(“Ask God for Wisdom”)

James 1:2-8 (NASU)

5“… if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him. 6But he must ask in faith without any doubting …” (James 1:5-6a)

(A) JAMES’ TECHNIQUE AS A WRITER

(1) The Book of James (unlike many of Paul’s letters) tends to be a little light on doctrine and heavier on application – which led one writer to call it “an intensely PRACTICAL manual for Christian living.”¹

Part of the reason this description fits is that in just five short chapters our Lord’s brother (c.f. Galatians 1:19; Acts 1:13-14; Matthew 13:35) addresses a wide range of no-nonsense topics – including, but not limited to, the fact that any profession of faith not accompanied by appropriate good works (c.f. Matthew 3:8) is NOT saving faith (c.f. James 1:22; 2:14-26) – plus, the importance of taking the Lord’s will into account whenever we make our own plans (c.f. James 4:13-17) – and the role prayer and confessing our sins play in restoring the health of those who are sick (c.f. James 5:13-18).

(2) I was surprised to learn that because James covers so many subjects in such a short time, some have suggested his letter lacks cohesion – i.e. that James jumps from one topic to another without any apparent plan.² One writer even suggested the Book of James is “not so much a necklace of pearls strung together, as it is a handful of pearls dropped randomly into the reader’s mind.”² Hence, in this morning’s Scripture lesson, for example, James supposedly “jumps” from talking about the goal of “trials” and “test(s)” in verses two through four (c.f. James 1:2-4), to the subject of praying for “wisdom” in verses five through eight (c.f. James 1:5-8) – thereby suggesting that the two topics are unrelated.

(3) I’m not saying James never changes subjects – after all, by the time we get to chapter three, for example, the discussion about trials and tests here in chapter one has changed to a discourse on the proper use of our tongue. Nevertheless, there does seem to be more of a progression of thought than some have given James credit for – and this morning’s Scripture lesson is a good example – for there is a definite connection between the imperative in verse five about asking God for wisdom (c.f. James 1:5), and what James said in the previous verses about encountering various trials and tests (c.f. James 1:2-4). Moreover, James indicates what the flow of his thought is by deliberately repeating identical of similar words.²

For example, in the last part of verse four James says the goal of trials and tests is to enable us to become “perfect and complete, LACKING in nothing” (c.f. James 1:4b). He then links³ that thought to the next section, by saying in verse five: “But if any of you LACKS wisdom, let him ask of God” (c.f. James 1:5a). After that, he goes on to link³ “ASK(ING) of God” in verse five with “ASK(ING) in faith” in verse six (c.f. James 1:5a, 6a) – thereby establishing yet another progression of thought.

Once we realize what James is doing, it’s easier to spot in other places. For example, he links³ the idea of “various TRIALS” in verse two, with the “TESTING of (our) faith” in verse three (c.f. James 1:2-3). Likewise, James talks about “ENDURANCE” in the last part of verse three (although the NIV says “perseverance” – the NKJV says “patience”), (he talks about “endurance” in the last part of verse three) AND again at the beginning of verse four (c.f. James 1:3-4a).

(4) The point of this brief exercise is to show you (and hopefully convince you) that James does NOT randomly jump from one thought to another – nor has he “jumped” to a brand new topic between verses four and five of this morning’s Scripture lesson. On the contrary, there is a natural progression of thought here – that progression being, that most of us need “wisdom” (c.f. James 1:5a) to be able to “consider it all joy … when(ever) (we) encounter various trials” (c.f. James 1:2). Most of us need “wisdom” (c.f. James 1:5a) to be able to look beyond our trials and tests to the “perfect result” (c.f. James 1:4) (or goal) toward which God is moving us. Specifically, we need the kind of “wisdom” that only comes from “God”, who has promised to give it “generously and without reproach” if we will simply “ask” Him for it (c.f. James 1:5a) “without … doubting” (c.f. James 1:6a).

