The Wisdom from Above

James 3:13-4:8

Context
James continues straightforward moral teaching - but notice the particular content. Chapter 2 focused on not favoring the poor over the rich, and on practicing what you preach. Chapter 3 began with a warning against aspiring to teaching, and stated that our tongues can get us into trouble. As you read today, see if there is some particular group that James sees as his audience...

Listening to the writer
What is the theme of verses 3:13-18? See if you can summarize it in a sentence.
Chapter 4 uses strong language. It is unlikely that "murder" was common in the church - perhaps James is referring to hateful disputes (cf Matt. 5:22). By "adulterers" he is referring to the people turning away from God, a common metaphor in the Jewish world (e.g., Hosea 1:2).
The lectionary cuts some key verses from this section. Read all the way through verse 10, and try to summarize the main problem James is addressing in 4:1-10 and his main solution.

Listening to God
James contrasts a "wisdom from above," which appears to excel at helping others, to a wisdom based on selfish ambition. What do you see as the purpose of your education (whether gained at school or on the job) - is it to help you gain a bigger paycheck? to give you greater satisfaction in your work? Or is it to contribute to the community (including the community of family and self)?
Recall the last time you were in a conflict. What means did you use in the conflict? Would Jesus have used similar means? Were you able to stay focused on God during the conflict, or did it become a situation of "me against them"?
Jesus was known as a "friend of sinners" - certainly the "friendship with the world" that James preaches against doesn't mean that we should cut all ties with the world. Ask God to help you identify any places where you are being a "friend of the world" in a way that inhibits your relationship with God.

Miscellaneous Meanderings
I've never noticed it before, but James seems to be speaking directly to people seeking "worldly power": to those who cater to the rich at the expense of the poor, who talk big on faith but don't actually do anything about it, who seek to teach others and use their language in aggressive ways, who use their brains to get ahead of others, who make friends with the world and forget their love of God.
With Martin Luther, I'm not overly fond of James. I've seen it used to "keep people in their place," to tell downtrodden people that they should be humble and not upset the applecart. But perhaps James - a powerful leader in the Jewish church - was writing to other powerful leaders and telling them to keep their focus where it belonged, on ensuring that the Church was caring for orphans and widows, that the poor were being fed and clothed, that people were staying connected to God and to each other.
James has a lot more to say about law than grace. Paul warned us that the Jewish law, good though it was, could be abused by sin. Perhaps James' law is the same - and requires as many people as possible to use it in a proper way, rather than leaving the field to those who would use it against its original purpose.

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