Jam 3:13 Who [is] a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom. Jam 3:14 But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. Jam 3:15 This wisdom descendeth not from above, but [is] earthly, sensual, devilish. Jam 3:16 For where envying and strife [is], there [is] confusion and every evil work. Jam 3:17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, [and] easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. Jam 3:18 And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.
This block of scriptures seems to address wisdom... wisdom of two "factions..." (Carnal, earthly, human wisdom and Godly wisdom)
I have always faltered at the highlighted verse and am wondering if anyone can shed light on it? It seems to suggest that a form of wisdom is "envy and strife" (Drawn from the phrase that says "This wisdom descendeth not from above, but [is] earthly, sensual, devilish.") and in so having envy and strife we "lie against the truth." The fruit of envy and strife appears to be confusion and every evil work. I wonder what part of truth are we lying against if in envy and strife? The truth of love? I guess love is the greatest truth. Yet love is actually a "fruit." It is the first fruit of the Spirit. God's word is truth, scripturally speaking...so are we lying against the Word if we have envy and strife? I don't have a lot of trouble seeing the propriety of Godly wisdom .(wisdom from above) I find myself walking in circles in this....