Read James 1, verses 1-12
Look at verses 5-8
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. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.
Verse 5
- A straightforward statement we can follow and understand as we read it.
- We are told of our condition, followed by a command of God along with a promise of God.
- Remember, too, what we were told in the previous verses. This is given in the context of the testing of our faith.
What is it that we lack? Wisdom.
What wisdom he is referring to? ask God – the wisdom of God, not the wisdom of man.
There is a general “wisdom” that man has by the grace of God – a sense of what is right and what is wrong. We can be led away by that and are commanded to trust in God’s wisdom. See Proverbs 3:5-8
Consider these verses about the Wisdom of God:
- Proverbs 2:6-8 – Wisdom comes from the LORD; he keeps it for the upright (those in Christ); he protects them with his wisdom.
- James 3:17 – his wisdom is pure, peace-loving, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and produces what is good, impartial, and sincere
- 1 Corinthians 1:21-24 – in his wisdom, the world does not know him; in his wisdom, which is folly in the world’s eyes, he saves those he calls (those who believe), through Christ, the power of God and the wisdom of God.
What does James tell us about how God gives this wisdom to us who are in Christ?
He promises to give it when we ask: generously (freely – not forced) to all (those who are in Christ) and without reproach (w/o scorn or contempt)
Consider these verses about how God gives to those who are his:
- Psalm 112:9 – He distributes freely
- Matthew 7:7-11 – Our Father in heaven gives good things to those who ask him
- Philippians 4:19 – He will supply every need according to his riches in Christ Jesus
However, right after this in verse 6 we see the word But. There is more to consider 😊.
Read again vv.6-8.
In what condition is the person to ask? In faith, no doubting.
Why? Consider the picture that we are given of the one who doubts:
A wave – driven and tossed by the wind; going this way and that whichever way the wind blows it. One who doubts is a person who is driven this way and that by whatever he thinks and feels at that moment.
What more are we then told? Look at verse 7.
For that person must not think he will get anything from the Lord.
This seems to contradict what we are told in verse 5 – that God gives generously to all who are in Christ, without reproach. Since we know that God cannot lie and does not change (James 1:17), then any seeming contradiction has to do with our lack of understanding. So, we press on to understand what we are being taught 😊.
We remember that James is written in the style of Proverbs.
Here it might be helpful to look at one the verses in Proverbs (10:8):
The wise of heart will receive commandments, but a babbling fool will come to ruin.
We are given two principles, one contrasted with another linked by the word but.
Back to James 1:6-8. We have a
similar contrast of two different people: one who is in faith and one who
doubts.
Also, in verse 8, we have what we are told about the one who doubts:
He is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.
What does double-minded mean? See the following phrase: unstable in all his ways. This person’s life is characterized by constant doubt and changeableness; wavering in everything he says, does, and thinks.
So, this seems that the one who asks in faith is being contrasted with the one who doubts. They are two different people who are treated differently by God:
- The one in faith who asks God for wisdom and it will be given him.
- The one who doubts who must not suppose he will receive anything from the Lord
Let’s look at other scriptures.
For the one who is in faith:
- Psalm 32: 1,2,8,10 – God has blessed us in not counting our sins against us; we are further blessed as he constantly teaches and counsels us; he surrounds us with his steadfast love as we trust in him
- Romans 8:32 – Since he has graciously given his own beloved Son that we might have life, he will also give us all that we need to live that life in Christ
- Ephesians 1:3 – loved by the Father in Christ and are blessed with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places
- 2 Corinthians 1:20-22 – All God’s promises are Yes in Christ to us who are sealed by the Holy Spirit who he has put in our hearts
- John 16:23, 24 – Christ said to those who are his that they can ask the Father in his name and they will receive.
For the one who doubts:
- Romans 8:7,8 – those who are in the flesh (w/o faith) cannot please God
- Matthew 7:24-27 – the foolish does not hear God and will fall
- John 8:47 – those who do not hear the word of God are not of God
We have been called out of darkness, changed from being one who doubts (who is in the flesh) to one who is in faith (in the Spirit, in Christ). So, we are commanded by God not to live as we once were but to live as who we are now.
In light of what God has done, is doing, and will do for us who are in faith, how are we to ask, with no doubting?
- Psalm 32: 9 – we must trust him and not act like a horse that must have a bit and bridle or it will wander away
- Ephesians 4:17-24 – we are no longer to live as we did before we were saved, like those who are not saved. We have learned Christ. We are taught in him to put off the old self, which belongs to our old manner of life and is corrupt, and put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in righteousness.
- Ephesians 5:15 – we are to think about how we walk: not as unwise, but as wise.
- Philippians 2:12, 13 – remember it is God who works in us
However, we will sin. We will doubt. As always, we remember the great love God, the Father, Son and Holy Spirit has for us (1 John 4: 9,10). And confess our sins (1 John 1:9, 10 and 1 John 2:1).
Consider Abraham. If you look at his life, he acted in unbelief many times, yet Paul commends him for his unwavering faith (Romans 4:20-21). Because his faith was credited to him as righteousness.
We have the same faith of Abraham – faith given by God’s grace through the Holy Spirit in Christ who lived a sinless life for us and in our place, died taking all our sin upon himself, rose from the grave (conquering sin & death), and now reigns as King.
Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of God. [Hebrews 12:1,2]