False wisdom ruins lives.
Renowned eighteenth-century theologian Jonathan Edwards said the following about the effect of the Fall on man:
Sin, like some powerful astringent, contracted his soul to the very small dimensions of selfishness; and God was forsaken, and fellow-creatures forsaken, and man retired within himself, and became totally governed by narrow and selfish principles and feelings. Self-love became absolute master of his soul, and the more noble and spiritual principles of his being took wings and flew away.
Edwards’s analysis certainly agrees with what James is saying: man is self-centered (cf. James 3:14, 16). Where self-centeredness exists, there will be negative results. One such result is “disorder” (v. 16). The term refers to disorder that comes out of instability and chaos. Earthly wisdom will never produce harmony or love because it’s proud and self-indulgent. It destroys intimacy, love, unity, and fellowship, and in its place brings discord and chaos. You can see the result of earthly wisdom all over our world today. Anger, bitterness, lawsuits, and divorces are just part of the legacy.
“Every evil thing” also results from earthly wisdom (v. 16). The phrase speaks of something worthless or vile. Greek scholar R.C. Trench said it contemplates evil, “not so much that either of active or passive malignity, but rather of its good-for-nothingness, the impossibility of any true gain ever coming forth from it.” The Greek word translated “thing” implies that false wisdom produces nothing of any practical value. At its best it produces worthless things; at its worst it produces vile things.
Which kind of life do you prefer? One that is characterized by love and unity, or by instability and chaos? A life with fulfillment and meaning, or with emptiness? If you want a life that satisfies and has eternal value, choose divine wisdom!
~John MacArthur, Strength for Today devotional
This is why the world's wisdom of psychology destroys families and all relationships. Psychology has Self at its center creating bloated egoes which is destructive. Self preservation is the number one golden rule in psychology. At its root is hostility toward God and Scripture, therefore all that proceeds from it is worthless and evil. This is also why psychology can never be married to biblical Christianity; it is the very antithesis of Scripture itself, from its origins to its views and practices. This IS what James was talking about in James 3!
Rather true knowledge and wisdom are found in Christ Jesus and His Word alone:
1Co 1:21 For
since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not come to know God, God was well-pleased
through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe.
Col 2:2 that their hearts may be encouraged, having been knit together in love, and attaining to all the wealth that comes from the full assurance of understanding, resulting in a true knowledge of God's mystery, that is, Christ Himself,
Col 2:3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
Col 2:4 I say this so that no one will delude you with persuasive argument.
Col 2:8 See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ.
Col 2:9 For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form,
Col 2:10 and in Him you have been made complete, and He is the head over all rule and authority;
Psa 1:1 Blessed is the man who walks not in the
counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat
of scoffers; 2
but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates
day and night.
Joh 17:17 Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth.
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