Asking and Receiving

James 1:5-8

 

INTRO: As we shall plainly see, verses 5-8 connect with verses 2-4. When is it that we most need wisdom? It is when we are in one of life’s storms. It is when we are in a mess. It is when troubles and trials have us backed against the wall. That’s when we need wisdom.

In verses 2-4, James tells us that trials, when understood, accepted, and applied in the right way, will build character. They will make us better, not bitter. One of our goals as a Christian should be a consistent life for Christ, walking with Him every minute of every day. How are we going to do this? Only by the help of the Lord; only by God given wisdom (vs 5) and faith (vss 6-8).

 

I. VS 5, ASKING FOR WISDOM

A. James says: "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God..."

1. Where can I go to find the wisdom I need to use the trials of life for my benefit spiritually? Friend, the scripture says: "ask of God."

2. All Christians need wisdom and understanding. What is wisdom? Wisdom is seeing life from God’s point of view, from His perspective.

a. Proverbs 9:10 says: "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding." You will never have spiritual wisdom apart from the fear of the Lord.

b. Where does wisdom come from? James told us to ask of God if we lack wisdom. The writer of Proverbs says: "For the Lord giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding" (Pro 2:6).

c. It will do us good to study the following verses concerning wisdom (Pro 4:5-7; 8:11; 16:16).

3. Wisdom is very practical. Wisdom will lead us to what is right in God’s eyes. Christian wisdom is "the supreme and divine quality of the soul whereby man knows and practices righteousness" (Barclay 45).

4. True wisdom can only be ours as we give ourselves completely to the laws of almighty God. Psalm 119:11: "Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee." Also note Psalm 119:32: "I will run the way of thy commandments, when thou shalt enlarge my heart."

B. God gives wisdom generously, "that giveth to all men liberally...."

1. "Liberally" means that God gives generously and with mercy. You and I deserve nothing, but God gives even when we don’t deserve it.

2. Psalm 23:5-6 tells us that God is generous. "Thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever." That’s generosity.

3. God graciously gave His Son as the most unspeakable gift of all (Rom 5:8; Jn 3:16).

4. God is so good to us. He gives us so much (Acts 17:25, 28).

C. God does not upbraid us for asking for wisdom. He does not chide us. He doesn’t get on to us.

1. Some give with the idea of getting more than they put out. God’s not that way. All He wants is our love and service.

2. Others give to show how powerful they are.

3. Some give and never let you forget it! They are constantly throwing it in your face.

4. God gives because He loves His people. He gives and knows we can never repay Him. He gives and doesn’t keep throwing it up in our face. He gives because He loves to give. It is His nature to give!

 

II. VSS 6-8, ASKING IN FAITH

A. Vs 6, The man who need wisdom is to "ask in faith....." This is the condition for receiving godly wisdom.

1. We are to ask, "without wavering." This means without doubt.

a. We are to ask believing that God is all powerful and that He is able to do all things for His people (Heb 11:6).

b. God loves to give to us. It is His desire to do so. Romans 8:32 says: "He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things." When we ask for wisdom, let us do so in full faith of God’s ability to provide (Mt 21:22).

2. The person who wavers, doubts, "is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed."

a. "Faith is easy when your up on the mountain, but when things change and you’re down in the valley don’t lose faith for you’re never alone."

b. A doubter will be driven all over the place, up and down, side to side (Eph 4:14).

c. When a storm comes, anchor in Jesus and face that storm in faith. Keep your eyes on Jesus always.

B. Vs 7, we receive when we ask believing. We miss out when we doubt God, when we do not trust Him. It is much better to have faith, even in trials, for it is then that we receive (I Jn 5:14).

C. Vs 8, Don’t be double minded for "a double minded man is unstable in all his ways."

1. You can’t be half in and half out. If you straddle the fence, you’ll rip your britches. You cannot face in two directions at the same time.

2. George Sweeting says: "We must be anchored in the rock of salvation, or we will flounder on the rocks of despair" (20).

3. So many today are anchoring in the instability of self, materialism, and the world. They are unstable.

 

CONCLUSION: How about you, dear one? Do you trust or do you doubt?

 

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