Wisdom Gained By Faith-Driven Dependance

Introduction

John Piper, “If it is night and the storm is raging and the waves are breaking high over the pier, and the Lord comes to me and says, “Set sail tomorrow morning,” there is a burst of hope in the dark. He is God. He knows what he is doing. His commands are not throw-away words.”

James 1:5–8 ESV

5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. 6 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. 7 For 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.

PRAY

The Problem of a Wisdom Shortfall

If any of you lacks wisdom - James continues the exhortation with a conditional phrase. What is the issue? The issue is a believer going through a trial and struggling to consider it pure joy. James’ solution to that problem is the reception and application of wisdom. Wisdom is the skill of applying God’s truth to real life. Douglas Moo, “Wisdom is the means by which the godly can both discern and carry out the will of God.”

Proverbs 9:10 ESV

10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.

It is important not to disconnect this section from the previous. Often, well-meaning people begin applying this lack of wisdom to other areas that James is not specifically addressing. The lack of wisdom in this case is first related to how to endure trials with pure joy or delight. Certainly, God gives wisdom in all areas of life, but this lack of wisdom is more than how to make a good living, find the right spouse, know which school to attend, etc. The wisdom needed first and foremost here is how does one obey God and experience trials as all joy.

The Promise of Answered Prayer

Let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach - The first instruction about how to gain the skill of suffering well is not seek a friend’s counsel, not to get a therapist, not to read a self-help book, not go get an education or anything else. The first, God commanded action is to pray. The action of true prayer is for the one who is in need to ask the one who is the need-meeter for help. This action is for the inferior one to call upon the superior one for assistance. This action is for the weak one to call upon the strong one for power and strength. This action is for the one who is ignorant in wisdom to call upon the who is all-wisdom and possesses all wisdom. Let him ask GOD.

What basis does James give his readers for the instruction to call on God? Who gives generously to all with reproach. It is the character of our God which should be the motivation to ask for the wisdom we need. In this case, James calls his readers to consider the generosity of God. God is not stingy when he gives. He gives lavishly. When one of his saints, his dear children cry out to him for wisdom, he does not reproach them or scold them because of their lack. He gives to them what they ask. He gives without restraint and without reservation. It is simple like Jesus said:

Matthew 7:7–11 ESV

7 “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. 9 Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? 11 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!

And it will be given him - What a promise!!! IT WILL BE GIVEN HIM. James confirms that when a saint under fire, struggling within the furnace of affliction calls out to the God of their salvation for wisdom in how to have pure delight, God will answer and wisdom will be granted.

Proverbs 2:3–6 ESV

3 yes, if you call out for insight and raise your voice for understanding, 4 if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures, 5 then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God. 6 For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding;

The Prescription of Singular Trust

But let him ask in faith - There is a further qualification. The one asking for wisdom must do so in faith or with faith. Faith is trust and reliance. The one asking must trust God. They must be one who believes. This is a true believers who is continuing on in their faith.

Hebrews 11:6 ESV

6 And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.

Mark 11:24 ESV

24 Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.

I like what Lenski wrote in concerning this asking in faith. What does it mean for one to ask in faith? When a believer asks for this wisdom he must do so “in faith,” i. e., altogether “in connection with (ἐν) his faith.” This means not only that his prayer for wisdom must spring from true Christian faith, but also that it must be offered wholly in the interest of this faith, its complete constancy and our own becoming complete. This prayer, offered thus “in faith,” has the direct and unqualified promise that it will be given what it asks, for the one thing that God wants to do is to bring the faith of every one of us to this completeness

With no doubting - Faith in God, Trust in God, Relying on God must be absence of doubt. Doubt is to think that something is not certain or untrue.

The Poverty of the Uncertain

For the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind - The person who has lack of trust is like the sea wave. He is constantly moving up and down, side to side. The ocean’s current is in perpetual, consistent motion and is impacted by many conditions including the wind. The image James paints is one of multi-directional instability. Let’s jump down to verse 8, then we will come back to verse 7.

He is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways - This doubting man is two-souled. In one direction he believes, but in another he doubts. John Bunyan calls him, “Mr. Facing-both ways”. He is here and then he is there. One moment he is enthusiastically pursuing the Lord, the next he is down in the dumps with no hope.

There are a variety of opinions as to how much a genuine believer doubts and can be double-minded.

Warren Wiersbe comments one this doubting one: Many Christians live like corks on the waves: up one minute, down the next; tossed back and forth. This kind of experience is evidence of immaturity. Paul used a similar idea in Ephesians 4:14—“That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive.” If we have believing and united hearts, we can ask in faith and God will give the wisdom we need. Instability and immaturity go together.

John MacArthur: Simply put, he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. Although he claims to be a believer, his action reveals he is an unbeliever. When he goes through a severe trial, he turns to human resources rather than singularly trusting the Lord for answers and for help. Or he becomes bitter and resentful and seeks no help at all. He does not renounce God, but he acts as if God doesn’t exist, doesn’t care, or isn’t capable of delivering him from trouble. He knows something of God’s Word and of God’s love, grace, and providence; but he refuses to avail himself of those divine resources. As James points out later in the letter, that person’s problem, of course, is sin. “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you,” he admonishes. “Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded” (4:8). There the “double-minded” are called “sinners,” a term used only for unbelievers (see comments on 4:8).

My conclusion is that believers can have seasons or moments of doubt. Christians can be immature. However, this is not their entire story. Otherwise, they have faith, they grow. On the other hand, their are those that are false professors. They profess and a faith they do not possess. Though they claim lives built on the rock, they are really sinking in the sand.

For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord - The doubter will get no wisdom. That is until he is wholly facing God in full dependence and trust. James states the doubt should not expect to gain anything from God.

Practical Application

We need to realize there are those struggling in faith and there are those who have a superficial faith which is no faith at all. James leaves his readers to work it out. He does not answer all the questions about their faith. If one goes on to maturity , he is a believer. If not, then he is lost. The reality is, we should be fighting against doubt and unbelief as Christian. The test is directional obedience and maturization. Which are you?

Brothers and sisters, we need to renew our minds about trials. R. Kent Hughes writes, “When we are in the midst of trials, we may reflexively cry out, “God, why me? There is nothing redemptive in my trial! Why does it go on?” Or, “Lord, get me out of this.” But how many of us say, while being tested, “Lord, I need wisdom—Please use this trial to increase my wisdom and understanding of you, your people, and life”?

Simplicity of devotion to Christ is the focus of our faith.

Matthew 14:22–33 ESV

22 Immediately he made the disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. 23 And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, 24 but the boat by this time was a long way from the land, beaten by the waves, for the wind was against them. 25 And in the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea. 26 But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, “It is a ghost!” and they cried out in fear. 27 But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.” 28 And Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” 29 He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me.” 31 Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” 32 And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. 33 And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”

Ask according to God’s revealed will.

1 John 5:14 ESV

14 And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us.

God, who is wisdom, and is a fountain of wisdom to those who are his is stopping low to the hear the sincere, faint cry of any of his weary children who toil under the load of a heavy burden. He is our Father. He care for us. Trust him dear child. Act in faith.