Bitter Envy; Selfish Ambition

August 12th, 2026
by Lance Waldie

James 3:13-14 Who among you is wise and understanding? Let him show by his good behavior his deeds in the gentleness of wisdom. 14 But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, do not be arrogant and so lie against the truth.

Those who think themselves wise might expect to be recognized for their intellect, wealth, or fame. Yet James speaks of wisdom in theological terms—wisdom that includes saving faith in Jesus Christ. Of course wisdom includes “understanding” (Gr. epistēmōn)—a term used only once in the NT denoting specific knowledge, like that of a highly skilled expert in a given trade. So, the “wise and understanding among you” are those who not only know Christ specifically but who follow Him unreservedly. In this we see that wisdom and understanding have little to do with worldly measures but with saving faith based on knowledge justified by works. Previously James taught that those in the midst of trials should pray for this wisdom (1:5) in order to help them grow through the trials ordained by God in their lives. In so doing, those making a claim to godliness will grow in their endurance unto perfection (1:3-4). It is these who were to be displayed in v. 13 as those who had true wisdom and understanding.

Notice how those with wisdom and understanding behave. They are known by their good behavior in the “gentleness of wisdom.” Now good behavior can be seen in many whether they are Christians or not, but those who are genuine in their Christian faith cannot be devoid of good behavior. The Apostle Peter also speaks of good deeds in Christians and how it pleases God (1 Pet. 2:12; cf. 1:15; 3:1, 2, 16; 2 Pet. 3:11). Good deeds, however, do not bring attention to self but are performed in humility to the glory of God. Jesus likewise said, that the “meek will inherit the earth” (Matt. 5:5), not the strong and mighty. This was radical teaching because the Greeks taught that humility was weakness and unbecoming of a strong, confident person. Yet Moses was humble (Num. 12:3), and Jesus was meek (Matt. 11:29; cf. 21:5). Both men displayed power under control, being in right relationship with God and with others (Eph. 4:2; Col. 3:12; 2 Tim. 2:25; Titus 3:2; 1 Pet. 3:2, 16). This is the vindication of true wisdom and understanding.

Now contrary to those who have saving faith, there are those who “have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition” in their hearts (v. 14). James says that these are arrogant, and they lie to themselves, denying the truth. Believing themselves to be Christians, they are living a lie since their hearts are anything but humble. Their lives are in fact marked by the opposite traits that are found in true believers. They are therefore unwise and thus unsaved. Their “jealousy” is not of the righteous variety—the godly kind that is zealous for the truth and envious for God’s glory. God actually demands that His people serve Him faithfully as Jesus did when zeal for God’s Temple consumed Him (John 2:17; cf. Num. 25:11-13). But those bereft of true wisdom have “jealousy” (Gr. zēlos) that is “bitter” (Gr. pikros), the kind displayed when others challenge them or possess something they desire. This evil variety of jealousy is fueled by “selfish ambition” (Gr. eritheia) to possess what others have in order to obtain glory for oneself. Sadly, this was not only present in the early Church, it still exists today in pseudo-Christians.

Having proposed a simple test to those who make a claim to faith (cf. 2 Cor. 13:5), James tells those who fail this test not to be “arrogant” (Gr. katakauchaomai) by putting confidence in false faith. For false believers in the Church ought not boast of anything. The only righteous boasting that can be done is about God: “Thus says the Lord, ‘Let not a wise man boast of his wisdom, and let not the mighty man boast of his might, let not a rich man boast of his riches; but let him who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me…’ ” (Jer. 9:23-24). True wisdom thus knows nothing self-aggrandizement, only that of knowing Him, giving God glory.

Food For Thought
John Blanchard shares this: “The story is told of two men who lived in a certain city. One was envious and the other covetous. The ruler of the city sent for them and said he wanted to grant them one wish each—with this proviso, that the one who chose first would get exactly what he asked for, while the other man would get exactly twice what the first had asked for himself. The envious man was ordered to choose first, but immediately found himself in a quandary. He wanted to choose something great for himself, but realized that if he did so the other would get twice as much. He thought for a while, and then asked that one of his eyes be put out. In the church this type of person could honestly pray, “Lord, I would sooner your work was not done at all than done by someone better than I can do it.”