“Who is wise and understanding?”

Introduction.  (James 3:13a).  This text asks an important question. Tonight let’s consider how the Holy Spirit answers this question for us in God’s word, so that we can come to understand how we may be considered “wise and understanding.”  

I.  The man that restrains his lips.

1. Sin is found in many words (Prov. 10:19).
2. A fool may be counted as wise through restraint (Prov. 17:28).
3. A fool vents all his feelings (Prov. 29:11). ASV “uttereth all his anger”; KJV “all is mind.” Heb. ruach “spirit, breath”—lit. “brings forth all this spirit.”
4. Failure to do so makes one’s religion useless (James  1:19, 26).
    

II.  The man who wins souls (Prov. 11:30).

1. We are spiritual beings (Gen. 2:7). Heb. Nephesh = “soul.”
1. The New Testament distinguishes between soul and spirit (Heb. 4:12). A general distinction seems to be: Soul=the purely animate part of man; Spirit=the inner man which is like God.
2. Soulish = “Sensual” (James 3:15).
3. Generally synonymous with spirit (Matt. 16:26).
2. To win souls is to bring them to Jesus (James 5:19-20).
    

III.  The man that hears and obeys (Matt. 7:24-27).

1. Doers, not just hearers (James 1:22-25).
    

IV.  The man that makes preparation.

1. Foolish and wise virgins (Matt. 25:1-13).
2. The thief’s coming (Matt. 24:42-44).
    

V.  The man that redeems his time (Eph. 5:15-16).

VI.  The man who knows Scripture (2 Tim. 3:14-15).

VII.  The wise man has good conduct (James 3:13-18).