Theme: Great Texts from James ch. 1

James 1:5-8

⁵ 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.

As I read the scripture above, I find the first statement of James 1:5 to be somewhat of a rhetorical question.  “If any of you lacks wisdom” seems like a silly statement since all men lack wisdom.  Granted, some people have more than others, but it seems like those individuals who I consider to be “wise” will often state the contrary about themselves due to the humility that comes with wisdom.  James is instructing us to ask God for wisdom and have complete confidence that He will provide it to us without having any pre-requisites about it.  James reaffirms the grace God gives.  He is generous to everyone and makes no selection based on our flaws.  Thank goodness!  If that were the case, I would rarely receive His favor! 

James goes on to describe how we should ask and how our perspective and attitude should be upon making the request.  We are to be confident and doubt free – completely trusting God will reveal to us what He wants us to know, exactly when we are supposed to know it.  Of course, we gain wisdom and improve our decision making by reading scripture, meditating on it, through prayer and through conversations with other Christians.   It is imperative to completely trust in Him when seeking guidance and wisdom, otherwise why bothering asking for it?  As James writes, doubt is evidence of an individual who questions himself in all matters of life. Uncertainty can eat away at an individual and Christians are not to harbor doubt.  It easily spills over into other aspects of life and then becomes a habit.  As Christians, we must have complete confidence in God’s masterful plan and that He will help us grow into the children He wants us to be, if we only let Him!

Father, thank you for being so generous and granting us wisdom when we ask for it.  Please help us to not doubt you but to be confident in knowing you will grant our request.  Help us to know you more each day.  In Jesus name, Amen

Michelle Tittor

Mesquite, Texas