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James 3:16

For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.
(NIV)

Here we have the envy and selfish ambition mentioned again. The result seems very clear: this worldly wisdom, based on envy and selfish ambition, leads to disorder and every evil practice.

The truth is that most of us would never think that any type of wisdom is based on envy and selfish ambition. We just wouldn't think that is the case, yet if you take a step back and begin to evaluate the "wisdoms" of this world, you may be surprised to find that is exactly where most of them are rooted.

Just begin with most of the "wise counsels" of the world that orbit around the uplifting of self. They promote self-esteem and self-love, self-forgiveness and doing something just for yourself. You can see it in most modern psychologists and psychiatrists. Even many of the so-called "Christian" counselors have fallen into this trap. It is has even been said by some that you need to learn to love yourself because God loved you, when the Bible has clearly taught that in many cases it is our love of selves that has caused the problem to begin with.

Bitter envy and selfish ambition do not lead to what is good, they lead to disorder and evil of every kind.

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