October 15
The Origin of Worldly
Foolishness
James 3:15-16
Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.
Daily Steps
To fully appreciate the security of the stable foundation (Day 289) built on Christ, the new believer must clearly identify the characteristics and origin of worldly foolishness. This passage from James warns that the "wisdom" the world champions is destructive, rooted not in God but in selfish, demonic motives.
The peace in this principle is found in clear discernment:
The Denounced Source: James puts the world's supposed wisdom in quotation marks to denounce it: Such "wisdom" does not come down from heaven. This ungodly counsel is identified as having a threefold negative source: it is earthly (focused only on temporal matters), unspiritual (lacking the Holy Spirit's guidance, Day 279), and demonic (motivated by destructive spiritual forces).
The Fruit of Worldly Wisdom: The life resulting from this worldly "wisdom" is immediately visible: envy and selfish ambition. These attitudes are the opposite of humility (Day 282) and sincere love (Day 280). When we pursue our own agenda without regard for God or others, we are operating in foolishness.
The Result is Chaos: The final result of this selfishness is disorder and every evil practice. Worldly wisdom inevitably leads to confusion, conflict, and chaos, both personally and communally. This contrasts sharply with the peace (Day 222), joy (Day 268), and righteousness (Day 268) that characterize the kingdom of God.
Your peace is secured by clear discernment. Embrace the Wisdom of God today by constantly testing the guidance you receive—from media, friends, or your own heart—against the truth of Scripture, so that you reject worldly foolishness and its resulting disorder.
Reflective Question
Can you identify a decision or goal in your life right now that is rooted in envy or selfish ambition? How is that pursuit already leading to disorder or conflict in your life, and what action can you take to submit that area to Christ?
Prayer
Heavenly Father, I confess my temptation to follow the earthly, unspiritual, demonic wisdom of the world. I pray for clear discernment to recognize envy and selfish ambition in my heart. Secure my peace today, as I commit to rejecting worldly foolishness and choosing the stable foundation (Day 289) of Your truth, which brings order and spiritual life. Amen.
