Text for the sermon:  James 3:13-4:8

Wisdom from Above

¹³ Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom. ¹⁴ But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. ¹⁵ This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. ¹⁶ For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. ¹⁷ But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere.¹⁸ And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

Warning Against Worldliness

4 What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you?  ² You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask. ³ You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions. ⁴ You adulterous people!^[c] Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. ⁵ Or do you suppose it is to no purpose that the Scripture says, “He yearns jealously over the spirit that he has made to dwell in us”? ⁶ But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” ⁷ Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. ⁸ Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.

What do you think of when you hear the word wisdom?  Perhaps, you think of sound judgment or asking people’s advice. James has a much different answer for what wisdom is.

James discusses wisdom in terms of keeping peace and maintaining relationships. He also emphasizes the need for us to treat people with impartiality.

If you are in a conflict with someone else right now, this may be a timely sermon for you. Even if you are not, hurt feelings, conflict, and disputes are an unavoidable part of life.  Listen to today’s sermon to gain insight on how to deal with division so that when it happens you are prepared to make wise choices.

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In the welcome video, our pastor, Rev. John Arnold, offers a brief overview of worship at First Presbyterian Church. Among the churches in Walnut Ridge we are a small church where you can honor God through worship and learn biblical principles for living a more faithful life.  We are caring family of God striving to care for one another and meet needs in our community.

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