Wisdom from Above: a Look at James 3

"Who among you is wise and understanding? Let him show by his good behavior his deeds in the gentleness of wisdom. But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, do not be arrogant and so lie against the truth. This wisdom is not that which comes from above, but is earthly, natural, demonic. For where jealous and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every evil thing.
But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy. And the seed whose fruit is righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace" (James 3:13-18).
Here James compares heavenly wisdom with that which is earthly, and challenges us to prove which one we are using by looking at our behavior. Do our deeds (James is big on this throughout his letter) show the gentleness of wisdom or reveal bitter jealousy and selfish ambition? This is downright personal and challenges our motivations--well, mine anyway--when it comes to what is behind what I do (or don't do).
Motivated by selfish ambition, bitter jealousy, the outcome is disorder and every evil thing. "But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, merciful, producing good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy." "Without hypocrisy"--bam! If we think we are being pure, peaceable, gentle, reasonable, merciful, producing good fruits, unwavering, yet there is hypocrisy somewhere in that mix, we need a heart check and repentance.