(5) One writer, in commenting on the opening verses of the Book of James, notes that it’s much easier to talk about something than to actually do it.⁴ For example, it’s far easier for me to stand here and say you and I need to “consider it all joy … when(ever) (we) encounter various trials” (c.f. James 1:2) – it’s easier for me to stand here and say that, and for you to sit there and hear it, than for us to go home and actually regard the situations that are putting our faith to the test as something from which we can draw some measure of joy.

James knows this. And so, in keeping with the nature of his book, he gives us a very PRACTICAL piece of counsel – namely, that if we realize we “lack the wisdom” (c.f. James 1:5a) needed to view our trials and tests as a reason to be joyful (c.f. James 1:2), then we ought to “ask God” for it (c.f. James 1:5a). If we “lack the wisdom” (c.f. James 1:5a) needed to understand why “endurance” (c.f. James 1:3) plays such an important role in our Christian maturity, then we ought to “ask God” for it (c.f. James 1:5a). If we “lack the wisdom” (c.f. James 1:5a) needed to stop fighting what God is doing in our life, and submit to His will for us – thereby “let(ting) endurance have its perfect result” (c.f. James 1:4a) – (if we lack such wisdom) then we ought to “ask God” for it (c.f. James 1:5a).

(B) NEED WISDOM? ASK GOD!

(1) Look with me, then, at the first part of verse five where James begins by saying: “But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God …” (c.f. James 1:5a).

(a) We noted in an earlier message that the Book of James is addressed to Christians (c.f. James 1:1). Which means the “you” in verse five – as in, “if any of YOU lacks wisdom” (c.f. James 1:5a) – refers to those who profess to be followers of Christ. To be sure, non-Christians “lack wisdom” as well – but James isn’t talking to non-Christians (at least not primarily). He’s talking to believers – he’s talking to men and women like ourselves who have made a profession of faith in Christ. And even though he’s being diplomatic about it,³ saying: “IF any of you (Christians) lacks wisdom” (c.f. James 1:5a) – make no mistake, James isn’t suggesting some of us already have all the “wisdom” (c.f. James 1:5) we’re ever going to need.⁹ He’s saying (albeit tactfully) that every Christian needs the kind of “wisdom” that comes “from above” (c.f. James 3:17) – it’s just that some of us haven’t figured that out yet!

(b) Today people often equate wisdom with things like knowledge or understanding, insight or good judgment, or even with intelligence. And while James may have had one or two of those things in mind, he’s really talking about something quite different – and more specific.

For example, the Greek word translated “wisdom” (“sophia”) in our text has to do with “skill”⁵ – hence, the idea of being able to take what we know and “skillfully” apply it in practical or effective ways.

Having said that, however, we need to understand that James isn’t talking about the kind of “natural” wisdom (c.f. James 3:15) needed to run a successful business (for example) – or the kind of “horse sense” it takes to look at your bank account, and refrain from buying a new car because you can’t afford it – or even the kind of discernment needed to get along with a demanding friend or relative.

(c) To be “wise” in the biblical sense is often equated with fearing and knowing God (c.f. Proverbs 9:10). And in particular, it involves knowing what PLEASES God⁶ – knowing HOW to do what pleases God – being WILLING to do what pleases God – and then actually DOING what pleases God (c.f. Psalm 111:10) – all of which will be impossible for us, apart from Christ’s enabling grace.

(d) So far as the IMMEDIATE context is concerned, however, the “wisdom” (c.f. James 1:5) of which James speaks is very specific – for it relates to knowing how to “consider it all joy … when(ever) we encounter various trials” (c.f. James 1:2) – it has to do with the “skill” of being able to “let endurance have its perfect result, so … (we) may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing” (c.f. James 1:4). Hence, one writer said: “the ‘wisdom’ referred to is wisdom in the narrow sense envisaged by the context, namely, that wisdom especially required in a time of trial that enables us to receive joyfully the dispensations of God’s providence.”⁸

