Where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.
14 But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth.
15 Such "wisdom" does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic.
16 For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.
17 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.
18 Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.
The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever.
Read all of 1 John 2 NIVAnd now, dear children, continue in him, so that when he appears we may be confident and unashamed before him at his coming.
Read all of 1 John 2 NIVBetter a little with the fear of the LORD than great wealth with turmoil.
Read all of Proverbs 15 NIVRemember, O LORD, your great mercy and love, for they are from of old. Remember not the sins of my youth and my rebellious ways; according to your love remember me, for you are good, O LORD.
Read all of Psalm 25 NIV"I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, "who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty."
Read all of Revelation 1 NIV"Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him."
Read all of John 14 NIVFor we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
Read all of Ephesians 2 NIV
Commentary on Today's Verse
Commentary on James 3:13-18
(Read James 3:13-18)
These verses show the difference between men's pretending to be wise, and their being really so. He who thinks well, or he who talks well, is not wise in the sense of the Scripture, if he does not live and act well. True wisdom may be know by the meekness of the spirit and temper. Those who live in malice, envy, and contention, live in confusion; and are liable to be provoked and hurried to any evil work. Such wisdom comes not down from above, but springs up from earthly principles, acts on earthly motives, and is intent on serving earthly purposes. Those who are lifted up with such wisdom, described by the apostle James, is near to the Christian love, described by the apostle Paul; and both are so described that every man may fully prove the reality of his attainments in them. It has no disguise or deceit. It cannot fall in with those managements the world counts wise, which are crafty and guileful; but it is sincere, and open, and steady, and uniform, and consistent with itself. May the purity, peace, gentleness, teachableness, and mercy shown in all our actions, and the fruits of righteousness abounding in our lives, prove that God has bestowed upon us this excellent gift.