If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who
gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. 6 But
when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is
like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. 7 That
person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. 8 Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all
they do. James 1:5-8 (NIV)
We need wisdom to know how
to cope with trials, for wisdom provides a clear view of our situation from
God’s perspective. With wisdom we perceive that what the world calls
misfortune, whatever its source, is an opportunity for God to bring about his
purpose. Wisdom as the gift of God logically leads to our asking for it. Here again
we see verbal links to Jesus: “Ask and it will be given to you” (Matt. 7:7; Luke 11:9);
“And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to
the Father” (John 14:13).
Wisdom is often seen
personified as: “Lady Wisdom”, who seeks to reveal herself to humanity (e.g., Prov. 1:20–21).
James directs you and I to:
Ask God for wisdom; ask in steady faith. The wisdom James has in mind must
surely be the kind found in the Proverbs. It is sound judgment, proceeding from
a reverence for God (Prov 1:7).
To ask in faith is to embrace the way of righteousness and to be committed to
it. Admission of need is not reprehensible, but equivocation is intolerable to
the Lord. Doubt creates uncertainty and prevents clear thinking. James is
graphic in portraying indecision as erratic waves that dictate the
outcome—emptiness.
The wisdom that we need has
three distinct characteristics: (1) It is
practical. The wisdom from God relates to life even during the most trying
times. It is not a wisdom isolated from suffering and trials. This wisdom is
the tool by which trials are overcome. An intelligent person may have profound
ideas, but a wise person puts profound ideas into action. Intelligence will
allow someone to describe several reasons why the car breaks down. The wise
person chooses the most likely reason and proceeds to take action.
(2) It is divine. God’s wisdom goes beyond common sense. Common sense
does not lead us to choose joy in the middle of trials. This wisdom begins with
respect for God, leads to living by God’s direction and results in the ability
to tell right from wrong. It is a wisdom that James describes at length in
chapter 3.
(3) It is Christlike. Asking for wisdom is ultimately asking to be like
Christ. The Bible identifies Christ as the “wisdom of God” (1 Corinthians 1:24; 2:1-7)
Don’t be like the waves of the sea – tossed and blown by
the wind.
If you have ever seen the
constant rolling of huge waves at sea, you know how restless they are subject
to the forces of wind, gravity, and tide. Doubt leaves a person as unsettled as
the restless waves. If you want to stop being tossed about, rely on God to show
you what is best for you. Ask him for wisdom, and trust then he will give it to
you. Then your decisions will be sure and solid.
A mind that has but one
single and prevailing regard to its spiritual and eternal interest, and that
keeps steady in its purposes for God, will grow wise by afflictions, will
continue fervent in its devotions, and will be superior to all trials and
oppositions.
Blessings,
Cheryl
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