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The Wisdom From Heaven (Part 1 of 2)

James 3:13–18
Program

Scripture teaches that true wisdom isn’t a product of advanced education or super-intelligence. So what defines it? Listen to Truth For Life as Alistair Begg details the practical attributes of God-given wisdom as described in the book of James.

From the Sermon

The Wisdom from Heaven

James 3:13–18 Sermon Includes Transcript 42:43 ID: 2584

Eternal Dividends

Eternal Dividends

Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that increases to your credit. I have received full payment, and more. I am well supplied, having received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent, a fragrant offering, a sacrifice pleasing to God.

Paul’s version of “Thank you for your financial support” as he writes to the Philippian church is novel, to say the least: he says that their generosity made him glad not because of what their gifts meant to him but because of what their gifts would mean to them. He tells them that their giving will be of more benefit to them than to him, the recipient!

Paul’s excitement over their generosity flowed from the assurance that they would benefit from it for all of eternity. His confidence was grounded in Jesus’ teaching. In Luke’s Gospel, for example, Peter had said to Jesus, “See, we have left our homes and followed you” (Luke 18:28). We don’t exactly know what Peter’s motivation was for this remark, but we do have Jesus’ response: He said, “There is no one who has left house or wife or brothers or parents or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, who will not receive many times more in this time, and in the age to come eternal life” (v 29-30). Jesus was saying that Peter and the other disciples had not given things up so much as invested in their future.

The Bible is absolutely clear concerning both the present day and the nearness of eternity. We find it easy to live in such a way that eternity has no bearing on how we give, think, and live now, but the fact is that eternity could be one breath away for every one of us and that it lasts far longer than this fleeting life. It is therefore fitting to give in anticipation of the rich dividends that will pay out in eternal life.

Our ability to give with open hands and in light of eternity is rooted in the generosity of God Himself, who is the great Giver. Perhaps the greatest way we can err in giving is by not giving at all. We might be tempted to think that we can’t afford to give—but the truth is, we can’t afford not to give! As Jesus so lovingly promises us, “Give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you” (Luke 6:38).

So, consider your investments—not in retirement plans, or in the stock market, or in a college fund, but the kind of payment that “increases to your credit” in eternity. There is great gain in gospel giving. Let the life to come determine your spending in your life today, and you will find yourself giving both generously and cheerfully.

Questions for Thought

How is God calling me to think differently?

How is God reordering my heart’s affections — what I love?

What is God calling me to do as I go about my day today?

Further Reading

Encouragement to Give Generously

1We want you to know, brothers,1 about the grace of God that has been hgiven among the churches of Macedonia, 2for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and itheir extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. 3For they gave jaccording to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own accord, 4begging us earnestly kfor the favor2 of taking part in lthe relief of the saints— 5and this, not as we expected, but they mgave themselves first to the Lord and then by the will of God to us. 6Accordingly, nwe urged Titus that as he had started, so he should complete among you othis act of grace. 7But as pyou excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all earnestness, and in our love for you3qsee that you excel in this act of grace also.

8rI say this not as a command, but to prove by the earnestness of others that your love also is genuine. 9For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that sthough he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich. 10And in this matter tI give my judgment: uthis benefits you, who va year ago started not only to do this work but also to desire to do it. 11So now finish doing it as well, so that your readiness in desiring it may be matched by your completing it out of what you have. 12For if the readiness is there, it is acceptable waccording to what a person has, not according to what he does not have. 13For I do not mean that others should be eased and you burdened, but that as a matter of fairness 14your abundance at the present time should supply xtheir need, so that their abundance may supply your need, that there may be fairness. 15As it is written, y“Whoever gathered much had nothing left over, and whoever gathered little had no lack.”

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Footnotes
1 8:1 Or brothers and sisters
2 8:4 The Greek word charis can mean favor or grace or thanks, depending on the context
3 8:7 Some manuscripts in your love for us
Topics: Giving Heaven

Devotional material is taken from the Truth For Life daily devotionals by Alistair Begg, published by The Good Book Company, thegoodbook.com. Used by Truth For Life with permission. Copyright © 2021, 2022, The Good Book Company.

