The Source of Disorder and Every Vile Practice

The epistle of James frequently stresses what we might call “practical religion.” In other words, the Apostle James very much focuses on the kinds of deeds required of the Christian. Perhaps the best example of this can be found in James 1:27, where the Apostle writes, “Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.” Authentic Christianity displays itself in meeting the practical, physical needs of widows and orphans—and by extension the needs of others who are helpless—and in not taking on the sinful practices of the world.

We would err, however, if we were to think that James reduces true religion only to the works that we do. He also makes it plain that true religion is rooted in the heart. In today’s passage, the Apostle indicates the connection between our inner motivations and our works. Leading up to 3:16, James has been contrasting true wisdom, which is characterized by humility, with the demonic, unspiritual, and worldly wisdom that consists of “bitter jealousy and selfish ambition” put into practice (vv. 14–15). He continues to expand on this point in 3:16, making it clear that “where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice.” Jealousy and selfish ambition are inner attitudes and motivations, characteristics of the fallen human heart. These things give birth to all manner of outer sins. Moral defilement is not primarily caused by sinful actions, although sinful actions are defiling. Instead, moral defilement begins within and gives birth to all manner of wicked actions (see Mark 7:20–23).

How do bitter jealousy and selfish ambition produce every kind of vile practice? Bitter jealousy is ultimately a form of covetousness. To covet the blessings of another is to be upset that the other person possesses good things rather than rejoicing that he has them. It is to desire to take those blessings away from the other person and to capture them for one’s own self. It is not merely to desire a house, car, spouse, and so on. Bitter jealousy or covetousness can lead to our attempting to take what another person has, whether by theft (taking of another’s property), adultery (taking of another’s spouse), or even murder (taking of another’s life). Selfish ambition puts one’s own success above others’, seeking advancement at the expense of others. That can lead to such things as slander, unlawfully undermining another’s good name for the sake of getting ahead.