James: Wisdom
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20 A wise son makes a glad father, but a foolish man despises his mother.
The book of James is often compared to the book of proverbs.
Like proverbs James uses great illustrations and anologies
Like proverbs James gives very practical advice
And like proverbs James highlights wisdom throughout his letter.
I truly love reading the book of proverbs:
I truly love reading the book of proverbs:
Wisdom is the predominant theme in the book of proverbs.
its not money
8 The wise of heart will receive commandments, but a babbling fool will come to ruin.
And if you have not spent much time in the book of proverbs i would encourage you to do so.
Proverbs has 31 chapters which lends itself to a great reading plan. Read one chapter a day, and you’ll read all of proverbs in a month.
Its not fame
Prov
James is writing to people who are going through trials
Here are a few of the proverbs i really like...
13 On the lips of him who has understanding, wisdom is found, but a rod is for the back of him who lacks sense.
persecution, driven from homes etc.
18 There is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.
its not
James tells them to endure trials with joy because trials make us more like Jesus.
pro
23 A prudent man conceals knowledge, but the heart of fools proclaims folly.
20 Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm.
However,
14 The beginning of strife is like letting out water, so quit before the quarrel breaks out.
24 The discerning sets his face toward wisdom, but the eyes of a fool are on the ends of the earth.
p
What are we to do in the midsts of trials? James says, to ask God for wisdom.
I love this proverb, “The discerning sets his face toward wisdom...”
From beginning to end in the bible wisdom is held up as something God’s people values, treasure, and pursue.
Pages and pages of the bible are given to explaining what wisdom looks like, how to grow in wisdom, where wisdom comes from and so on.
However, wisdom is not something that is easily defined.
I think if we take the idea of wisdom in the bible and boil it down, one way to define wisdom is:
The Giver of Wisdom
The Giver of Wisdom
In we will see that God is the giver of wisdom
Often times we get confused thinking about the differences between intelligence and wisdom.
5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.
So James encourages these young believers to ask God for wisdom.
Wisdom is gift of God given to his people so they might have insight and understanding on how to think, feel, and act in the all circumstances.
Wisdom is to think, feel and act like God.
Wisdom is to think, feel and act like God.
Wisdom is to think God thoughts after him.
Wisdom is to think, feel and act like God.
If God is omniscience, all knowing, that means he has thought ever thought about ever situation. And his thoughts are good and perfect.
So wisdom is to seek to think the way God thinks
A wise man thinks the thoughts of God.
It is alway to feel the way God feels
God has created us in his image, and he has made us emotional beings because God is an emotional God.
So wisdom is to feel the way God feels.
We should laugh at what God laughs at.
We should love what God loves
We should hate what God hates.
Wisdom is to act the way God acts.
This does not mean we get to act like we are God
but we are to act in the way he has called us to act.
Our actions are to constantly point people to God. As his image bearers we are like mirrors that are to reflect the character of God to the world.
A wise person is a person who thinks, feels, and acts like God.
wisdom is not the same as intelligence - there are a lot of smart people who are not wise.
And this is what James wants from his readers, he wants them to be wise, he wants them to think, feel, and act like God.
Look with me at James 1.5
5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.
W
Context:
Remember, James is writing to young believers who have suffered many things through persecution and having to flee their homes.
This young church is now dispersed from their homes and need to figure out what it means to follow Jesus in the midst of trials.
We saw last week how James wants his people to consider it pure joy when they are faced with trials.
And this week we will see that James wants his people to ask God for wisdom on how to live in the midst of trials.
James tells them that wisdom comes from God.
Well, the first example in the bible of someone lacking wisdom or pursuing an earthly wisdom is in the garden of Eden with Adam and Eve.
Though Adam and Eve were morally perfect without sin, they had not learned how to think, feel, and act like God. They were not perfectly wise.
You remember the story,
God created Adam and Eve and places them in a garden.
This garden was full of trees and fruit they could eat from.
However, there were two special trees that God put in the middle of the garden.
The Tree of Life: which represented the life and immortality of God.
