Solomon counseled, “Get wisdom!” (Pro. 4:5), and how we ought to heed that admonition. James would have us know, however, that not just any wisdom will do. There is a kind of wisdom that “does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic” (Jas. 3:15). Literally, it is “earth bound,” “spiritually dead,” and “from hell.” This kind of thinking manifests itself in fruit like envy, selfishness, pride, deceit, confusion, and every kind of evil thing (Jas. 3:14, 16). It is the kind of wisdom that will bring about ruin in the lives of those who posses it and those who are victimized by it. God’s Word provides an excellent example in the story of Ahab, Jezebel, and Naboth’s vineyard (1 Kings 21).
First Kings 21 begins with an unreasonable request (1 Kings 21:1-3). Ahab saw a vineyard next to the palace in Jezreel and thought it would make the perfect vegetable garden. The problem was that it belonged to a man named Naboth, and though Ahab offered to pay market value or trade him for a better vineyard, Naboth refused. To part from the property would be to give away his inheritance–land that belonged to his forefathers–and, beside the dishonor, the Law of Moses stipulated against such a thing (Lev. 25:23-28; Num. 36:7-9).
One would hope that the king of Israel would understand Naboth’s position, but sadly, such was not the case. First Kings 21:4-8 records Ahab’s childish response. The text says that “Ahab went into his house sullen and displeased.” Literally, he “turned his face to the wall.” Ahab sulked and pouted like a little child who didn’t get his way. In spite of his childishness, Ahab seemed to accept the situation, but not so with his wicked wife Jezebel. The Sidonian princess was not accustomed to the king being told “no.” And so she crafted a wicked pot to appease the desire of her husband.
First Kings 21:7-14 relates the story. Jezebel penned letters on Ahab’s official stationary, instructing the elders and nobles to proclaim a fast, place Naboth in the seat of honor, summon false witnesses to accuse him, and stone him to death. The deed was done. Both Naboth and his sons (2 Kings 9:26) were murdered, and Ahab “got up and went down to take possession of the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite” (1 Kings 21:16).
The first words of James 3:14 immediately come to mind–“If you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts…” Like jealousy, envy is the desire to have something that belongs to another. But unlike jealousy, envy seeks to do something about it. It’s a sinful desire that pushes one to get whatever it is they lust after, even if that means hurting someone to get it. That is exactly what we see in Ahab. He was an envious man who selfishly desired what was not his. And thus he sat quietly by while his wicked wife destroyed another man’s life in order to satiate his selfishness.
Ahab cannot be considered apart from Jezebel. One could argue, in fact, that Jezebel is the main character of the narrative. First Kings 16:31 points out that Ahab’s calf worship paled in comparison to the sinfulness of his marriage to Jezebel. She was a wicked, godless gentile who had no regard for Jehovah, His law, or the lives of His people. While Ahab sat on the throne, one gets the sense that Jezebel was the one who directed it. In fact the Lord said, “But there was no one like Ahab who sold himself to do wickedness in the sight of the Lord, because Jezbel his wife stirred him up” (1 Kings 21:25, emp. CW). Jezebel provoked Ahab because Ahab allowed her to do it. Both she and Ahab were guided by wisdom that is “earthly, sensual, and demonic,” and look at the carnage that it brought in their lives and throughout the nation of Israel.
It would be great to say that the church is in no danger of repeating the same kinds of sin found in Ahab and Jezebel but if that were true, the Holy Spirit would not have inspired James to write James 3:13-18. As long as the world stands the Devil will do his best to influence the hearts of God’s people with His wisdom. And if we listen and allow him to influence our thinking, ruin will be the result. Strife, conflict, division, jealousy, selfishness, and all manner of evil is injected into the church by those who exercise worldly wisdom. Preachers must guard carefully against this–they are the primary audience of James 3. But so too must elders, deacons, Bible class teachers, and every member of the church.
We must “Get wisdom!” but let it be the wisdom that is from above, that produces the harvest of righteousness!