James: Wisdom

Message by Josh Mutter – August 9, 2026

Big Idea: The wisdom that shapes our hearts is revealed in the way we treat others.

James 3:13-4:12 NIV 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. But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice. 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. Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness. What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you? You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures. You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God? Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. Or do you think Scripture says without reason that he jealously longs for the spirit he has caused to dwell in us? But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.” Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up. Brothers and sisters, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against a brother or sister or judges them speaks against the law and judges it. When you judge the law, you are not keeping it, but sitting in judgment on it. There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy. But you—who are you to judge your neighbor?

What is wisdom? Wisdom is the ability to see life from God’s perspective.

James 3:13a NIV Who is wise and understanding among you?

James 3:13b NIV Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.

1. God’s wisdom is revealed through a humble life.

James 3:14a NIV If you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts…

2. Worldly wisdom creates broken relationships.

3. Heavenly wisdom produces a Jesus-shaped life.

James 4:7-9 NIV Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom.

CONCLUDING THOUGHTS

Are my daily words and attitudes making it easier (or harder) for people to see Jesus in me?
Am I actively building up the kind of Christ-like community we are called to create, or am I contributing to division?

About Josh Mutter: Josh Mutter has been our lead pastor since 2018 and is passionate about helping people discover what it means to follow Jesus in our daily lives. Josh is married to Michelle and together they have two boys and a dog named Zeke. When not engaged in ministry, Josh can be found puttering around the house (summer time outdoors is his favourite), playing with his kids or out on a run.

You can listen to the sermon on YouTube here.