Adam and Eve were free to come and eat of the tree of life whenever they pleased
The Tree of Knowledge: which represented the wisdom of God.
Now, Adam and Eve were told not to eat the fruit of the tree of knowledge, for they were not mature enough to eat its fruit.
before using wisdom they first had to learn to obey. When they were more mature they would have been welcomed to eat from the tree of knowledge.
However, lacking wisdom they reached out for something that was not yet for them.
The second tree was the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
or thinking that the fruit of the tree of knowledge was fruit that contained sin so they would be poisoned and cursed because of something in the tree itself.
Adam and Eve were walking in the garden enjoying God’s good creation when the serpent comes up and asks them about the tree of knowledge
Eve responds the right way saying they are not to eat nor touch the tree lest they die.
Look how the serpent responds in 3:4-5
4 But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. 5 For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”
4 These are the generations of the heavens and the earth when they were created, in the day that the Lord God made the earth and the heavens. 5 When no bush of the field was yet in the land and no small plant of the field had yet sprung up—for the Lord God had not caused it to rain on the land, and there was no man to work the ground,
Its interesting how the serpent is able to deceive Eve by mixing truth with lies. -
Gen
You see, if Adam and Eve had wisdom they would have known what the serpent was doing. Wisdom knows how to obey God and follow his commands, and wait on his timing.
And if they would have learned to obey they would not have needed
Like children, they need to learn to obey before they learn to use wisdom.
So it was with Adam and Eve, they had to learn to obey before they were given wisdom.
He does not want them look to the world for wisdom. He does not want them thinking, feeling, and acting like the world.
6 So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate.
Gen 1
Rather he wants them to think, feel and act like God.
This is what it looks like to lack wisdom, Adam and Eve thought, felt and acted in a way that was foolish.
And James is telling us that this wisdom is given by God. We are unable to attain this wisdom apart from him.
They didn’t trust God’s wisdom rather they thought themselves wise, and they thought the serpent wise, and ate the fruit.
Since the fall, wisdom has been something we are unable to attain ourselves.
Apart from God giving us wisdom
We are unable to think like God
We are unable to feel like God
And we are unable to act like God.
And when trials come, we need the wisdom of God to guide us.
So when Christians are going through trials, we are tempted to think, feel, and act in ways that are not like God.
Apart from wisdom when trials come our thoughts run away from us
Apart from wisdom when trials come our feeling are led astray
Apart from wisdom when trials come our actions tend to be foolish and regrettable.
I am sure you can identify with this...
When trials, hardships, frustrations come, when the pressure is on, when you feel like the temperature of life is turned up, in those moments it is so easy to act out of our flesh.
circumstances arise that make you feel fearful or paranoid, and you respond out of your distress rather than out of the wisdom of God.
When the chaos of life is overwhelming, it is easy to lose our temper, to speak without thinking, or to lash out against those you love.
James knows well the heart of man, and he knows that when trials come we need wisdom.
And he is saying that God would have us seek wisdom for it will guide our thoughts, emotions, and actions
We need to turn outside of ourselves and look to God.
For wisdom is like an anchor that keeps us steady when the storms of life rage.
So James tells us that if you lack wisdom, you are to ask God who gives it generously.
And the awesome thing is that God delights in giving us wisdom.
Do remember when King Solomon came to power? God asked him what he wanted, and Solomon said he wanted wisdom, he wanted to discern good and evil.
He wanted wisdom, he wanted to discern good and evil.
And the Bible says that God was greatly pleased with this request, and not only gave him wisdom, but gave him riches and honor as well.
God delights when we ask him for wisdom, because when we do, we are asking God to give us his mind. And God loves to give himself to his people.
Throughout the bible wisdom is personified in way that sounds like Jesus himself is talking.
Proverbs chapter 8 first person account from the perspective of wisdom.
