“This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic.”

James now gives three descriptions of the human viewpoint. The human viewpoint is far more limited than the divine viewpoint. 

But is earthly,

“Earthly” means terrestrial, existing upon the earth. Those who live in “bitter envy” and “self-seeking” operate on wisdom limited to this earth, not to God’s wisdom from heaven. It is wisdom purely produced by man. 

PRINCIPLE: 

Human wisdom restricts us to the boundaries of finite man; divine wisdom enables us to enter into the domain of divine viewpoint. 

APPLICATION: 

This wisdom confines itself to the restrictions of finite man. Man is the end of man. This person has no practical place for the Word of God or even for God Himself. His self-centeredness pushes for self-interest – “I have to look out for number one.” This is the centerpiece of life in North American in the twenty-first century. 

Php 3:19, “…whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame— who set their mind on earthly things.”