Along these same lines, another writer defined the wisdom to which James refers as, “the God-given insight into our human circumstances and situations that enables (us) to see God’s will, coupled with a whole-hearted desire to see it done.”⁷ Hence, when God refused to remove Paul’s thorn-in-the-flesh, for example, saying in part: “My grace is sufficient for you” – the apostle responded to his on-going trial with biblical wisdom, saying: 9“(Alright, if that’s what the Lord intends for me, then) I will … boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. 10(Indeed) I am well content with weaknesses … insults … distresses … persecutions, (and) difficulties, for Christ’s sake (i.e. with whatever trials and tests the Lord sends my way); for when I am weak, then I am strong” (i.e. not strong in himself, but in the wisdom and strength Christ gives all His redeemed people when they ask for it) (c.f. II Corinthians 12:7-10).

(e) Because we are fallen creatures living in a fallen world, even we Christians naturally “lack wisdom” (c.f. James 1:5) when it comes to our “trials” (c.f. James 1:2). We all need wisdom when our faith is being tested (c.f. James 1:3) – otherwise, we may give in to the advice Job’s wife offered him, saying: “Curse God and die!” (c.f. Job 2:9) – or we may “profane the name of (the Lord)” in some other manner because of the severity of our circumstances (c.f. Proverbs 30:9).

(f) We need wisdom when we find ourselves sliding into a confused state of mind or bitterness of soul over the hand God has dealt us. We need wisdom when we find ourselves wallowing in self-pity and complaint. We need wisdom whenever we can’t stop asking: “Why has this happened to me?”⁹ We need wisdom when the testing our faith has left us immobilized. We need wisdom when we can’t get our eyes off our trials long enough to catch a glimpse of what the end result is going to be. We need wisdom when we think God has given us more than we can bear – contrary to the promise He made in First Corinthians Chapter Ten that He would never do that (c.f. I Corinthians 10:13). We need wisdom whenever we start to believe our Savior has abandoned us – in violation of the promise He made to never leave us or forsake us (c.f. Hebrews 13:5).

I’m not saying we shouldn’t or won’t ever struggle with these issues. What I am saying is that when we do, it may indicate we lack the wisdom of which James speaks – and that we need to be alert to that possibility!

(2) So what should we do when we realize we lack the wisdom needed to look beyond our trials to the end result? What should we do when we find it impossible to draw any measure of joy from the testing of our faith? James says: “… let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him” (c.f. James 1:5b).

(a) Later in chapter four, James will say: “You do not have because you do not ask” (c.f. James 4:2c). In some cases, the reason we lack wisdom is because we’ve never asked the Lord for it. We’ve studied the biblical passages that tell us to ask – but we’ve never really asked. We’ve thought about asking – we’ve told ourselves we need to ask – but we’ve never actually gotten around to asking.

Now there ARE certain conditions that can cause our prayers for wisdom to go unanswered – like not asking in faith, because we don’t really believe God can or will give us what we need (c.f. James 1:6) – or praying with a wrong motive, which often means we’re more interested in our own pleasure or well-being than God’s will and glory (c.f. James 4:3). Sometimes our prayers aren’t answered because we’re holding on to a sin we enjoy or “cherish”, as one bible translation puts it (c.f. Psalm 66:18, NIV).

The only one of those three reasons James deals with in today’s Scripture lesson is the first, about “ask(ing) in faith without any doubting” (c.f. James 1:6) – but initially he doesn’t even do that. Instead, he focuses first of all on the practical issue of asking – i.e. of making sure we’ve actually “ask … God” to give us the “wisdom” we “lack” (c.f. James 1:5).

(b) James goes on to give us three incentives to ask God for the wisdom we need – the first being that He “gives to all generously” (c.f. James 1:5).

The word “all” indicates God is impartial – i.e. that in this instance, He doesn’t give some Christians the wisdom they ask for, while arbitrarily withholding it from others who have also ask for it. God is the source of all wisdom – and He freely distributes it to every believer who asks, no matter who they are¹⁰ – be they great or small, rich or poor, male or female, teenager or elderly, black or white.

