Wisdom for Daily Decisions
Notes
Transcript
Handout
James 1:5
I want to start a new series today entitled Walking in Wisdom.
We live in a world filled with information but starving for wisdom.
Every day we are bombarded with voices telling us what to think, what to buy, how to live, and who to follow.
Technology has made knowledge more accessible than ever before, but wisdom seems harder to find than ever.
The Bible makes a clear distinction between knowledge and wisdom.
Knowledge is knowing facts, but wisdom is knowing how to live in a way that pleases God.
Knowledge fills the mind, but wisdom directs the steps.
Proverbs 4:7 says,
7 Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: And with all thy getting get understanding.
That means wisdom is not optional for the believer—it is essential.
In this series, we are going to learn what it means to walk in wisdom.
We will see how God’s wisdom applies to our daily decisions, how humility opens the door to wisdom, how wisdom sustains us in trials, and how the fear of the Lord is the foundation of all wisdom.
Our prayer should be the same as Solomon’s in 1 Kings 3:9—
9 Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people?
If we will humble ourselves, seek God’s wisdom, and apply it to our lives, we will not only make better decisions—we will grow closer to Christ, who is our wisdom and our strength.
Life is full of decisions, and every one of them shapes the direction of our lives.
Some are monumental decisions—who to marry, where to live, what career path to take, how to raise our children.
Others seem small—what words we choose in conversation, what we tap on our phones, what we do with our free time, or how we react when we’re frustrated.
But whether big or small, every decision is moving us closer to God’s will or further away from it.
The Bible never promises that life will be easy, but it does promise that God’s wisdom is available.
We live in a world that says, “Follow your heart,” but Scripture warns in Jeremiah 17:9 that
9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?
The world tells us to trust our feelings, but God tells us to seek His wisdom.
Proverbs 14:12 reminds us,
12 There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, But the end thereof are the ways of death.
That means the wrong decision might feel right in the moment—but lead to destruction.
This is why wisdom is so essential.
Wisdom is not just knowledge—it is the skill of applying God’s truth to daily life.
Charles Spurgeon quote: “Wisdom is the right use of knowledge. To know is not to be wise. Many men know a great deal… but to know how to use knowledge is to have wisdom.”
Knowledge may fill the mind, but wisdom directs our steps.
James 1:5 speaks right into our daily choices: “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.”
This verse reminds us that God knows the decisions we face and He longs to guide us.
He is not stingy with His wisdom.
He is ready to give generously to those who ask in faith.
So the question is not whether wisdom is available—the question is whether we will humble ourselves to seek it.
This morning we will learn how to seek and apply God’s wisdom in the decisions we face every day.
If wisdom is available, the first step toward receiving it is to realize how much we need it.
Many people stumble at this point because they believe they already know enough, or that experience alone will guide them.
But James begins with the phrase, “If any of you lack wisdom,” reminding us that we must first admit our lack before we can ask for God’s supply.
This brings us to our first truth.
I. The Admission of Need
I. The Admission of Need
The very first step toward wisdom is not gaining knowledge, but confessing our need for it.
We cannot receive from God what we think we already have in ourselves.
So we need a…
A. Confession of Lack
A. Confession of Lack
James confronts us with the reality that we do not have enough wisdom on our own.
The wording “if any of you lack wisdom” assumes that we do, in fact, lack it.
Wisdom does not come naturally to the human heart.
Proverbs 3:7 warns us,
7 Be not wise in thine own eyes: Fear the Lord, and depart from evil.
John Calvin quote: “All true wisdom consists in two things: the knowledge of God and of ourselves.”
Our culture prizes self-sufficiency, but Scripture reminds us that pride blinds us while humility opens us.
Solomon, though king of Israel, stood before God in 1 Kings 3:7 and admitted,
7 And now, O Lord my God, thou hast made thy servant king instead of David my father: and I am but a little child: I know not how to go out or come in.
That confession opened the door for God to grant him extraordinary wisdom.
Until we confess our lack, we will continue making decisions based on our own feelings, rather than God’s truth.
But admitting our lack is not just about saying, “I don’t know.”
It also requires a heart posture that is ready to receive God’s answer.
And that is…we need…
B. Clarity of Heart
B. Clarity of Heart
James is writing to believers facing trials, reminding them that every decision in life is ultimately a spiritual decision.
We cannot separate daily choices from our walk with God.
Romans 12:2 calls us to
2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
9 For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;
When our hearts are cluttered with pride, sin, or double-mindedness, we will not clearly see God’s will.
