Contemplative Bible Reading

James 3:15 (New Living Translation)

15 For jealousy and selfishness are not God’s kind of wisdom. Such things are earthly, unspiritual, and demonic.

James is writing I am writing to Jewish Christians scattered abroad. James describes the wisdom of God and how Christians show that wisdom. James contrasts the wisdom of God with the wisdom of the world.

The wisdom of the world is jealous and selfish. It is centered upon me and what I have and what I want and the rest of you get out of my way. No wonder James calls that earthly and unspiritual.

James then calls those things “demonic.” Oh, uh, wait a minute. Something wrong here with the translation? Per the dictionary, demonic means of, resembling, or characteristic of demons or evil spirits. Well, being jealous and selfish, I should avoid those things. Perhaps they are a bit immature or something, but characteristic of demons or evil spirits? Come on, that is a bit much, isn’t it?

There it is folks. In black and white or whatever colors appear on your computer or smartphone. Demonic. Yikes. Please God, help me in my unbelief.