding the "good" life in Verse 13, Pastor Philip pointed out that the original Greek word used here was not the "good" that means "moral", but rather a different word meaning "beautiful" or "attractive"...i.e. an attractive, beautiful life for others to see and follow.  He referred back to the first chapter, which stressed the importance of hardships in gaining understanding and perseverance.  First, one needs information, which leads to transformation, which leads to application.  If a believer isn't applying God's wisdom, then maybe it's an issue of what's deep down in the heart...which ultimately derives from the information that they have accepted as truth, which is the wisdom of the world and not that of God...

Near the end of the talk, the pastor brought up what he regards as the three stages of relationships, be they in the context of marriage, family, workplace, church, or simply friendships: the honeymoon stage, the conflict stage, and the true relationship stage.  With the honeymoon stage, people look upon each other as they want to see them.  With the conflict stage, each recognizes the other does not meet up to their previously idealized expectations...and they try to change them to conform to those expectations.  And with the true relationship stage, the parties finally recognize and respect each other...through the wisdom and maturity attained after weathering the conflict state...for who they truly are and not as projections of their own desires and goals.  Unfortunately, many relationships do not survive that important conflict stage into maturity and they end, often bitterly.  And many also try to rekindle that honeymoon stage by going outside the relationship with others...not a good idea either.  That does not mean that in a true relationship there is never conflict: but when conflicts do happen (and they will), they are instead addressed and resolved in a compassionate yet honest manner that respects the personal integrity and dignity of the other, with grace and mercy playing preeminent roles...

I wasn't able to make it to church to hear this sermon, but was still able to get it by going on the church's YouTube video website.  You can follow it as well by clicking on this link: [link]...