If “the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils” (1Tim. 6:10), this morning I think I may have dug up a couple more. And beyond that, James also puts his finger on what looks to be at the root of the roots.

For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice.

(James 3:16 ESV)

Jealousy? Selfish ambition? Add them to the root of “the love of money.” Because, says the Spirit, where they exist, not only will “things fall apart” (MSG) but, as most translations render it, there is “every evil thing.”

Jealousy . . . Could be referring to envy. But also, could be referring to indignation. Whichever, it has the idea of being accompanied by an “excitement of mind”, a fervor, a zeal. So that the fruit from this root is “fierceness of indignation” or “contentious rivalry” or “punitive zeal.” The prevailing sense, for me, is the sense of being fighting mad.

Selfish ambition . . . Literally, according to my Greek-to-English dictionary, “electioneering”, or “a self-seeking pursuit of political office by unfair means.” It also uses the words “partisanship” and “fractiousness.” I’m not making this up.

So, every vile practice is on the table where there is zealous indignation mixed with fractious, partisan, self-promotion. Hmm . . . am I reading my bible or watching the news?

And how come? What’s the source of the source? What’s at the root of these roots? James covers that too.

But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic.

(James 3:14-15 ESV)

Bitter hearts, boastful ambition, bad behavior, it’s all sourced in bogus wisdom. Earthly wisdom — wisdom focused too much on what is going on “under the sun” (Eccl. 3:16-18). Unspiritual wisdom — ways that seem right to a man but which, in the end, lead to death (Prov. 14:12). Demonic wisdom — a reminder that our battle isn’t just with flesh and blood (Eph. 6:12). Fake wisdom, the type of wisdom which, in fact, is foolishness (Rom. 1:22).

But, says James, our wisdom should be a wisdom from above.

But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

(James 3:17-18 ESV)

Wanna uproot the root of contentious rivalry? Wanna see the spring of fractious partisanship dried up? Then bring on wisdom from above. You’ll know it when you see it. It is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. Hmm . . . sounds a lot like Jesus. It should. Jesus is the wisdom from above (1Cor. 1:30, Eph. 1:17).

Wanna be light in a dark world? Wanna be salt in a decaying world? Then striving to live out from above wisdom in a culture strangling itself with earthly, unspiritual, demonic wisdom might just be a good way to do that.

Oh, to recognize the root of the root of all kinds of evil things — a root with shoots within me. To ferret out what’s behind, as Peterson puts it, “everyone ending up at others’ throats” (James 3:16b MSG). To then, through confession and repentance, dig out that root of earthly wisdom and let the Spirit transplant instead the root of wisdom that comes down from above. Jesus in me. Jesus through me.

Only by His grace. Always for His glory.