Reverend Raymond Osborne, Pastor

Please Note That Most Messages Follow
The Revised Common Lectionary

“Wise Up!”
James 3:13-18, 4:7-8a

Years ago, during the early formation years of my ministry, I had asked a well-known evangelist by the name of Fred Jennings to preach during a revival at the church where I was serving high in the mountains of North Carolina. The man was a very popular preacher among the residents and I had heard good things about him. He was a fireball preacher! He’d start out real calm and real slow and I soon discovered that he only stopped when he ran out of a voice! As I was walking out of the church one evening following one of these services, a well-meaning deacon walked with me to my car. “Boy Ray that Fred is really something isn’t he?” “Yes Bob – he’s something alright!” “Don’t worry about it Ray! When you get that old you’ll be good too!”

Talk about an ego deflator! I remember that night thinking to myself: “I can’t wait until I get some gray hair and then maybe people will think I have enough wisdom to show me a little respect!” Well - I got the gray hair!

Culture and times are continuously changing. We are now living in what most people refer to as the “postmodern age.” Change is one of the most powerful entities I can think of. Most people are threatened by change and when change comes we often do our almighty best to fight against that change and those who may be instruments of change. Why? Because when change comes we feel our power, our familiarity, and even our normality slipping away. Change threatens us but is necessary for survival.

One thing that has not changed however is the perpetual quest for wisdom and truth. I venture to say that there is not one person here this morning who would not love to be considered a “wise” person in the eyes of others.

Let me share with you some stories I have acquired recently about wisdom. First there is the story about an atheist’s wisdom. An atheist was taking a walk through the woods, admiring all that the "accident of evolution" had created. "What majestic trees! What powerful rivers! What beautiful animals!" he said to himself. As he was walking alongside the river he heard a rustling in the bushes behind him. As he turned to look, he saw a 9-foot grizzly charge towards him. He ran as fast as he could up the path. He looked over his shoulder and saw that the bear was closing in on him. He tried to run even faster, so scared that tears were coming to his eyes. He looked over his shoulder again and the bear was even closer. His heart was pumping frantically as he tried to run even faster, but he tripped and fell on the ground. He rolled over to pick himself up and saw the bear right on top of him raising his paw to kill him. At that instant he cried out...

"Oh my God!" Just then, time stopped. The bear froze, the forest was silent, the river even stopped moving. A bright light shone upon the man, and a voice came out of the sky saying, "You deny my existence all of these years, taught others I don't exist and even credit my creation to a cosmic accident and now do you expect me to help you out of this predicament? Am I to count you as a believer?"

The atheist, ever so proud, looked into the light and said "It would be rather hypocritical to ask to be a Christian after all these years, but could you make the bear a Christian?" "Very well," said the voice. As the light went out, the river ran, the sounds of the forest continued and the bear put his paw down. The bear then brought both paws together, bowed his head and said, "Lord, I thank you for this food which I am about to receive."

I don’t much think that’s exactly what James had in mind when he asks “Who is wise and understanding among you?” Do you?

Then I’m reminded about the wisdom of little Johnny. In Sunday School, they were teaching how God created everything, including human beings.

Little Johnny seemed especially intent when they told him how Eve was created out of one of Adam's ribs.

Later in the week, his mother noticed him lying down as though he were ill, and said, "Johnny what is the matter?"

Little Johnny responded, "I have a pain in my side. I think I'm going to have a wife."

Then there is the wisdom of a minister who was forced to stop by a traffic cop to pull over for speeding. As the cop was about to write the ticket, the minister said to him, "Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy."

The cop handed the minister the ticket and said, "Go thou and sin no more."

Then of course there’s the wisdom of my seven-year-old son Seth. He and I were going up the road in the car when he pipes up and says, “Daddy, you’re the best Daddy in the whole-wide-world!” Talk about making a Dad feel good! “Thank you son I appreciate that!” “Yes siree when I grow up I’m going to tell my children all about you.” “Well I hope it’s good things Seth.” “O yes Daddy. I’ll tell them all about the best spanking I ever got.” “O really? And which one was that Seth?” “The one Paige got!”

Now that ladies and gentlemen is a fairly wise thing for a seven-year-old boy to come up with!

James speaks to us of wisdom. But I don’t think we have even yet grasped what he meant when he asked, “Who is wise and understanding among you?

His name is John. He has wild hair, wears a T-shirt with holes in it, jeans and no shoes. This was literally his wardrobe for his entire four years of college. He is brilliant. Kind of esoteric and very, very bright. He became a Christian while attending college.

Across the street from the campus is a well-dressed, very conservative church. They want to develop a ministry to the students, but are not sure how to go about it. One day John decides to go there. He walks in with no shoes, jeans, his T-shirt, and wild hair.

The service has already started and so John starts down the aisle looking for a seat. The church is completely packed and he can't find a seat. By now people are looking a bit uncomfortable, but no one says anything.

John gets closer and closer and closer to the pulpit and when he realizes there are no seats, he just squats down right on the carpet. (Although perfectly acceptable behavior at a college fellowship, trust me, this had never happened in this church before!) By now the people are really uptight, and the tension in the air is thick.

About this time, the minister realizes that from way at the back of the church, an elder is slowly making his way toward John. Now the elder is in his eighties, has silver-gray hair, a three-piece suit, and a pocket watch. A godly man, very elegant, very dignified, very courtly.

He walks with a cane and as he starts walking toward this boy, everyone is saying to themselves, "You can't blame him for what he's going to do. How can you expect a man of his age and of his background to understand some college kid on the floor?"

It takes a long time for the man to reach the boy. The church is utterly silent except for the clicking of the man's cane. All eyes are focused on him. You can't even hear anyone breathing. The people are thinking, "The minister can't even preach the sermon until the elder does what he has to do."

And now they see this elderly man drop his cane on the floor.

With great difficulty he lowers himself and sits down next to John and worships with him so he won't be alone.

Everyone chokes up with emotion.

When the minister gains control he says, "What I'm about to preach, you will never remember. What you have just seen, you will never forget."

Listen to the words of James:

“Who is wise and understanding among you? Show by your good life that your works are done with gentleness born of wisdom.

But if you have bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not be boastful and false to the truth. Such wisdom does not come down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, devilish.

For where there is envy and selfish ambition, there will also be disorder and wickedness of every kind.

But . . .

the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without a trace of partiality or hypocrisy.

And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace for those who make peace.

Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you."

Amen

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