In Need Of Wisdom? Just Ask In Faith, Sounds So Simple

As I was reading the next part of James for this week’s talk I thought James make this sound so simple, as we read James 1:5-8 it sounds simple yet it is not.  “If you need wisdom—if you want to know what God wants you to do—ask him, and he will gladly tell you. He will not resent your asking.  But when you ask him, be sure that you really expect him to answer, for a doubtful mind is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. People like that should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. ⁸ They can’t make up their minds. They waver back and forth in everything they do.”(James 1:5-8)  It says ask God for Wisdom and He will give it to you, ask Him what He wants you to do, and He will let you know.  But then comes the second part, have faith that He is going to answer.  That is the hard part, having faith that God is going to let us know.

As adults we have lived and experienced much more then children, I have six nieces and a nephew.  I have spent a lot of time with them and there are times that they are about to do something that is going to harm them or someone else.  When this happens one of the adults around quickly lets them know that is not a good thing to be doing, they almost always ask why?  Why because we know that is going to cause harm, how? Because it is you are just going to have to trust me.  See as followers of Christ we ask God for Wisdom or what direction He wants to go, and we have to realize that God knows more than we do, that His answer is always going to be correct and we are told to have Faith and follow.  I believe the problem also comes with a misunderstanding of what wisdom is or how we receive it.  Most wisdom is received by experiences, being wise and being intelligent are two different things.  When we ask God for wisdom, He is most likely going to give us wisdom through allowing us to go through different experiences. Some of the experiences are not always going to be easy that is where true wisdom comes from; from times of difficulties or times or being disciplined.  The writer of Proverbs says; “To discipline and reprimand a child produces wisdom, but a mother is disgraced by an undisciplined child.”(Pr 29:15)

We must come to the understanding that God is in control of all things, “And we know that God causes everything to work together^* for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.”(Romans 8:28)  Knowing that God is control, and that He desires for us to know Him better, and to grow His wisdom is a great thing.  We are able to put our faith and trust in God with knowledge that there is no reason for us to waver in our faith when we remember who God is.  When James says, “but when you ask him, be sure that you really expect him to answer, for a doubtful mind is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. People like that should not expect to receive anything from the Lord.  They can’t make up their minds. They waver back and forth in everything they do.” (Jm 1:7-8)    He is saying, do not be double minded, do not ask God for something yet fall back into the things of the world, expect God to do mighty things for His Kingdom in your life, not to do mighty for us or our kingdom.  We are to live for God obediently and with reverent fear.  “Reverence for the Lord is the foundation of true wisdom. The rewards of wisdom come to all who obey him.”(Ps 111:10)  “Fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. Knowledge of the Holy One results in understanding”(Pr 9:10)