Proverbs says
32 “And now, O sons, listen to me: blessed are those who keep my ways. 33 Hear instruction and be wise, and do not neglect it. 34 Blessed is the one who listens to me, watching daily at my gates, waiting beside my doors. 35 For whoever finds me finds life and obtains favor from the Lord, 36 but he who fails to find me injures himself; all who hate me love death.”
prov 8 32
Paul explicitly connects the wisdom of God with Jesus.
3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
1 cor
30 And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption,
Paul says in that all wisdom is hidden in Christ.
So when we ask God for wisdom, what we are asking him for is Christ himself.
Jesus is the only one to truly:
What does it look like to receive wisdom? (Wisdom is supernatural)
Think the way God thinks
To feel the way God feels
What does it look like to lack wisdom?
And to act the way God acts.
When James tells us that we are to ask God for wisdom, We are asking for the mind of Christ.
Why does God give wisdom generously?
And when we ask God for wisdom, when we ask him to give us the mind of Christ, he is always faithful to give us wisdom generously.
God wants us to ask for wisdom, like when king Solomon asked for wisdom, when we ask it pleases God and brings him glory.
He is the source of all wisdom (col 2.6)
He wants us, his image bearers to desire to think his thoughts after him and to feel his feeling after him.
So when we ask God for wisdom, we are to do so with confidence that he is a good God who desires us to be like his son.
So James says,
5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.
So we have seen:
Wisdom is to think, feel, and act like God
To ask for wisdom is to ask for the mind of Christ
We know we are to ask God for wisdom, and that he is faithful to give it to us.
When we ask for wisdom is pleases the Father
And the father is faithful to generously give us wisdom
Now James wants to address how we are to ask God for wisdom.
As we have seen wisdom is so closely tied to the character and mind of God that to ask for it is no small thing.
So James tells us that when we ask for wisdom, when we ask for the mind of Christ, we must do so from faith, with no doubting.
Do not be a doubter
Look with me at verses 6-8
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.
Is the Lord demanding perfect faith? Is he insisting that we never waver? I do not think so.
Is the Lord demanding perfect faith? Is he insisting that we never waver? I do not think so. If our faith had to be perfect, few would ever receive anything, for we are all doubters. Abraham and Moses were great men of God, but they were not perfect in their faith. Jesus honored the stumbling faith of the distraught father in the midst of testing—“I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief” (). Moreover, faith is a gift of God ().
If our faith had to be perfect, few would ever receive anything, for we are all doubters.
Abraham and Moses were great men of God, but they were not perfect in their faith. Both doubted many times, yet Hebrews give them center stage in the Hall of Faith.
If you remember, Jesus honored the stumbling faith of the distraught father in the midst of testing in when the father said, “I do believe; help my unbelief”
So what does James mean when he says, “let him ask in faith, with no doubting?
So what does James mean when he says, “let him ask in faith, with no doubting?
First of all, we need to know what the object of our faith is supposed to be.
James is saying that God is to be the object of our faith.
However, so often we think that our faith is dependent upon itself.
(we look at our faith and wondering if its strong enough to bring about the desired end)
Its amazing how often we get this twisted.
Its amazing how often we get this twisted. We think that our faith is determined by how strong our faith his.
The object of our faith is our ability own ability to have faith.
However James is saying that our faith is not in the strength of our faith, but our faith is to be in God.
Think about it like this… (Bike analogy)
When kids learn to ride their bikes there are often hours of calming the fears of our children telling them that they will be ok.
Their fear, or lack of faith, is not in the bike itself,
They are not worried the tire is going to come off
of the peddle is going to snap
or the handle-bars are going to break
their fear, or lack of faith, is in their own ability to ride the bike.
James is not addressing their doubts or questions as to whether or not they have the ability to ride the bike, but to not doubt the bike itself.
James is saying that we should not doubt the character of God when we ask for wisdom.
James wants us to have faith that all true wisdom comes from God. That God is the wise one, that he is the giver of wisdom, and that his wisdom is always right.
This is what we are not to doubt. We should never ask God for wisdom thinking that his wisdom may not be reliable.
Though the strength of our faith is uncertain and is prone to doubt, the object of our faith is like a rock. He is faithful.
