Lesson 3
Matthew 22:36, 37
“Master, which is the great commandment in the law?
Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.”
James 1:5-8
“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.
A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.”
Review
Who was James?
- Verse 1 – a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ
- A leader of the Jerusalem church
- Physical half-brother of Jesus
I. God’s promise in v 5
“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.”
If any of you lack wisdom….” – have any of you ever felt that way? Lacking wisdom? Have any of you ever had a problem and not know what to do? Here in verse 5 we see God’s promise. His promise of wisdom is connected with the passage about TRIALS (#1).
A. What is wisdom?
The word “wisdom” is found 226 times in the Bible.
2Wisdom is SEEING things the way GOD sees them, and KNOWING how to act as God would have you.
A “wise” person is one who has gained an ability to view life in its right perspective.
This kind of wisdom is found in the book of Proverbs written by Solomon – the son of David
Here in James 1, God is referring to a more specific wisdom. The wisdom to know what to do in a particular situation.
B. How is wisdom described in James?
James 3:17
“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.”
C. How do you receive the promise?
Just ask for it
“let him ask.. is what the verse says. Christian do you need wisdom in your trial, an answer? Just ask God.
Didn’t Jesus say in John 16:24, “Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.”
This promise from Jesus about prayer applies also to the believer’s request for wisdom
#3 Examples of Bible character who asked for wisdom and received it
1. David - David is also known as a man after God’s heart
1 Samuel 13:14
“But now thy kingdom shall not continue: the LORD hath sought him a man after his own heart, and the LORD hath commanded him to be captain over his people, because thou hast not kept that which the LORD commanded thee.”
Acts 13:22
“And when he had removed him, he raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom also he gave testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will.”
David was not living in Israel at the time for fear of getting killed by King Saul. He was living in the land of the Philistines; David was about to join the Philistines in battle against King Saul and his army. But the princes of the Philistines made Achish the king to send David and his men back to Ziklag.
1 Samuel 30:6-8 (p 225)
“And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the LORD his God.
And David said to Abiathar the priest, Ahimelech’s son, I pray thee, bring me hither the ephod. And Abiathar brought thither the ephod to David.
And David enquired at the LORD, saying, Shall I pursue after this troop? shall I overtake them? And he answered him, Pursue: for thou shalt surely overtake them, and without fail recover all.”
2. Solomon
Writer of Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Song of Solomon
King David, his father has just died, but before he dies, he makes sure that Solomon his son is anointed king. Adonijah (Absalom’s brother), also one of David’s sons,
1 Kings 3:5-13 (p 250)
D. Who qualifies to receive the promise of wisdom?
God “giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not”
Liberally means bountifully or freely (#5)
Upbraideth means scold (#6)
Anyone who asks the right way which is described in verses 6-8 can receive the wisdom he needs.
A young Christian, old Christian? It doesn’t matter. God will not get angry with you for asking Him for wisdom.
II. How to ask (v6-8)
“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.”
- “Ask in faith (#7)” – what does it mean
a. We should believe that God will answer
Mark 11:24
“Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.”
b. Be sure to take care of sin
Psalm 66:18
“If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me:”
- “Nothing wavering…” – God tells us not to waver
To waver – doubt (#8) Instead of wavering, we should be steadfast, firm, or settled (#9).
When you receive that wisdom be sure to follow through. Do not reject the wisdom given.
Remember
Proverbs 3:5, 6
Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
Trust God even when you don’t understand. God knows what’s best for us.
- Warning against wavering
If you waver, you will not receive from God – look at verse 7
“For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.”
Don’t think that you’re going to receive anything
Be sure to follow God
Jesus also talked about the attitude of serving 2 masters
Matthew 6:24
“No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.”
What are the results of an unstable person? The one who wavers
1. He is “driven with the wind”. If the wind goes this way, he goes this way, if the
Have you ever met a person like that?
Application for us: Read and know our Bible. Believe it. Why? There are false religions out there teaching false doctrines. If we know the truth, and we do, they cannot convince us to believe their teachings.
2. His prayers go unanswered
What are we supposed to do when we waver?
#10 Choose God – the antidote or cure
Joshua 24:15
“And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.”