If You Lack Wisdom “Real Life” [James] Series James 1:5-8.

If You Lack WisdomIf You Lack Wisdom““Real Life” [James] SeriesReal Life” [James] Series

James 1:5-8James 1:5-8

WHY WISDOM IS AT ITS PREMIUM DURING TRIALS

• Recap: how to have RADICAL JOY amidst of trials.

2Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4And let steadfastness

have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. (vs.2-4)

By COUNTING it through radically transformed values of real faith.

By KNOWING the benefits of trials through God’s testing of our faith.

By SUBMITTING to God’s sovereign grace in trials through steadfastness of our faith.


• Wisdom is at its premium during trials because…

Wisdom gives us an ability to choose right values over the wrong values.

Wisdom provides a perspective to understand how trial can benefit us.

Wisdom leads us to a willingness to submit to God’s sovereign grace in trials.

And if, in the process, any of you does not know how to meet any particular problem he has only to ask God—

who gives generously to all men without making them feel foolish or guilty—and he may be quite sure that the

necessary wisdom will be given him. But he must ask in sincere faith

without secret doubts as to whether he really wants God's help or

not. The man who trusts God, but with inward reservations, is

like a wave of the sea, carried forward by the wind one

moment and driven back the next. That sort of man cannot hope to receive anything from God, and the life of a man of

divided loyalty will reveal instability at every turn.J. B. Phillips' Paraphrase of James 1:5-8


• In today’s text, we ask the following three questions:

1) What is this wisdom?2) Why do we lack wisdom?3) How should we ask for wisdom?

WHAT TO DO IF YOU LACK WISDOM

1) What is this wisdom?

“If any of you lacks wisdom…” (v.5a)

In Scripture, wisdom is viewed not just as application of knowledge and understanding but also as moral implication of such application.

Why? Because wisdom is found in God’s righteous will; the fear of the Lord is the beginning of true wisdom (Ps.111:10).

This wisdom is NOT: Being street-smart Techniques & quick fixes Worldly wisdom (i.e., wise apart from God’s

righteous will)


1) What is this wisdom?

“If any of you lacks wisdom…” (v.5a)

In Scripture, wisdom is viewed not just as application of knowledge and understanding but also as moral implication of such application.

Why? Because wisdom is found in God’s righteous will; the fear of the Lord is the beginning of true wisdom (Ps.111:10).

This wisdom IS: God’s wisdom (“the wisdom from above” in James 3:17). Ability to judge correctly/rightly and to follow the best

course of action, based on knowledge and understanding. The wisdom that guides our steps with a vision to see

things from God’s perspective and God’s BIG PICTURE (esp. in trials).


2) Why do we lack wisdom?

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God,who gives generously to all without reproach,

and it will be given him. (v.5)

Because we don’t have a source of wisdom within us—true wisdom belongs to God (Prov. 2:6).

Because we don’t ask God. (v.5, cf. Matt. 7:7) who gives generously to all without reproach.

Because we seek it in the wrong places (James 3:14-15).

Because in trials, we are taxed due to all kinds of pressure coming from all directions (hence, a constant and extra supply of wisdom is needed in trials).

Poor Enough to Beg for Wisdom“If any of you lacks wisdom . . . .” If you realize that you are lacking, it is because you have come in contact with spiritual reality— do not put the blinders of reason on again. The word ask actually means “beg.” Some people are poor enough to be interested in their poverty, and some of us are poor enough spiritually to show our interest. Yet we will never receive if we ask with a certain result in mind, because we are asking out of our lust, not out of our poverty. A pauper [beggar] does not ask out of any reason other than the completely hopeless and painful condition of his poverty. He is not ashamed to beg— blessed are the paupers [beggars] in spirit (Matthew 5:3).

- Oswald Chambers


3) How should we ask for wisdom?

6But 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. 7For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the

Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. (vs.6-

8)

How to ask: Ask God in faith with single-mindedness.

Teach me your way, LORD, that I may rely on your faithfulness;

give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name.

Psalm 86:11 [NIV]

Trust God from the bottom of your heart;don't try to figure out everything on your own.

Listen for God's voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; he's the one who will keep you on track.

Don't assume that you know it all. Run to God! Run from evil!

Proverbs 3:5-7 [MSG]


3) How should we ask for wisdom?

6But 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. 7For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. (vs.6-8)

How to ask: Ask God in faith with single-mindedness. How NOT to ask: Don’t doubt—asking with double-

mindedness. Why? It is impossible to please without faith (Hebrews

11:6). The double-minded person is [1] unstable, [2] “two-

souled”, [3] easily influenced but anchored in nowhere and [4] unable to receive anything from the Lord in prayer (John Bunyan in Pilgrim's Progress calls this person ”Mr. Facing-both-ways”).

7I bless the LORD who gives me counsel;in the night also my heart instructs me.8 I have set the LORD always before me;

because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken.

Psalm 16:7-8

PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS FOR OUR EVERYDAY LIFE

1. Realize YOUR NEED FOR WISDOM everyday—especially in trials. Acknowledge your lack of wisdom to God daily. Confess your helplessness to God honestly and

transparently.

2. Ask GOD FOR GOD’S WISDOM knowing that He gives generously to all without reproach. Ask God with a right view of God by faith. Keep asking, knocking, seeking with childlike

dependence.

3. Be sure to have AN UNDIVIDED HEART when asking God. Anchor your decisive trust in God daily. Set the LORD before you always—especially during a

trial.

If You Lack Wisdom “Real Life” [James] Series James 1:5-8.

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