Title: Seek Wisdom/James 1:5-8
Contents
I told you last time that the book of James was written by James, the brother of Jesus, and was sent to help the faith of the believers who are scattered in various countries due to tribulation and persecution.
What do you think is the most important thing for believers who cannot live comfortably in one place and are chased to and fro?
money? Of course you will need money. gold and silver? Of course, it would be nice to have that too. There must have been many necessities such as health, a house, etc. You will need all of these, but the most necessary of all is [wisdom]. Therefore, the apostle James said [seek wisdom from God].
So what does wisdom mean here? If a person is clever and cunning, does he have wisdom? no. Some people are smart but not wise. When a person is cunning, he often deceives or causes great harm to others. So naturally, those who are too clever and cunning become wary and distrustful.
Also, there is a difference between having a lot of knowledge and wisdom by studying a lot. Some have studied little but are wise, and some have studied a lot but lack wisdom.
Therefore, we need wisdom, and among wisdom there is wisdom that we need.
1) You need wisdom to make everything work out.
If you entrust something to someone else, it will not work well, but if you entrust it to someone with wisdom, things will work out. It's good for anything to go well from start to finish, but it's really hard to do that. Some people seem to be doing fine at first, but then they mess up, and conversely, some people seem to be doing badly at first but then everything goes well. The latter are clearly wiser than the former. It's not good if it's good now, but bad later. It's better to be good later even if it's bad now than this.
2) You need the wisdom to look ahead.
Some people think and work right now, but those with wisdom look far ahead and work. It's about thinking ahead of time about what will happen in the future.
3) We need wisdom to become one.
No matter how many people gather, the wisdom that makes everyone become one so that they can do all things while reconciling each other and loving each other is truly precious.
Some people, when entrusted with work, work hard but do not become one, so you can see that there are conflicts. But those who have wisdom make them one. How precious is this wisdom?
But Proverbs 9:10 says, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.”
Who do you think is the wisest person? A person who fears God. Those who serve God best are the wisest. Also, those who live honestly before God are the wisest. It is said that God is preparing perfect wisdom for such honest people. [He prepares perfect wisdom for the upright, and he is a shield to those who walk in integrity], says Proverbs 2:7.
Those who believe in the Word of God and live according to the Word of God are the wisest. All blessings are guaranteed to those who live by the word of God (Deuteronomy 28). Those who live according to the word of God will find happiness (Deuteronomy 10:13). Anyone who lives according to the Word of God is the wisest person. Many difficult problems can be easily solved if we live according to the Word of God. Conflict between husband and wife and all human relationships can be easily resolved by returning to the Word of God.
But in today's text, the Apostle James said, "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him." Let's look at a few here.
(1) It is said [when wisdom is lacking] (verse 5).
Realizing that one's own wisdom is lacking is considered wisdom itself. A person who does not know his own shortcomings is a fool. Those who are always aware of their own shortcomings and seek wisdom with a humble heart are truly wise people. Such people have progress and growth. However, there is no development and no growth for those who do not know their own shortcomings and live with pride.
(2) Ask God for wisdom (verse 5).
There are usually three ways to gain wisdom.
1) It is a way to be gained through one's own efforts.
You can get wisdom by learning from a wise person, you can get wisdom from books, you can get wisdom from history, and you can get wisdom from nature.
2) There is wisdom given by the devil.
The wisdom given by the devil is evil wisdom. Even if he harms others by slandering as a conspiracy technique, he is trying to succeed only himself. The wisdom given by this devil will eventually lead to destruction. Therefore, this wisdom may be good at first, but it will eventually ruin it.
3) There is wisdom from God.
The wisdom God gives is wisdom given to those who are filled with the Holy Spirit. The wisdom that God gives is good wisdom. It also leads to salvation, accomplishes God's will, pleases God and gives glory to God. The wisdom we need to seek is the wisdom that God gives us.
