Daily Devotional for Saturday, May 24, 2025

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Disorder and Every Worthless Thing: A Devotional on James 3:16

The Bitter Fruit of Jealousy and Self-Promotion

The epistle of James is one of the most practical and sharply worded books in the New Testament. Addressed to Jewish Christians dispersed among the nations, it was written by James, the half-brother of Jesus, around 44–49 C.E.—making it one of the earliest New Testament writings. In James 3:16, he delivers a direct warning about the internal motives that corrupt the heart and divide the church:
“For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will also be disorder and every worthless thing.”

This statement does not call for debate—it issues a decisive declaration about the moral consequences of unbridled inward corruption. Jealousy and selfish ambition are not minor flaws; they are spiritual toxins that, when left unchecked, generate chaos and moral decay in the lives of individuals and communities. In this verse, James does not speak of what might happen—he affirms what always follows: disorder and every base or worthless action.

“Where Jealousy and Selfish Ambition Exist”

James lists two specific sins as the root: jealousy and selfish ambition.

The Greek term for “jealousy” is ζῆλος (zēlos), which in context refers to bitter rivalry or resentment of others’ advantages. This is not the positive zeal found elsewhere in Scripture but a destructive desire to possess what another has or to surpass them. Jealousy corrupts the motives—it makes service into competition and fellowship into comparison.

The second term, translated “selfish ambition,” is ἐριθεία (eritheia), a word used in classical Greek to describe partisan rivalry, self-promotion, and contentiousness. It is the spirit of pushing oneself forward, seeking personal prominence even at the expense of truth, unity, or humility. This ambition may be cloaked in religious activity or leadership roles, but its motive is the elevation of self—not the glory of God.

When these two traits are present in a believer or in a congregation, James warns, they bring inevitable consequences. They cannot coexist with godly wisdom, peace, or righteousness. The presence of these motives, regardless of how piously masked, produces spiritual rot.

“There Will Also Be Disorder”

The result of such internal corruption is disorder—the Greek word ἀκαταστασία (akatastasia), meaning instability, upheaval, or disturbance. This is not merely disagreement or diversity of thought; it refers to the breakdown of harmony, the unraveling of unity, and the erosion of spiritual peace.

Paul used this same word in 1 Corinthians 14:33 to state, “God is not a God of disorder, but of peace.” Disorder is never the product of God’s Spirit. Wherever discord, chaos, or divisiveness dominates the assembly, it is not evidence of spiritual power—but of carnal influence.

James’ warning extends beyond the individual. When jealousy and selfish ambition govern the hearts of leaders, preachers, teachers, or congregants, the church becomes fragmented. Worship loses its purity. Teaching becomes biased. Service becomes performance. Rather than building up one another in love, members strive for prominence, recognition, or control.

This disorder is not theoretical—it was already happening in the early church. In James 4:1, the next chapter, he writes: “What is the source of the wars and fights among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that wage war within you?” The root was internal, not external. Believers were torn apart by prideful motives rather than external persecution.

“And Every Worthless Thing”

James intensifies his warning by stating that jealousy and selfish ambition not only create disorder, but also “every worthless thing.” The phrase in Greek is πᾶν φαῦλον πρᾶγμα (pan phaulon pragma), which can be rendered “every vile practice,” “every base activity,” or more literally, “every morally good-for-nothing action.”

In other words, when the heart is ruled by these two sins, there is no limit to the moral compromise that can follow. What begins with inward corruption leads to external misconduct. Lying, slander, factionalism, deceit, and hypocrisy all become common. What is “worthless” in this context is not merely ineffective—it is morally degenerate, even if it outwardly appears religious.

This verse, therefore, is a warning against tolerating even small seeds of jealousy or ambition. These motives, once entertained, do not remain confined. They spread, influence, and destroy. They distort one’s view of others, turn worship into rivalry, and turn spiritual work into selfish advancement.

Biblical Illustrations of This Truth

James’ principle is confirmed repeatedly throughout Scripture:

Cain, moved by jealousy of Abel’s favor before God, murdered his brother (Genesis 4:5–8).
Korah, driven by ambition for leadership, led a rebellion against Moses and was destroyed (Numbers 16).
Saul, once chosen by God, degenerated into rage and violence against David because of jealousy (1 Samuel 18:7–9).
Diotrephes, in 3 John 9, “loved to be first” and rejected the authority of the apostles.

In each case, the sin began within but resulted in open rebellion, conflict, and spiritual downfall.

A Contrast to Heavenly Wisdom

Just one verse later, in James 3:17, James provides the contrast: “But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, reasonable, ready to obey, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial, not hypocritical.” This heavenly wisdom produces unity, godliness, and fruitfulness. The fruit of jealousy and ambition is conflict. The fruit of godly wisdom is righteousness.

James 3:16, therefore, serves as a spiritual diagnostic. It calls believers to examine not merely what they do, but why they do it. Are you driven by love for truth, or a need to be right? Do you serve to glorify God, or to gain approval? Do you speak to edify, or to elevate your opinion?

This verse is particularly relevant for church leaders and teachers. In the earlier part of James 3, the apostle warned that not many should become teachers, because of the stricter judgment they would receive. Teachers wield influence. If their motives are impure, their impact will be divisive. Even doctrinal truth, when wielded pridefully, can cause harm.

Application: Pursue Integrity, Kill Jealousy

For the believer seeking to honor God, James 3:16 calls for decisive action:

Identify and confess jealousy or self-centered motives.
Pray for godly wisdom, which begins with humility and submission.
Reject every desire for prominence, praise, or superiority.
Cultivate peace, contentment, and love for truth over personal recognition.

Only in this posture can the church be unified and the individual be spiritually sound. Jealousy and ambition may be tolerated in the world, even praised—but in the church, they are deadly. Their fruit is disorder and every worthless thing. The disciple of Christ must root them out completely.

Let every believer remember: the measure of spiritual maturity is not success, attention, or influence—it is purity of heart and devotion to truth. Where that wisdom rules, peace and righteousness will flourish.

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About the Author

EDWARD D. ANDREWS (AS in Criminal Justice, BS in Religion, MA in Biblical Studies, and MDiv in Theology) is CEO and President of Christian Publishing House. He has authored over 220+ books. In addition, Andrews is the Chief Translator of the Updated American Standard Version (UASV).