Keys of Truth: James (Chapter 3)

Chapter summary:
Even a faith that produces works will meet many difficult challenges. The first of these problems is with the tongue, which is almost uncontrollable and yet exerts a tremendous influence in everyone's life (3:1-12). Another problem is with “the self.” The natural man harbors bitterness and ambition in his heart and is moved by a "wisdom" dedicated to helping him achieve selfish ends. But God's kind of "wisdom" directs us into a pure, peace-loving, and submissive way of life (vv. 13-18). How desperately we need to live by the heavenly wisdom, which alone can bring us a harvest of righteousness.

The believer’s personal application: A godly life shows wisdom and understanding.

INSIGHT
"Teachers" (3:1):
The text suggests that many in the Jewish congregations to which James writes, were seeking to become teachers. This is not surprising, for Judaism had a long-established commitment to study and highly valued those who became "teachers of the Law." James discourages this effort, reminding them that teachers are evaluated more strictly. This word does not imply negative rather than positive judgment. It simply refers to a judge's responsibility to examine the facts and render a verdict.

“A mark of maturity” (3:2):
Being able to control what we say is a mark of spiritual maturity, and a significant accomplishment. It seems the tongue tells more than we suspect!

"The tongue" (3:3-12):
James describes the power (vv. 3-6) and the perversity (vv. 7-12) of the tongue. It has power to inflame passions. It participates in man's wicked acts and even sets our thoughts in their direction, so corrupting our whole lives with an evil whose source is hell itself (vv. 3-6). As a "restless evil" it is almost impossible to control, and totally inconsistent, in that the tongue that blesses some also curses others.

“Blessing others” (3:10):
To "bless" is to "endue with power for success, prosperity, etc." As Christians we are called to bless others, in the sense of seeking the best for them, no matter how we may be treated (cf. Luke 6:28; Romans 12:14; 1 Corinthians 4:12).

"Wise and understanding" (3:13):
These are eminently practical qualities. Each describes the way we use knowledge, not whether or not we have knowledge or even whether we are intelligent. The issue is one of showing what an earlier generation called "good sense" in daily life.
Here "wisdom" itself is in a way an orientation to life, a way of making decisions that comes from one of two sources. Our wisdom (approach to making choices) is from above (from heaven) or below (from corrupt human society as dominated by the devil). The wisdom from above is characterized as pure, peace-loving and considerate.
The wisdom from below is self-centered, driven by selfish desires. The one produces righteousness, the other "every evil practice." So learn to rely on godly wisdom when we make decisions.

"Earthly" (3:15):
This adjective specifies the source as well as the nature of selfish "wisdom." It is unable to go beyond the limits of this world to gain the perspective on spiritual realities which guides the believer.

“The crop of righteousness” (3:18):
Farmers who expect a good harvest don't plant in sterile soil. James reminds us that righteousness cannot be produced in human soil (soul) characterized by a bitter, selfish spirit. The personality of a person whose goal is peace and harmony is much better soil (soul).