Solomon asked for wisdom before God when God said, “Ask what I will give you” and that He will give you whatever you ask for (2 Chronicles 1:7). Because the country is large and he himself is too young, he could not rule the country properly. Therefore, he sought wisdom in order to properly govern the country according to God's will. At this time, God said: [With this kind of heart you did not seek wealth or riches or honor or the destruction of the enemy's life, nor longevity, but you sought wisdom and knowledge to judge my people over whom I had made you rule. Therefore I have given you wisdom and knowledge, and wealth and honor; for the kings before you were not like this, and after you there was none like this] (2 Chronicles 1:11-12).
What do we learn here? When we ask God for money, we come to realize that wisdom is what we should seek before asking for money, success in life, or health. You realize that you should seek wisdom rather than success or blessing. Why? Because if you acquire the wisdom that God gives you, you can acquire everything else.
In Proverbs 30:7-9, we find the prayer of Agur, who had a very high level of faith. [Two things I have asked of the Lord, before I die, give them to me. Take away from me falsehood and lies, and make me neither poor nor rich. And feed me only with the bread I need, or I am full and do not know God, lest I say, Who is the LORD?
However, Solomon had many things to ask of God, but he specifically asked for wisdom. As a result, Solomon gained unprecedented wisdom, and with that wisdom, he not only ruled the country well, but also ruled the world without going to war, enjoying peace and living in wealth and glory. Truly, God is a God who gives generously and without reproach.
(3) He told us to ask only in faith and have no doubts (verse 6).
I told you to ask only by faith.
1) We must seek with faith in the person of God.
You must believe in God's faithfulness. We must believe that God is a God who keeps His covenants. You must also believe in God's love. You have to believe and ask for a good God.
2) We must ask for it with faith in the omnipotence of God.
3) We must ask for it through faith that believes that absolute sovereignty is in God.
When you come to worship before God, you must come out with faith. Hebrews 11:6 says, "Without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He exists, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him." Please believe this word.
And I told him not to have any doubts. The word [doubt] is [dia krinomais] in the Greek, and it means [to count and measure]. Will God listen? God wouldn't! It's probably not going to happen! while doubting.
It is painful for us to doubt others, but it is even more painful for us to be suspicious of others. Moreover, to doubt a person is to think that he is an untrustworthy person, so it is blasphemy. Therefore, people suffer when others do not believe and doubt. How much more must God our Father suffer when we doubt Him? Therefore, according to James 1:6-8, “But ask in faith, and do not doubt at all. He who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. Do not expect such a person to obtain anything from the Lord. sleep].
What about the grain of the sea water that is blown by the wind? It came and went and went back and forth without being still for a moment. How can you receive answers with your heart like this? In fact, the hearts of such people change so often that even God cannot respond to them according to their hearts.
That's why he told me not to think about getting anything from the Lord. It is because we have two hearts and there is no determination in everything. These people say they pray, but because they do not have the experience of receiving answers, they live a life of hypocrisy, pretending to believe without believing in God. Therefore, there is no joy in the life of faith.
If we want to receive the blessings we receive from God as we ask for it, we must have faith.
In Mark 11:22-24, Jesus answered and said to them, "Believe in God, I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, 'Be lifted up and thrown into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart, believing that what he says will come true, it will be done for him. Therefore, I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours to you.]
Also in Matthew 17:19-20, [At that time, the disciples came to Jesus in silence and said, “Why did we not drive them out?” He said, “It is because of your little faith. If there is, say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you.” In 21:21-22, “I tell you the truth, if you have faith and have no doubts, Not only can you say to this mountain, 'Be lifted up and cast into the sea,' and whatever you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive it.]
Do you believe this saying?
We must believe in the promises of God's Word. We must believe that God is faithful and that He will not only keep His promises, but that He is all-powerful and able to keep His promises. No matter how desperate the situation appears, we must believe that God's promises will be fulfilled and move forward. If you do, you will surely receive answers and you will surely receive blessings.
Seek wisdom before God. So, I pray that you will enjoy the blessing of success with the wisdom God gives you and live your life with blessings.