“But 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. But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind. For that man ought not to expect that he will receive anything from the Lord, being a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.“-{James 1;5-8}
Trials are inevitable! James says “when” not “if,” you encounter various trials.Trials of all types happen, it is part of life, whether you are a follower of Christ, belonging to Him or not, even opposed to Him. We live in a fallen world, where all is not perfect, trials come in all shapes, sizes, and lengths of time. James is writing and showing how true, genuine saving faith behaves versus false faith, dead faith and it is a test of Trials, James begins with. James shows us four commands that God makes available for the believer to handle them in a God honoring way so as not to fail but to spiritually mature, which is the goal for the believer in verse “And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” The word “perfect” as used here means “mature.” James is speaking of spiritual maturity. Growing in their faith. And one means God uses to mature His people is trials. Trials do not mature us but our response according to His Word brings about that spiritual maturity. He gives us Four commands in how to respond to our trials and reveal genuine saving faith and produces spiritual maturity. They are “Count is all joy.’ It means to lead the way with Joy. Immediately commence rejoicing when you encounter trials. Thisis an attitude to be adopted but why? He gives the next three commands to show the reasons why, namely,”2. Knowing” which has to do with an understanding mind. You understand what God is doing. he says one thing He is doing is producing spiritual perseverance, the ability to continue on and also He is producing spiritual maturity. 3. “Let” has to do with a submissive will. Submit to what He says t immediately commence rejoicing because you know what God is doing and your let- submit to doing this by faith as it is His will and way for e and you no matter what the trial is big, small short or long. His will in the matter never changes! The fourth command is to “Ask.” in a trial we might think I need to “ask” for the way out, deliverance, exit, anything to get me out from under this trial or even to be kept from any and all trials, but this is not what we are commanded to “ask” for. He says in v5 “if any of you lack wisdom let him ask.” In trials we are commanded to “ask” for “wisdom!” Our greatest need when in a trial is “wisdom,” the ability to know what God says and how to apply it accurately. Not only the knowledge but the personal application of His Word to the issue!
Wisdom (4678) (sophia) is the ability to judge accurately and choose to follow the best course of action, based on knowledge and understanding. It is the ability to discern His will and conform to the will of God as revealed from His Word.
So often in trials we fall back leaning to our own understanding and it is a weak staff to lean on . For our own “wisdom” is not solid, accurate or in align with God. It is to think the way we thought before He saved us and we knew HIS Word. prov 3:5-7 speaks of it when the writer says, ” Trust in the Lord with all your heart
And do not lean on your own understanding.
In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He will make your paths straight.
Do not be wise in your own eyes;
Fear the Lord and turn away from evil. ”
When trials come run to the LORD and pray asking Him for wisdom. The word “Ask” is a verb and is ‘present tense,” which means it is continuous. Note whom we are to ask”Ask of GOD.” How often we ask everyone, even leaning to our own understanding and ignore Him who is all wise and loves to impart good things to His people including Wisdom from above!
Literally is is “Ask of the GIVING God,”or “God the giver!” Wow, how beautiful a phrase, title, is that for HIM. think on That! “ASK OF THE giving GOD.” No reluctance or lack of resources in Him. He never runs dry of infinite resources! The word “Gives” is present tense , it is that He generously continually gives and gives and gives and gives, relentless and lovingly gives!
“Generously” {haplos} means “liberally,” {with single heart} and that is to benefit the one who asks! God is a liberal generous giver, HE is not tight fisted, mean spirited, reluctant to give.
“Without Reproach.”-{Oneidizo} which speaks of abuse hurling abuse, disgrace, The main idea is to find fault that demeans the one being reproached. It means to find fault and severely criticize. To verbally abuse. GOD WILL NOT DO THIS if you ask HIM For Wisdom! We have great assurance and confidence and comfort that in approaching him for wisdom he is not first going to give us a right telling off and then reluctantly give us begrudgingly wisdom. that is not who He is or what is like. it is not His nature! It is “present tense” which means God NEVER does this, EVER! He continually keeps from ever doing this! What comfort, what truth, what a promise, what a wonderful God, He is!
Look to His Word for guidance in the matter.
What a promise from god to you in your trial. If You need wisdom he promises He will give it to you! Count on Him to fulfill His promise!
You are asking for wisdom to do the right thing and understand how to respond with a joyful attitude, because you know He is not out to destroy but develop you in the matter and display Himself to and through you. You are asking for wisdom to understand submitting to Him in these ways is truly his way.
We are commanded in our trials our troubles difficulties, perplexities to pray, cry out to the LORD for wisdom. I remember once when our children were around ten years old gathering them and sharing a need with them. our little girl prayed “LORD thank You for choosing this trial for us.” What a prayer! Letting our trials drive us to Him and thanking Him that He is in control, He is Sovereign LORD, and nothing can come into our lives without His knowing of it. And we can be thankful as this trial is being used to draw us closer to Him and with His promise we will see HIM provide the wisdom we need to do the right thing by applying his Word to the trial!
How wonderful when we come to Him and ask in faith he does not upbraid us or scold us or be put put, irritated by us. or first give us a lecture but He gives generously and graciously and lovingly. His delight to give us what we ask Him for according to His will, which in this case is wisdom! It is His nature to give and give and give and good gifts at that which wisdom is! he does not want us floundering but availing of His provision and trusting Him who promises who cannot lie and has the ability to impart all the wisdom we will ever need for whatever trial we face! In Him we can lead the way with joy, find reason in such a giving God to rejoice be glad, delight!
We are to ask without “wavering” “doubting” The word speaks of wavering. the word means to doubt,dispute or debate. Sometimes we want to debate God, fight with Him or doubt He will do what He says, doubting He cares, debating Him that if He really cared why did He let this trail happen. But we are not to doubt, dispute, debate Him but to trust him to do as he says because He is faithful to His Word and HE has promised that to all who ask in faith He will give generously supplying all the wisdom we need for the matter. The condition is to “ASK IN FAITH!” Ask in dependence upon Him to do what he says He will do! Don’t doubt his care for you. Don’t doubt His willingness to help you. Don’t doubt His Power to help you. Don’t doubt His love for you. Don’t doubt Him who gave His Son for you. “He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things? “-{Romans 8:32}
But a double minded person is unstable in all his ways. To Doubt God is to be puled mentally, emotionally in different ways and be unstable in all you do. Why? You are double minded.
God provides all we need even in our trials and gives us a promise that He will PROVIDE Wisdom for us in our trial no matter what type it is. Ask in Faith because He is faithful to do what He says He will do!