A window covered with grime still lets in light, but the view is distorted.
Likewise, an unclear heart makes it hard to discern God’s wisdom.
21 And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, When ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left.
Seeking wisdom begins with clearing away the fog of self-reliance and surrendering to God’s leading.
So James begins with a challenge: if you admit you lack wisdom, and if you prepare your heart to receive it, then you are in the perfect position to ask God for it.
That leads us to the second truth.
Once we have admitted our lack and prepared our hearts, James tells us what to do next.
We are not left to guess where wisdom comes from or how to get it.
James says, “Let him ask of God.”
That brings us to our second truth, and our second step…
II. The Appeal to God
II. The Appeal to God
If wisdom is something we lack, then prayer is the pathway to receive it.
Our first response to decision-making should not be worry or self-dependence, but prayerful dependence.
So then we must have…
A. The Priority of Prayer
A. The Priority of Prayer
James says clearly, “Let him ask of God.”
God is the source of all wisdom, so we must go to Him first.
Too often, we consult Google before we consult God.
We ask friends for advice, but forget to bring it before the Lord.
Philippians 4:6 reminds us,
6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
Matthew Henry quote: “God gives wisdom, not grudgingly, but freely; not in small measure, but liberally.”
The first place you turn in decision-making reveals who you trust most—yourself, others, or God.
A child instinctively runs to his parents when he’s unsure what to do.
That instinct should define our relationship with our heavenly Father.
But James not only tells us to ask—he describes the heart of the God we are asking.
B. The Promise of Generosity
B. The Promise of Generosity
James says God “giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not.”
This means God delights to give wisdom.
He gives freely, without hesitation, without scolding us for asking too often.
He never says, “Didn’t I just answer you yesterday?”
Some Christians hesitate to pray because they act like they fear that they are bothering God.
But James assures us—God welcomes the request.
George Washington Carver, the famous scientist, once prayed and asked God to teach him the mysteries of the universe.
He later said the Lord spoke to him and said, “Little man, you’re too small to know the mysteries of the universe. But I will show you the peanut.”
Carver devoted himself to studying that one small plant, and from it he developed hundreds of uses and inventions that helped transform agriculture.
Carver said he had simply asked God for wisdom, and God had given it.
The point is clear—God delights to answer when His children humbly ask for wisdom.
He is a generous Father, not a reluctant one.
Picture a fountain flowing with clean water—it never runs dry and anyone can come freely to drink.
That’s how God gives wisdom to His children.
But receiving wisdom is not a one-time request—it is a daily pattern of dependence.
C. The Pattern of Dependence
C. The Pattern of Dependence
Wisdom is not a resource we store up once and never need again.
It is a daily supply for daily decisions.
Psalm 119:105 says,
105 NUN. Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, And a light unto my path.
In the days before streetlights and flashlights, travelers carried lanterns to guide their steps at night.
The lantern did not light up the entire road ahead, but it gave just enough light for the next few steps.
That is how God’s wisdom works in our lives.
He does not always show us the whole plan, but He gives us the light we need for the step we are on right now.
Wisdom is walking by faith with the light He provides today.
Notice it says “lamp to my feet”—not a floodlight for the whole journey.
God often gives wisdom one step at a time so we continue depending on Him.
The wisest Christians are not the ones who never struggle, but the ones who keep returning to God in every decision.
A pilot flying through a storm must rely on his instruments, not his feelings.
If he trusts his instincts instead of his gauges, disaster will follow.
In the same way, believers must learn to trust God’s Word and Spirit, not their emotions or instincts.
So James reminds us—if we lack wisdom, we must ask God, because He delights to give it generously.
But wisdom is not just something we request; it is something we must apply.
That leads us to the final truth.
We have seen that wisdom begins with admitting our lack, and it grows as we appeal to God in prayer.
But James does not intend for wisdom to remain theoretical.
Wisdom is meant to be lived out in the real decisions of daily life.
So we now see…
III. The Application of Wisdom
III. The Application of Wisdom
Wisdom is not just something we know in our minds—it is something that come in action… it directs our steps.
If God gives us wisdom, it should shape our choices every day.
First we see it gives us…
A. Direction for Choices
A. Direction for Choices
Wisdom shows us the right path when we stand at a crossroads.
Every decision—whether about finances, family, or friendships—is an opportunity to apply God’s truth.
Colossians 3:16 says,
16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
3 Commit thy works unto the Lord, And thy thoughts shall be established.
When God’s Word fills our minds, His wisdom begins to guide our decisions.
