Alistair Begg – “Who Is Wise Among You?”

Message by Alistair Begg – Truth For Life

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“Make the Book Live to Me, O Lord”

“Make the book live to me, O Lord, show me Yourself within Your Word, show me myself, and show me my Savior. Make the book live to me. Amen.”

We are now presented with these verses, which have been read aloud. I believe you have a notebook with some form of direction in it. I must admit that, although I created the direction, I haven’t paid attention to it in preparing to speak with you today. This means you will need to do most of the work, and I will attempt to guide us in the right direction.

To begin, let me place the matter of wisdom within a broader context. The opening question in verse 13 is significant: “Who is wise and understanding among you?” We all know many intelligent people—those with extensive knowledge in academic fields and theology. They are well-credentialed, yet how many of them, if you were to tell a friend about them, would you describe as a wise person or a wise teacher?

James opens Chapter 3 with a caution: “Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness.” This makes perfect sense—if we use our mouths and tongues as frequently as we do, we will be held accountable for our words. As Scripture says, “Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks.”

It’s important to view verses 2 through 12 not as a separate discussion on the tongue but as part of the broader issue of teaching. James emphasizes that a wise teacher is one who demonstrates spiritual maturity, especially in controlling their tongue. Wisdom is not about professional competence but about practical godliness. In Chapter 2, James asked, “Show me your faith.” Now, in Chapter 3, he is asking, “Show me your wisdom.” Wisdom, like faith, should be vital, practical, and observable.

At the beginning of Chapter 1, James already highlighted the source of wisdom: “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives generously to all.” This principle echoes what Solomon sought from God and what he later shared with his children. In Proverbs 2, Solomon writes, “My son (or daughter), if you accept my words and treasure up my commandments within you, making your ear attentive to wisdom, and inclining your heart to understanding… then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God. For the Lord gives wisdom, and from His mouth come knowledge and understanding.” This foundational truth underscores everything James is teaching here in Chapter 3: the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.

However, we must recognize that the world we live in today has been dramatically influenced by the Enlightenment. During this period, God was largely set aside, and man took His place. This shift is evident in the history of many institutions, including Harvard University. In 1642, the Harvard student handbook emphasized that the primary goal of life and study was to know God and Jesus Christ, which is eternal life, and to build all knowledge and learning on Christ. By the time of the Enlightenment, this focus had shifted significantly.

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