Rev. David Holwick ZD James series #9
First Baptist Church
Ledgewood, New Jersey
September 16, 2007
James 3:13-18
|
I. Who was the hero?
The aircraft carrier Lexington was on a mission against the
Japanese naval base at Rabaul.
The attacking ship soon found it was under attack itself, by nine
Japanese bombers.
Only one American plane, piloted by Butch O'Hare, stood between
the Lexington and the bombers.
Full throttle, he roared into the enemy formation.
Tracers from the concentrated fire of the nine bombers streaked
around him.
Butch took careful aim at the starboard engine of the last plane
in the V and squeezed his trigger.
Bullets from his six .50-caliber guns ripped into the Japanese
bomber's wing and the plane cartwheeled toward the sea.
Then O'Hare ducked to the other side of the formation and smashed
the port engine of the last Japanese plane there.
One by one, he attacked the oncoming bombers until five had been
shot down and one was disabled.
His commander later reported that at one point he saw three of the
bombers falling in flames at the same time.
By now other Americans had caught up to the fight and took care of
the other bombers.
Someone calculated that Butch O'Hare had used only sixty rounds of
ammunition for each plane he destroyed.
He had probably saved his ship.
Butch O'Hare was the first Navy airman in World War II to receive
the highest decoration of his country, the Medal of Honor.
During the presentation of the medal, President Roosevelt called
it "one of the most daring, if not the most daring, single
action in the history of combat aviation."
O'Hare Airport in Chicago is named after him.
=========
Prior to this time, there was a man called Easy Eddie.
Eddie was working for the most famous criminal America has ever
known, Al Capone.
Al Capone wasn't famous for anything heroic, but he was notorious
for the murders he'd committed and the massive amount of money
he made from crime.
Easy Eddie was Al Capone's lawyer and he was very good.
In fact, because of his skill, he was able to keep Al Capone out
of jail.
To show his appreciation, Al Capone paid him very well.
He not only earned big money, he would get extra things, like a
residence that filled an entire Chicago city block.
The house was fenced, had live-in help, and all of the
conveniences of the day.
Easy Eddie had a son.
He loved his son and gave him all the best things while he was
growing up: clothes, cars, and a good education.
And, because he loved his son, he tried to teach him right from
wrong.
But one thing he couldn't give his son was a good name.
Easy Eddie decided that this was much more important than all the
riches he had given him.
So, he went to the authorities in order to rectify the wrong he
had done.
Rectifying the wrong meant testifying against Al Capone.
Easy Eddie knew that Al Capone would do his best to have him
killed.
But Eddie wanted most of all to try to be an example, and to do
the best he could to give back to his son a good name.
So, Eddie, working with the IRS, testified.
As a result Al Capone was sentenced to eleven years in Alcatraz
in San Francisco for tax evasion.
Within the year, Easy Eddie was shot and killed on a lonely street
in Chicago.
=========
These sound like two unrelated stories, but Easy Eddie's son was
Butch O'Hare.
I think Easy Eddie is the bigger hero of the two.
In the eyes of the world, Easy Eddie may have been a "wise guy"
in the Mafia sense, but he was truly wise in the choice he made.
#5209
A. The question that should be asked by every person.
1) "Who is wise and understanding among us?"
2) Some of you have high IQs, or got great SAT scores when
you went college.
3) That is all nice, but it is not what people really admire.
a) What people like to see is examples of integrity.
b) People who use their smarts to make wise choices in life.
B. How smart are you?
1) James says you need to look in your heart, not your brain.
II. How to mess up your life.
A. Adopt a selfish focus. 3:14
1) Bitter envy.
a) Originally "zeal," later got a negative connotation.
b) It is not just envy, but a gnawing desire for what
others have.
2) Selfish ambition.
a) Originally "hard-working," also later became negative.
b) It is not just striving to accomplish something, but
striving to get something for ME.
c) Christians are not immune to this:
A number of years ago, a small book appeared for ministers.
Titled "The Penguin Principles," it attempted to help naive
clergy get a handle on the people of their congregations.
According to the book, the first principle of church life goes
like this:
"Despite the pious things we say, at any given time, less than
five percent of any group in the church is operating with
purely Christian motivation.
The other 95 percent is asking, 'What's in it for me?'"
#26142
B. Three characteristics of "worldly" wisdom: 3:15
1) Earthly.
a) God is omitted from the picture.
No absolutes, so we grope for what is right.
Vivid example of this philosophy shown by the
"Billionaire Boys Club," a movie based on true events.
It was a group of smart, rich young men led by Joe Hunt.
Their company speculated in stock and commodities
futures.
On paper, they made $14 million.
They soon had flashy cars, women, extravagance.
Joe Hunt's view of life was summed up in what he called
the "Paradox Philosophy."
He would tell his friends,
"Black is white, white is black.
It just depends on how you want to look at it."
They made up their own morality as they went along.
But what goes around, comes around.
A client of theirs ripped them off.
The boys plotted to kidnap him, get him to sign over
his money, then murder him.
But it didn't work that way - he died in the scuffle.
Shortly afterwards, their paper profits evaporated and
they were deeply in debt.
The paradox philosophy wasn't paying off.
So they conspired to kill a wealthy Iranian immigrant.
His own son set him up.
Once again, they accidentally killed him before they
could extort any money.
They were caught, convicted, and imprisoned.
#2669
2) Unspiritual.
a) Literally, becoming like animals.
1> Evolutionary perspective.
2> Survival of fittest, might makes right.
b) Term means "unspiritual person" in 1 Cor 2:12-14.
