"Count it all joy, my brothers, when you fall into various temptations, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. Let endurance have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. But 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. But let him ask in faith, without any doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, driven by the wind and tossed."
-James 1 : 2 - 6
Not a day goes by in which we don’t face some kind of challenge or conflict. It’s just a part of life. Often times it can be hard to know what to do in these situations. When presented with a difficult decision, how can we be sure that what we choose will be the best solution? Thankfully, we do not have to make our decisions unadvised. We can call on the all-knowing creator of the universe!
James, the half-brother of Jesus, begins his epistle by explaining that believers should not fret when faced with temptations or trials. Rather, we should count it all joy because there is a purpose. Good can and will come from the testing of our faith when we endure. James then reminds the reader to ask God should they lack wisdom in these situations. Should we ever find ourselves unsure of what to do, God will gladly give us the guidance we need, liberally and without reproach.
There’s so much we can learn about the character of God from this short phrase “who gives to all liberally and without reproach.” The Greek word for liberally here is haplōs, meaning openly and sincerely. We need not worry that God will be sparing with His wisdom. He will give generously, holding nothing back. We can also rest assured that our Heavenly Father will not be disappointed or critical of us for needing His guidance and instruction.
It can be tough to admit you don’t have all the answers, and even tougher when there’s a reasonable expectation the person you ask for help won’t respond kindly. We’ve all been there. Rather than look foolish, you may decide it’s better not to ask at all and remain unsure of what to do. It is so comforting to know the Father will never mock or reprimand us for asking for help. He is more than happy to provide us with the guidance we need!
There is, however, a caveat when asking for wisdom. In verses 6-8 James warns we must have faith when we ask. The word for faith used is pistis: “a conviction or belief respecting man's relationship to God and divine things” This means when we ask, we must do so trusting God’s response is the solution. We cannot treat God’s wisdom like man’s advice; choosing to disregard the parts we don’t like or assume there is room for compromise. Doing so shows a lack of faith or trust in God’s authority. We ought to test our motives when approaching God for wisdom, being sure that we are seeking a result that will honor Him and not a response that will justify how we prefer to resolve things.
Not a day goes by in which we don’t face some kind of challenge or conflict. But we know there is reward in persevering through them (Romans 5:3-5.) We also know that should we ever find ourselves uncertain of what path to take, God is there to offer the wisdom needed when we ask.
Further Reading:
Thank you for reading! I hope revisiting this short devotion from the Summer 2023 Newsletter encouraged you today. I pray you rely on God for wisdom, asking with the same sincerity in which He provides it to us.