James contrasts two kinds of wisdom: wisdom that comes from heaven versus the so-called “wisdom” that is “earthly, unspiritual, demonic.”
He shows us that not all “wisdom” is equal—as a matter of fact, much of what passes as “wisdom” is anti-God. True wisdom involves living a life that follows the norms of God’s kingdom, including peace and humility, in contrast to the way of envy and selfish ambition.