HOW TO GET WISDOM

James 1:5-7

Morning Meditations 6/17/17

Our meditation this morning will be James chapter 1 and verses 5 to 7: “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.”

There is a great need for wisdom in the lives of Christians. Leaders need it to lead the people over whom God has placed them. Christian laymen need wisdom in their dealings with their families, work place and their walk in the world in general.

James is dealing in this Epistle with the work of faith as it is manifested outwardly. So it is interesting that he deals with wisdom at the very outset.

The words “if any of you lack wisdom” assumes that the person who lacks wisdom recognizes it. I can certainly attest to the truth of that. I have been unwise in words and leadership at times when I recognized that it was the lack of wisdom that hindered the situation. This was the verse that I used to meet with God about that need.

The words “let him ask of God” is an exhortation to prayer about this need. The verb (aiteo) is a present active imperative. The present tense indicates a continuous action. It is not a single request that is being suggested. It is a continuous process. The active voice means that the one in need of wisdom must make the choice to give himself to prayer about this matter. The imperative mood suggests a command. This indicates urgency and at the same time appeals to a willingness on the part of the believer to submit to the authority of the Scriptures. The words “of God” immediately identify the source of true wisdom. It is not the wisdom of the world we are talking about here. It is the wisdom from above. Jamess chapter 3 and verse 17 says, “But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.”

The words “that giveth to all men liberally” means that God gets involved with His people right now on this earth. Christianity is alive with Head and body. The branch is connected to the Vine and draws life from it at the present moment. It is not from salvation to glorification with no real connection in between. God is real to the believer. He is vitally interested in us now. He wants us to ask Him for things and enjoy real answers to prayer. The word “giveth” is in the present tense. It is not a future expectation. God is giving in answer to prayer now. The word “liberally” (haplos) means “simply, openly, frankly, sincerely.”This is not a promise to super saints. It is something that God is doing for all.

The words “and upbraideth not” are a special blessing to me. The word “upbraideth” (oneidizo) means “to reproach, to upbraid, to revile.” The one who lacks wisdom and recognizes it usually recognizes it after he has just blown it. And in blowing it, He let his Lord down. So he comes before the Lord to ask for that which he should have had to start with. As he comes, he expects a lecture that can be described with the words, “to reproach, to upbraid and to revile,” but he only finds a loving Father with the welcome mat out and supplying the wisdom for which he asks. He does not make you feel like a fool for coming to Him for help. Incidentally, the reason a lot of children will not discuss their problems with their parents is because the last time they did they came away feeling like fools and totally condemned. God is a GOOD PARENT. He never makes us feel awful because we came. The experience of coming to God makes you feel welcome the next time.

The words “and it shall be given him” is a promise to be claimed. It is not “it might be given him,” it is, “it shall be given him.” There is no room for doubt in this promise. God makes definite promises.

Verse 6 says, “But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering...” I will amplify on this in a later meditation. Let it suffice to say that faith is that capacity that God has given us (Rom. 12:3) to fellowship with Him. God is Spirit and cannot be seen with the natural eye. He cannot be felt by touch. He cannot be contacted with any of the five senses that He has given us to operate in the natural world. He only reveals Himself to faith. God wants us to have no doubt about His existence and willingness to fellowship with and supply His people. He that cometh to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him” (Heb 11:6). There are two worlds existing at the same time. The spiritual and the physical. Faith gives us the capacity to reach out into the unseen world of God and bring things back into the seen world of time and space.

We as believers need the wisdom that comes from the spiritual world to operate for the glory of God in the world of time and space. And the wonderful thing about it is that James tells us we can have it. Lets ask.

May God bless these words to your heart.

In Christ

Earl White, Gal. 2:20