It pains me how often this verse is yanked out of context and the focus of the object of our faith shifts from God to self.
I’ve heard many people talk like...
If you have enough faith and do not doubt, God will heal your sickness
If you have enough faith God will give you the money to pay your bills
If you have no doubt in your heart than God will give you that new car.
This idea of
This is putting your faith in your own ability to have strong faith.
God is the object of our faith, not ourselves, he is the faithful and true one.
When the object of our faith is anything other than God, we doubt his wisdom, we doubt his strength, and his faithfulness.
This way of thinking says that Jesus is only able to give us good things as long as our faith is strong and steadfast
Really, we doubt the very character of God.
He is not talking about healings, or money or cars.
Really, this is nothing short of thinking that we can earn God’s favor through our works.
Another way we doubt the character of God is when we think that God’s wisdom is an option in the marketplace of competing wisdom
What he is telling these new Christians is that if you ask God for wisdom, he will give it to you. But when you ask, do so without doubting who God is or his character.
We are not to seek the wisdom of God and the wisdom of man and then determine which one is better.
I cannot tell you how many times over the years that i’ve had conversations with people where we would be discussing anything from marriage, raising children, friendships, money, or lifestyles where I would open up God’s word and show them what God has to say concerning their situation.
And they would respond
Yes, but my therapist thinks I need a break from my spouse for a while
Yes, but this book I read said I should let my children act out as they are needing to discover their true selves.
I know the Bible says I should forgive, but I don’t think I need to until they come and say sorry.
The wisdom of God is treated like one of the 31 flavors at Baskin Robbins.
They all look good, and i’ll choose the one that fits my mood.
This reminds me of the character Mr. Facing-Both-Ways from The Pilgrim’s Progress. He could see the merits of every opinion or option, but he failed to make a decision about which one was superior.
When we ask God for wisdom, we trust that the wisdom he gives is true and right. We are not to doubt anything that comes from the hand of God.
This reminds me of the character Mr. Facing-Both-Ways from The Pilgrim’s Progress. He could see the merits of every opinion or option, but he failed to make a decision about which one was superior.
If we start comparing God’s wisdom with wordly wisdom, we prove that we do not trust God.
And if we do not trust God, then we do not believe him to be who he says he is.
James goes on to explain the kind of person who doubts God, the man who thinks that God’s wisdom may not be best, the man who doubts the very character of God.
The man who doubts God, the man who thinks that God’s wisdom may not be best, the man who doubts the very character of God.
To doubt his character can also imply that a person is unwilling to trust God with their life.
I’m
To doubt God’s character says that they do not believe that he is who he claims to be
Look again at vv.6-8
The manner of prayer must be with faith that does not doubt that God can give (vv. 6–8).
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.
James says,
The Doubter is unstable: he is like wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind (v.6)
James - Exegetical Commentary of the New Testament Explanation of Text
Moo elaborates: “the picture here is not of a wave mounting in height and crashing to shore, but of the swell of the sea, never having the same texture and shape from moment to moment, but always changing with the variations in wind direction and strength.” This provides the perfect image of the doubting person who oscillates between faith and skepticism, unwilling to trust in Christ once for all and to stay the course in allegiance to him.
James gives us the picture not of a wave mounting high and crashing to shore,
but of the swell of the sea, never having the same texture and shape from moment to moment, always in motion, always in flux.
This provides the perfect image of the doubting person who wobbles between faith and skepticism, unwilling to trust in Christ once for all and to stay the course in allegiance to him.
The doubting man has no stability, no consistency.
The person who doubts God’s wisdom is the person who goes from person to person asking for advice hoping to hear what they want to hear
The person who doubts God’s wisdom is the one who feel like they need to control every situation, because they don’t believe God is really in control.
The person who doubts is unable to love other well, because they doubt the source of all love.
The one who doubts, like the waves of the sea are constantly shifting in their opinions, convictions, passions, and purposes.
The result is someone who is truly unstable and double minded.
James says in verse 8 that the doubter is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.