More Rebellious than the Sea

More Rebellious than the Sea

Am I the sea, or a sea monster, that you set a guard over me?

This was a strange question for Job to ask the Lord. He felt himself to be too insignificant to be so strictly watched and chastened, and he hoped that he was not so unruly as to need to be restrained. The inquiry was natural from one surrounded by such miseries, but after all, it is capable of a very humbling answer.

It is true that man is not the sea, but he is even more troublesome and unruly. The sea obediently respects its boundary, and it does not overleap the limit, even though it is just a belt of sand. Mighty as it is, it hears the divine “thus far,” and when raging with tempest it still respects the word. Self-willed man, however, defies heaven and oppresses earth, and there is no end to his rebellious rage. The sea, obedient to the moon, ebbs and flows with ceaseless regularity and so renders an active as well as a passive obedience; but man, restless beyond his sphere, sleeps within the lines of duty, lazy where he should be active. He neither comes nor goes at the divine command but sullenly prefers to do what he should not and to leave undone what is required of him. Every drop in the ocean, every beaded bubble, and every yeasty foam-flake, every shell and pebble, feel the power of law and yield or move at once.

If only our nature were but one thousandth as much conformed to the will of God! We call the sea fickle and false, but how constant it is! Since our fathers' days, and even before, the sea is where it was, beating on the same cliffs to the same tune. We know where to find it; it never hides, and its ceaseless pounding never fades; but where is man, fickle man? Can the wise man guess by what folly he will next be seduced from his obedience? We need more watching than the billowy sea and are far more rebellious. Lord, rule us for Your own glory. Amen.

Devotional material is taken from Morning and Evening, written by C. H. Spurgeon, revised and updated by Alistair Begg. Copyright © 2003, Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers, Wheaton, IL 60187, www.crossway.org. Used by Truth For Life with written permission.

Daily Bible Reading for September 16

2 Samuel 12, 2 Corinthians 5, Ezekiel 19, Psalm 64, Psalm 65

Nathan Rebukes David

1And the Lord sent xNathan to David. He came to him and said to him, y“There were two men in a certain city, the one rich and the other poor. 2The rich man had very many flocks and herds, 3but the poor man had nothing but one little ewe lamb, which he had bought. And he brought it up, and it grew up with him and with his children. It used to eat of his morsel and drink from his cup and lie in his arms,1 and it was like a daughter to him. 4Now there came a traveler to the rich man, and he was unwilling to take one of his own flock or herd to prepare for the guest who had come to him, but he took the poor man's lamb and prepared it for the man who had come to him.” 5Then David's anger was greatly kindled against the man, and he said to Nathan, z“As the Lord lives, the man who has done this deserves to die, 6and he shall restore the lamb afourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity.”

7Nathan said to David, “You are the man! Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, b‘I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you out of the hand of Saul. 8And I gave you your master's house and your master's wives into your arms and gave you the house of Israel and of Judah. And if this were too little, I would add to you as much more. 9cWhy have you despised the word of the Lord, dto do what is evil in his sight? eYou have struck down Uriah the Hittite with the sword and fhave taken his wife to be your wife and have killed him with the sword of the Ammonites. 10Now therefore the sword shall never depart from your house, because you have despised me and have taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your wife.’ 11Thus says the Lord, ‘Behold, I will raise up evil against you out of your own house. And I will take your wives before your eyes and give them to your neighbor, and he shall lie with your wives in the sight of this sun. 12For you did it secretly, gbut I will do this thing before all Israel and before the sun.’” 13hDavid said to Nathan, i“I have sinned against the Lord.” And Nathan said to David, j“The Lord also has put away your sin; you shall not die. 14Nevertheless, because by this deed you have utterly kscorned the Lord,2 the child who is born to you shall die.” 15Then Nathan went to his house.

