James 1:5-Ask the Lord for Wisdom

April 7, 2024

James 1:5-Ask the Lord for Wisdom

As Christians one of the mistakes that we often make is not seeking God’s wisdom for every situation. It is so important that we ask our Heavenly Father to give us clarity before we make a decision that will have long term effects. Some examples of this kind of decision are: who you should marry, if the ministry that you are joining is the right one for you, should you make that permanent move, should you take the job that you were offered, and etc.

You want to get into the habit of including the Lord in all of the major choices that you are making. What this does is prevent you from unnecessary trials and tribulations that could have been prevented had you sought Godly wisdom. Proverbs 3:5-6 lays this out for us as King Solomon details, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.”

It’s easy to try to take matters into your own hands because of selfish ambition, your own desire, or because of a lack of spiritual wisdom. The thing is when you come to the Lord for answers before making permanent decisions; He will lead you in the right direction every single time. This is the point that James, Jesus’ brother was making when he wrote James 1:5. Let’s take a closer look at exactly what the passage of Scripture is revealing to us.

James 1:5

“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.”

This verse of Scripture out of the book of James was written by James himself. Right before this passage he was addressing the brethren in the ministry regarding their faith being tested. He knew that they were going to face difficult circumstances as believers of the Lord Jesus Christ and needed words of encouragement.

He knew the testing of your faith is what would produce endurance and that is exactly what his beloved brothers in Christ needed in order for them to persevere. In the midst of their trials and tribulations James encourages them to seek true wisdom that can only come from the Lord. The Old Testament passage Proverbs 9:10 disclose to us, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom…”

When you love your Heavenly Father and reverence Him you are going to seek Him for council because you value His opinion. Every piece of advice that He has already given us is found in the Holy Bible. This is why it is so important that you open the Word of God, read it, study it, and apply it to your daily life. The Lord will speak to us and give us direction and clarity through His Word.

Now let’s take a closer look at the passage of Scripture that I am highlighting James 1:5. The word “wisdom” being used is the Greek word “sophia” which means: the knowledge and practice of the requisites for godly and upright living. The words “let him ask” being used is the Greek word “aiteō” which means: to ask, beg, call for, crave, desire, and require.

The word “liberally” being used is the Hebrew word “haplōs” which means: simply, openly, frankly, and sincerely. The word “reproach” being used is the Greek word “oneidizō” which means: to reproach, upbraid (scold), revile (condemn). The words “it shall be given” being used is the Greek word “didōmi” which means: to grant, give to one asking, and let have.

There is so much valuable information that James is giving us pertaining to the knowledge of God. He is saying that when we are in the face of trials we don’t want to rely on our own human wisdom but we are to seek, crave, and desire God’s wisdom to help us get through those challenging situations. This requires a deeper trust in the Lord knowing that He will guide us in the right direction.

God is a generous Father and will give you the answers that you need simply and sincerely with no condemnation or reproach. The perfect example of what this means is found in Matthew 7:7 when Jesus states, “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.” Another good example is found in Matthew 7:11, “If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!”

When you come to the Lord in prayer make sure that you are coming to Him knowing that He will give you the resolution to your questions. He wants you to trust that He will provide your every need even in the midst of your storm. The problem is that a lot of Christians don’t take the time out to build a personal relationship with the Lord so you have trouble hearing His voice. This requires you to become a servant of God (one who gives himself up wholly) just as James classified himself as in James 1:1.

Remember, no human being is exempt from the tribulations of life but the difference with followers of Jesus Christ is that they can come to Him to receive spiritual insight in the face of trials. You have the Holy Spirit living on the inside of you guiding you, leading you, and making sure that you stay on the right track, John 14:26. Ask Him to help you in your time of need and He will bring to your remembrance the Word of Truth.

It is then up to you whether or not you heed His voice and direction. A lot of us would have been spared from so much pain and heartache had we asked the Lord for guidance rather than doing things our way. We have to get to the point in our Christian life that we allow the Lord to take the driver seat and remain there. When you try to override His will for your life that is when you will find yourself in trouble every single time!

Also, don’t forget to check out my other blogs:

James 1:2-3-the Testing of Your Faith

Who is Jesus’ brother James?

Breaking Spiritual Strongholds-Fight Back

Breaking Spiritual Strongholds-Feed Your Spirit

Breaking Spiritual Strongholds-Renouncing

Breaking Spiritual Strongholds-Confess and Repent

Recognizing Spiritual Strongholds

What are Spiritual Strongholds?

The Spiritual Laws of God-Poverty Part 1

The Spiritual Laws of God-Poverty Part 2

The Spiritual Laws of God-Restoration