If Scripture is absent from our hearts, wisdom will also be absent from our choices.
A GPS is useless unless it is turned on and programmed.
God’s Word is the GPS for life, but it must be active in our hearts to direct our way.
But wisdom does more than just point us in a direction—it equips us to discern what is best when the answers are not black and white.
It gives us…
B. Discernment in Challenges
B. Discernment in Challenges
Discernment is the Spirit-enabled ability to distinguish between truth and error, right and wrong, good and evil, and better and best — so that our choices align with God’s will.
Life is full of gray areas where the right choice is not immediately obvious.
Wisdom enables us to evaluate what pleases God and what draws us closer to Him.
Hebrews 5:14 says,
14 But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.
I bring this verse in here because it shows that spiritual maturity is not just about knowing truth, but about consistently applying it until our senses are trained to discern right from wrong.
This verse reminds us that wisdom grows as we practice making godly decisions, and over time we become sharper in recognizing what pleases the Lord.
A beginner playing chess usually sees only the move directly in front of him.
But a grandmaster can see ten moves ahead and anticipate every possible response.
Life often feels like a chess game where we can only see the next move, and we don’t know what will happen down the line.
But God sees the whole board and knows the outcome of every choice.
When we seek His wisdom, we are trusting the One who sees far beyond what we can.
Wisdom is not only about avoiding sin—it is about choosing what is best.
Two paths in the woods may both look safe, but only one will lead to your destination.
Wisdom helps us discern the path that leads to God’s glory, not just our comfort.
And the more we practice applying wisdom, the more it shapes our character to look like Christ.
So we see the third thing wisdom gives us is a…
C. Development of Character
C. Development of Character
God’s wisdom does not only direct decisions—it transforms people.
James 3:17 says
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
24 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:
When we walk in wisdom, we become more like Christ.
Every wise decision is a brick in the wall of Christlike character.
No one becomes godly overnight.
Like a building constructed one stone at a time, our character is shaped by the accumulation of daily decisions made in God’s wisdom.
So James teaches us that wisdom is not something abstract—it is something practical.
It directs our choices, develops discernment, and shapes our character into Christlikeness.
That is the true application of wisdom.
Conclusion
Conclusion
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.
James gives us a simple but powerful promise—if we lack wisdom, we can ask God, and He will give it generously.
We have seen that wisdom begins with the admission of need, grows through the appeal to God, but also must be applied in our daily decisions.
But the greatest truth is this—wisdom is not just a set of principles to follow, but a Person to know.
1 Corinthians 1:30 tells us
30 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:
A.W. Tozer quote: “Wisdom is the ability to see life from God’s perspective and then to know the best course of action to take.”
To walk in wisdom is ultimately to walk with Christ.
When we face decisions, the question is not just “What should I do?” but “How can I reflect Christ?”
Every decision either draws us closer to Him or pushes us further away.
If you need wisdom, you are invited to come boldly to the throne of grace, where Christ is ready to supply it.
D.L. Moody once said, “Out of 100 men, one will read the Bible, the other 99 will read the Christian.”
That means your life, shaped by daily decisions, may be the only Bible some people ever read.
When your coworkers, your children, or your neighbors watch your decisions, they are seeing whose wisdom you follow.
The world offers its wisdom—self-reliance, selfish ambition, and short-term pleasure.
God offers His wisdom—peace, purity, mercy, and truth.
Which wisdom will you follow this week?
Will your daily decisions reflect the wisdom of man or the wisdom of God?
The choice is before us, and the promise is sure—if we ask, God will give.
Let us not leave here today depending on our own wisdom, but let us walk daily in the wisdom of God.
This morning we have been reminded that God’s wisdom is available to all who ask.
But wisdom begins with a relationship with Jesus Christ, who is the wisdom of God.
If you do not know Christ as your Savior, the wisest decision you could ever make is to repent of your sin and trust Him today.
Without Him, you may gain the whole world’s wisdom and still lose your soul.
But with Him, you gain eternal life and the guidance of His Spirit in every decision.
Christian friend, perhaps you have been leaning on your own understanding, making choices without seeking God.
Today God is calling you to return, to humble yourself, and to ask Him for wisdom in your daily walk.
Will you come to the altar of your heart and say, “Lord, I need Your wisdom in my marriage, in my parenting, in my finances, in my future”?
Will you commit today to stop leaning on your own heart and start leaning on the Lord?
The promise is sure—if any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, and it shall be given him.
The altar is open; will you come and seek His wisdom right now?