David's Child Dies

And the Lord afflicted the child that Uriah's wife bore to David, and he became sick. 16David therefore sought God on behalf of the child. And David lfasted and went in mand lay all night on the ground. 17And the elders of his house stood beside him, to raise him from the ground, but he would not, nor did he eat food with them. 18On the seventh day the child died. And the servants of David were afraid to tell him that the child was dead, for they said, “Behold, while the child was yet alive, we spoke to him, and he did not listen to us. How then can we say to him the child is dead? He may do himself some harm.” 19But when David saw that his servants were whispering together, David understood that the child was dead. And David said to his servants, “Is the child dead?” They said, “He is dead.” 20Then David arose from the earth nand washed and anointed himself and changed his clothes. And he went into the house of the Lord oand worshiped. He then went to his own house. And when he asked, they set food before him, and he ate. 21Then his servants said to him, “What is this thing that you have done? You fasted and wept for the child while he was alive; but when the child died, you arose and ate food.” 22He said, “While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept, for I said, p‘Who knows whether the Lord will be gracious to me, that the child may live?’ 23But now he is dead. Why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, qbut he will not return to me.”

Solomon's Birth

24Then David comforted his wife, Bathsheba, and went in to her and lay with her, and rshe bore a son, and he called his name sSolomon. And the Lord loved him 25and sent a message by Nathan the prophet. So he called his name Jedidiah,3 because of the Lord.

Rabbah Is Captured

26tNow Joab ufought against vRabbah of the Ammonites and took the royal city. 27And Joab sent messengers to David and said, “I have fought against Rabbah; moreover, I have taken the city of waters. 28Now then gather the rest of the people together and encamp against the city and take it, lest I take the city and it be called by my name.” 29So David gathered all the people together and went to Rabbah and fought against it and took it. 30And he took the crown of their king from his head. The weight of it was a talent4 of gold, and in it was a precious stone, and it was placed on David's head. And he brought out the spoil of the city, a very great amount. 31And he brought out the people who were in it and set them to labor with saws and iron picks and iron axes and made them toil at5 the brick kilns. And thus he did to all the cities of the Ammonites. Then David and all the people returned to Jerusalem.

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Footnotes
1 12:3 Hebrew bosom; also verse 8
2 12:14 Masoretic Text the enemies of the Lord; Dead Sea Scroll the word of the Lord
3 12:25 Jedidiah means beloved of the Lord
4 12:30 A talent was about 75 pounds or 34 kilograms
5 12:31 Hebrew pass through

Our Heavenly Dwelling

1For we know that if kthe tent that is lour earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, ma house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 2For in this tent nwe groan, longing to oput on our heavenly dwelling, 3if indeed by putting it on1 we may not be found naked. 4For while we are still in this tent, we groan, being burdened—not that we would be unclothed, but that we would be further clothed, so that what is mortal pmay be swallowed up by life. 5He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, qwho has given us the Spirit as a guarantee.

6So we are always of good courage. We know that rwhile we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, 7for swe walk by faith, not tby sight. 8Yes, we are of good courage, and we uwould rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. 9So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to vplease him. 10For wwe must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, xso that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.

The Ministry of Reconciliation

11Therefore, knowing ythe fear of the Lord, we persuade others. But zwhat we are is known to God, and I hope it is known also to your conscience. 12aWe are not commending ourselves to you again but bgiving you cause to boast about us, so that you may be able to answer those who boast about outward appearance and not about what is in the heart. 13For if we care beside ourselves, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you. 14For the love of Christ dcontrols us, because we have concluded this: that eone has died for all, therefore all have died; 15and he died for all, fthat those who live might no longer live for themselves but gfor him who for their sake died and was raised.

16From now on, therefore, hwe regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer. 17Therefore, if anyone is iin Christ, he is ja new creation.2 kThe old has passed away; behold, the new has come. 18All this is from God, lwho through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us mthe ministry of reconciliation; 19that is, in Christ God was reconciling3 the world to himself, nnot counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us mthe message of reconciliation. 20Therefore, owe are ambassadors for Christ, pGod making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 21qFor our sake he made him to be sin rwho knew no sin, so that in him we might become sthe righteousness of God.

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Footnotes
1 5:3 Some manuscripts putting it off
2 5:17 Or creature
3 5:19 Or God was in Christ, reconciling

A Lament for the Princes of Israel

1And you, xtake up a lamentation for the princes of Israel, 2and say:

What was your mother? yA lioness!

Among lions she crouched;

in the midst of young lions

she reared her cubs.

3And she brought up one of her cubs;

zhe became a young lion,

aand he learned to catch prey;

he devoured men.