3) Demonic.
a) They are actually lined up with God's enemies.
b) Blatant Satanism is rapidly increasing as America drifts
from God.
C. Result of worldly wisdom is chaos. 3:16
1) Unbridled envy and ambition lead to disorder and evil.
2) Since everyone is out for themselves, relationships break
down.
3) Single benefit - it can lead us back to God.
III. Heavenly wisdom.
A. It is not knowing everything God knows.
1) J.I. Packer and Bible wisdom.
Imagine that you are in a New York City subway station.
You will see trains come in and go out.
But you'll only get a general view of what's going on.
However, if you step inside the control room you'll see
a large display with tiny lights representing each train
in the entire system.
In a glance you will be able to survey the entire situation
through the eyes of those in control.
You will see why one engine is signaled to a stop, why
another has been diverted, and why another sits on a
sidetrack.
Packer says the mistake that is commonly made is to suppose
that this is an illustration of what God does when He
gives us his wisdom.
God gives a person insight into the meaning and purpose of
events going on around us.
We then have the ability to see why God has done what He has
done in a particular case, and what He is going to do next.
People who think this is what wisdom is, imagine that if they
walk close enough to God, they will be in God's command
center and will understand everything that happens.
But God's wisdom doesn't work this way.
God's wisdom is more like learning to drive a car.
When you drive a car it is important to make the right
responses to the constantly changing scene.
You have to judge how fast to go, how much distance to keep
between you and the next car, when to put on the brakes.
Drivers simply try to see and do the right thing in the
actual situation that presents itself.
2) Having wisdom from God does not mean we understand
everything that is going on because of our superior
knowledge...
3) It means we do the right thing as life comes along.
#2666
B. God's wisdom is shown in the "fruit of the Spirit."
1) James sounds a lot like Paul here.
2) Seven qualities of truly spiritual people are highlighted.
C. The seven qualities.
1) Pure.
a) Not just purity from sexual sin.
b) Focuses on motives and attitudes.
c) Opposite of putting self first.
2) Peaceable.
a) Promotes good feelings, not just lack of fighting.
3) Considerate.
a) Thinks of others first.
b) Gives love the priority.
c) With all our new electronic gadgetry, people aren't
very considerate anymore.
1> Young people know how to "text" but they don't know
how to talk!
2> They even text someone who is in the next room
rather than walk over to them.
4) Submissive.
a) Teachable spirit.
b) You don't have to insist on your own rights.
5) Full of mercy and good fruit.
a) Giving good to people when they don't deserve it.
b) Goodness isn't just part of who you are, it fills you.
6) Impartial.
a) Not picking favorites.
b) Treat people fairly.
7) Sincere.
a) Literally, unhypocritical. Not fake.
b) Not too many of us qualify in this regard.
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, the author of the Sherlock
Holmes mysteries, love practical jokes.
Once he sent a telegram to each of twelve friends.
All were men of great virtue and respected in
society.
The telegram said, "Flee at once, your secret is
discovered!"
Within 24 hours, the story goes, all twelve had left
the country!
There may be some playful exaggeration here, but the
point is usually true that many people, including
Christians, are not what they seem to be.
#2672
IV. Wisdom's fruit.
A. Peacemakers sow in peace, harvest righteousness.
1) Similar to Jesus' beatitude. Matt 5:9
2) Peace, not conflict, should be left in your wake.
B. Righteousness results.
1) They bring people together, and bring out the best in them.
V. How wise are you?
A. What is your ambition in life?
B. Many Christians give in to the sensual and earthly temptations.
C. A smaller number reflect God's wisdom.
1) But think of the impact they have!
2) You can have that impact too.
=========================================================================
SOURCES FOR ILLUSTRATIONS USED IN THIS SERMON:
# 2666 "God's Wisdom Is Like Driving a Car," by R. Kent Hughes in his
commentary: "James: Faith That Works," 1991, p. 147. Hughes is
quoting J. I. Packer, "Knowing God," page 92.
# 2669 "Billionaire Boys Club," David Holwick, from a sermon on November 15,
1987. The original source is unknown.
# 2672 "Your Secret Is Discovered!" by R. Kent Hughes in his commentary:
"James: Faith That Works," 1991, p. 161.
# 5209 "Who Was The Hero?" internet email submitted by Luis F. Acosta on
January 27, 2000. Most versions of this email contain some errors.
For example, O'Hare is said to have shot down Japanese Zeroes but
since these planes were twin-engine bombers they were probably
"Bettys". A version by Steven D. Mathewson of Helena, Montana, in
LEADERSHIP, Winter 1991, page 48, says O'Hare was the Navy's highest
ace but this is false: O'Hare had 7 kills, while David McCampbell
had 34. A bigger problem with this version is that O'Hare's father
is said to have turned himself in to the FBI so his son could attend
the Academy, but according to a well-researched website, O'Hare
graduated from Annapolis BEFORE his father was murdered, so his
father's change of heart would not have influenced his son's
admission there. <link> And the father's motivation in turning evidence
against Capone was more likely to save his own skin rather than
providing a lesson in integrity to his son. <link>.
#26142 "What's In It For Me?" by William G. Carter, "No Box Seats In The
Kingdom," CSS Publishing, Lima, Ohio, 1996; quoted in Rev. Brett
Blair's Illustrations by Email, www.sermonillustrations.com,
October 14, 2003.
These and 30,000 others are part of the Kerux database that can be
downloaded, absolutely free, at http://www.holwick.com/database.html
=========================================================================
Copyright © 2024 by Rev. David Holwick
Created with the Freeware Edition of HelpNDoc: Easy to use tool to create HTML Help files and Help web sites