Conditions to Receiving Wisdom - 11/12/2023

One sure way to navigate the trials of this life is to get the wisdom God provides. Wisdom can come from many places and be attained in many ways. However, God’s wisdom comes based upon conditions (James 1:5-8).

One condition to getting wisdom is to simply ask for it. Ironically, a person must possess a certain amount of wisdom, if they are going to ask for it. They must realize they need help with the various difficult situations in life. They must be willing to reach out for that help, especially from God.

James says a person should be asking God for wisdom. God gives wisdom to “all.” No one is excluded if they will simply ask God.

God gives wisdom “generously.” He readily provides it out of the kindness of His heart. He wants to help people as they deal with the various trials in this present world.

God gives wisdom “without reproach.” God does not feel disappointment when He gives wisdom to those who are asking Him for it. He knows the one asking possesses the character He is seeking in a person who belongs to Him while they are dealing with tough situations.

Another condition to getting wisdom relates to a person’s character. They must have faith God will provide the wisdom they are requesting, along with the expectation that God will give them wisdom. To not have this faith and expectation indicates the person has some “doubts” and James calls that person “a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.”

To illustrate a person who is doubting, James describes them as “the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind.” With this picture in our mind, we can see that a doubting person is constantly thinking, “Will God give me wisdom or will He not?” That person is really not expecting God to give them wisdom. They have all kinds of reasons in their mind as to why God will not grant their request.

Trying to live a godly life in this world, we will encounter many difficult times. Whether social, financial, religious, or meeting challenges related to employment or health, God is willing to give us the necessary wisdom to endure all these situations if we will simply ask, without doubting, expecting that He will give us this wisdom.

Regardless of the circumstances, asking for wisdom from God will always help and be the best advice we will receive for how to handle our trials. God will give us the wisdom we need to manage, in a godly manner, all the issues of life. When the Christian practices this wisdom from God, they will always be living God’s way. - cgm

Scriptural quotations from the NASB1995.