4The nations heard about him;

bhe was caught in their pit,

cand they brought him with hooks

to the land of Egypt.

5When she saw that she waited in vain,

that her hope was lost,

dshe took another of her cubs

and made him a young lion.

6He prowled among the lions;

he became a young lion,

and he learned to catch prey;

he devoured men,

7and seized1 their widows.

He laid waste their cities,

and the land was appalled and all who were in it

at the sound of his roaring.

8eThen the nations set against him

from provinces on every side;

fthey spread their net over him;

bhe was taken in their pit.

9With hooks ethey put him in a cage2

and gbrought him to the king of Babylon;

they brought him into custody,

that his voice should no more be heard

on hthe mountains of Israel.

10Your mother was ilike a vine in a vineyard3

planted by the water,

jfruitful and full of branches

kby reason of abundant water.

11Its strong stems became

rulers' scepters;

it towered aloft

among the thick boughs;4

it was seen in its height

with the mass of its branches.

12But the vine was plucked up in fury,

cast down to the ground;

lthe east wind dried up its fruit;

they were stripped off and withered.

As for its strong stem,

fire consumed it.

13mNow it is planted in the wilderness,

in a dry and thirsty land.

14nAnd fire has gone out from the stem of its shoots,

has consumed its fruit,

oso that there remains in it no strong stem,

no scepter for ruling.

This is pa lamentation and has become a lamentation.

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Footnotes
1 19:7 Hebrew knew
2 19:9 Or in a wooden collar
3 19:10 Some Hebrew manuscripts; most Hebrew manuscripts in your blood
4 19:11 Or the clouds

Psalm 64

Hide Me from the Wicked

To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David.

1Hear my voice, O God, in my mcomplaint;

preserve my life from dread of the enemy.

2Hide me from nthe secret plots of the wicked,

from the throng of evildoers,

3who owhet their tongues like swords,

who paim bitter words like arrows,

4shooting from qambush at the blameless,

shooting at him suddenly and rwithout fear.

5They shold fast to their evil purpose;

they talk of tlaying snares secretly,

thinking, u“Who can see them?”

6They search out injustice,

saying, “We have accomplished a diligent search.”

For vthe inward mind and heart of a man are deep.

7wBut God shoots his arrow at them;

they are wounded suddenly.

8They are brought to ruin, with their own xtongues turned against them;

all who ysee them will zwag their heads.

9Then all mankind yfears;

they atell what God has brought about

and ponder what he has done.

10Let bthe righteous one rejoice in the Lord

and ctake refuge in him!

Let all dthe upright in heart exult!

Psalm 65

O God of Our Salvation

To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. A Song.

1Praise eis due to you,1 O God, in Zion,

and to you shall fvows be performed.

2O you who ghear prayer,

to you hshall all flesh come.

3When iiniquities prevail against me,

you jatone for our transgressions.

4kBlessed is the one you choose and bring near,

to ldwell in your courts!

We shall be msatisfied with the goodness of your house,

the holiness of your temple!

5By nawesome deeds you answer us with righteousness,

O God of our salvation,

the hope of all othe ends of the earth

and of the farthest seas;

6the one who by his strength established the mountains,

being pgirded with might;

7who qstills the roaring of the seas,

the roaring of their waves,

rthe tumult of the peoples,

8so that those who dwell at the ends of the earth are in awe at your signs.

You make the going out of the morning and the evening to shout for joy.

9You visit the earth and swater it;2

you greatly enrich it;

tthe river of God is full of water;

uyou provide their grain,

for so you have prepared it.

10You water its furrows abundantly,

settling its ridges,

softening it with vshowers,

and blessing its growth.

11You crown the year with your bounty;

your wagon tracks woverflow with abundance.

12xThe pastures of the wilderness overflow,

the hills ygird themselves with joy,

13zthe meadows clothe themselves with flocks,

the valleys deck themselves with grain,

they ashout and sing together for joy.

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Footnotes
1 65:1 Or Praise waits for you in silence
2 65:9 Or and make it overflow
Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. The ESV text may not be quoted in any publication made available to the public by a Creative Commons license. The ESV may not be translated in whole or in part into any other language.

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