“You’ll never get ahead like that,” or, “be ambitious,” or, “do what you have to in order to achieve your dreams.” In our culture, we value the hustle, ambition, drive. Call this mindset “American,” call it “manly,” call it “industrious,” or “visionary.” Call it what you will. If we’re not careful, we might unknowingly be following a type of wisdom that is unspiritual and demonic.
Let’s look at what James writes:
“Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. Such ‘wisdom’ does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.” (James 3:13–16)
When you see a car that is nicer than yours, when you see an ad for the latest and greatest, and you envy it and that envy drives you to work harder to get it, that’s unspiritual and demonic wisdom. When you “do what you have to in order to get ahead and achieve your dreams” and there is no consideration to what would be best for others, that’s unspiritual and demonic wisdom. Sure, it might be the way that this world works. It might be our culture. It might be “realistic.” But it’s not what God wants for us.
Don’t be fooled by our culture. Don’t be fooled even if this wisdom came from your teachers, your parents, or the American way. Instead, be truly wise.
Use this with me as a test to see if you have been filled with heavenly wisdom:
- Is my wisdom leading to boasting or humility? (See James 3:13 and 14)
- Is my wisdom leading to envy and selfish ambition or is it leading to purity and peace? (See verses 14 and 17)
- Is my wisdom leading to disorder, chaos and habits that are evil or is it leading to humility, submission, mercy and good fruit? (See verses 16 and 17)
- Is my wisdom coming from a fear of people (see Galatians 1:10) or is it coming from the fear of God (see Proverbs 9:10)?
Let’s never be wise in our own eyes (see Proverbs 3:7 and Romans 12:16) but, instead, let’s look to God to give us wisdom— if we ask him for wisdom, he’ll give it generously without finding fault (James 1:5).