This verse literally says that “he is a two-souled man”
Its the person who is torn between two allegiances
The one soul wants to serve King Jesus
The other soul wants to serve Self.
When we want to serve self, we doubt God’s wisdom because he tells us we should die to self.
When we want to serve self, we doubt God’s goodness because he tells us that he is all we need.
When we live our lives as a two-souled person, as double-minded, we are unstable in all of our ways.
Its interesting how the word for doubt means to be split in two, to be divided. And the word for unstable is to be blown away.
If we are divided people who are being blown away by the winds of life we will not be able to receive anything good from god.
However, if we receive the wisdom of God, if we are not divided between self and God, we live as faithful Christians thinking, feeling and acting like God.
However, according to verse 7, if we doubt we will not receive anything from God.
James says in verse 7 that the doubter is unable to receive anything from God.
God is the source of all wisdom, but if we doubt that God is wise how could we receive wisdom from him?
God is the source of all Joy, but if doubt and think God is an old crusty curmudgeon up in the sky, how could we ever receive his joy?
The doubter is torn between two allegiances (v. 8)
James does not demand that a believer never question what God gives them, lest their faith prove null and void. Rather, given the context, he maintains that we should not doubt the character of God as one who gives unflinchingly. To doubt his character can also imply that a person is unwilling to trust God with their life or that they do not believe that he is who he claims to be.3.
God is the source of all peace, but if we doubt and think God is the author of confusion how could we receive peace?
Church, from the hands of king Jesus comes all good things. He wants to give himself to us and he wants to us long for his blessings.
And when we know Christ, when worship him and adore him, when we study him and long to be like him, we are formed into his image. And as we are formed into the image of Christ, exalting him as king over all we will see that he is the...
When worship him and adore him
He is the King Glory
an unfading, always satisfying glory that will for all eternity leave us impressed with who he is. And he wants to share that glory with you - do not doubt that he is glorious
He is the King of peace
a peace that passes all understanding, a peace that calms the stormy choas of the soul. And he has left that peace with you - do not doubt that he is source of all peace
He is the Truth
In him is all truth, all logic, all reason, all knowledge and he has offered this truth to you, and it is a truth that will set you free. - Do not doubt that he is the Truth
Righteousness
Jesus is our righteousness, he is perfect, he is holy, is unstained by sin. And this righteousness has covered you like a garment. Do not doubt that he is righteous.
Love
John that says that God is love. He is the source and definition of what we long for. He brings perfect harmony to the mind, body and soul. And he has not withheld his love from you. Church, do not doubt his love.
Joy
Church God is not boring, What of the greatest sins of the church is to believe the lie that God is boring. He has written the greatest story ever told, he has placed you in it, and has invited you to the greatest party the universe has ever seen, and it will never end. Church, do not doubt that God is the source of all Joy.
May we be men and women who have faith in God.
May we never doubt that God is good, and the giver of all good things.
And when our faith is weak let us encourage one another with patience and love.
And may we pursue the mind of Christ in all situations, let us go boldly into the throne room of God and ask him for wisdom in our day.
Let pray.
a. This is because the doubter is unstable, like turbulent sea waves (v. 6).
James - Exegetical Commentary of the New Testament Exegetical Outline
3. The manner of prayer must be with faith that does not doubt that God can give (vv. 6–8).
a. This is because the doubter is unstable, like turbulent sea waves (v. 6).
b. This is because the doubter will receive nothing from the Lord (v. 7).
c. [This is because] the doubter is torn between two allegiances (v. 8).
b. This is because the doubter will receive nothing from the Lord (v. 7).
c. [This is because] the doubter is torn between two allegiances (v. 8).
James - Exegetical Commentary of the New Testament Exegetical Outline
3. The manner of prayer must be with faith that does not doubt that God can give (vv. 6–8).
a. This is because the doubter is unstable, like turbulent sea waves (v. 6).
b. This is because the doubter will receive nothing from the Lord (v. 7).
c. [This is because] the doubter is torn between two allegiances (v. 8).