James 1:5-6
If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind.
Tag: Wisdom is for those Who Ask in Faith
Before we understand the above passage it would be best to read what happened with young king Solomon, after his father died and he was made king:
1 Kings 3:5-9
At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream by night, and God said, “Ask what I shall give you.” And Solomon said, “You have shown great and steadfast love to your servant David my father, because he walked before you in faithfulness, in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart toward you. And you have kept for him this great and steadfast love and have given him a son to sit on his throne this day. And now, O Lord my God, you have made your servant king in place of David my father, although I am but a little child. I do not know how to go out or come in. And your servant is in the midst of your people whom you have chosen, a great people, too many to be numbered or counted for multitude. Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, that I may discern between good and evil, for who is able to govern this your great people?”
God promises wisdom to us. He promises to provide it WHEN we approach Him in faith. This is not something we get from years of schooling, or from chronological advancement. Yes, those who are older have more knowledge and that allows them to make better decisions. But, Wisdom is the Fear of the Lord (Proverbs 9:10). You can’t reject God (many of the aged) and still have wisdom. We are obsessed in our country with knowledge. But, that does not translate to “wisdom.” Only God can grant wisdom and that, only, by our faith in Him. That means that those who reject Christ can’t have wisdom. They are not wise. In fact, here is how Paul expresses it (since Christ IS wisdom):
1 Corinthians 1:20-26
Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe. For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth.
God gives wisdom to those who ask and never causes them to lack in wisdom, when asked by faith.
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