That’s not to say God gives wisdom indiscriminately – that He gives wisdom to everyone without any exceptions whatsoever¹² (c.f. James 1:6; 4:3; Psalm 66:18). But it is to say that He gives wisdom without any distinctions whatsoever (c.f. Galatians 3:28).

Moreover, God is “generous” with His wisdom (c.f. James 1:5) – which means He is ready and willing to freely give it – that we don’t have to bargain with Him, or make a deal, or twist His arm (so to speak) to get it.¹¹ Hence, we ought to do what James says, and ask – remembering what Jesus said in His Sermon on the Mount: 7“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 8For EVERYONE who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened … 11If you … being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ASK Him!” (c.f. Matthew 7:7-11).

Wisdom is one of those good gifts our Heavenly Father is ready to graciously and generously and freely give to us when we ask Him for it.

(c) The second incentive James mentions has to do with the fact that God grants His people wisdom “without reproach” (c.f. James 1:5) – or, as the NIV says: “without finding fault”.

The Greek word for “reproach” (“oneidizo”)¹³ means to belittle or insult, to reprimand or disgrace.¹⁴ So James’ point is that the Lord will NOT belittle or chastise any one of His children who comes to Him asking for wisdom. He will NOT find fault with us when we ask Him for wisdom. He will NOT remind us of how undeserving we are (as true as that is) – NOR will He scold us for waiting so long to ask.¹⁴ He will NOT bring up all the times we should have ask, and didn’t – NOR will He belittle us by saying, “You’ve already asked for wisdom ten times – and now you need more?” We will NEVER hear Him say: “Get out of here! I’ve already given you all the wisdom you’re going to get!”¹⁵ As one writer said: “The Lord will NEVER cast even the mildest ‘reproach’ on a child of His who comes seeking wisdom in times of trouble and testing.”¹⁴

(d) And that brings us to the third incentive James gives Christians to go to God in prayer and ask for wisdom, saying (in the last part of verse five) that when we do: “it will be given to (us)” (c.f. James 1:5).

Through the prophet Jeremiah, the Lord tells His people: “Call to Me and I WILL ANSWER you” (c.f. Jeremiah 33:3a) – through the psalmist He says: “Call upon Me in the day of trouble; (and) I SHALL rescue you” (c.f. Psalm 50:15) – while in a passage we quoted moments ago, Jesus said: “Ask, and IT WILL BE GIVEN to you” (c.f. Matthew 7:7a).

Sometimes we go to the Lord in prayer not knowing exactly what His will in a certain matter may be. When it comes to asking for wisdom, however, there should be no doubt (c.f. James 1:6-8) – James says if we ask God for it, “it WILL BE GIVEN to (us)” (c.f. James 1:5) – or, as the Lord once told His people in Psalm Eighty-One: “I am the Lord your God … open your mouth wide, and I will fill it” (c.f. Psalm 81:10).

(e) When it comes to the wisdom we need to handle the trials and tests that come our way in a godly, Christ-like manner, all we have to do is ask! When it comes to the wisdom we often lack when trials and tests become particularly severe, all we have to do is ask!

Next time we’re going to see that James says: “we must ask in faith without any doubting” – otherwise, “we ought not to expect (to) receive anything from the Lord” (c.f. James 1:6-7), including wisdom.

But for the moment his focus is on the fact that, “if we lack wisdom the solution is to go to God in prayer and ask Him for it” (c.f. James 1:5).

Are you going through a particularly difficult trial? Do you need wisdom to endure it and consider it all joy? Have you specifically “ask … God, who gives to all generously and without reproach” (c.f. James 1:5) for the wisdom you “lack”? If not, you need to ask!

Is your faith being tested – perhaps severely? Do you need wisdom to help you look beyond your difficulties to that “perfect result” (c.f. James 1:4) God is bringing about in your life? Have you actually and specifically ask Him for wisdom? If not, you need to ask – always remembering that He promises to give it!

BIBLIOGRAPHY

¹MacArthur: The MacArthur New Testament Commentary;

James; p. 2.