Where Do The Wise Get Their Wisdom? - August 6

Read James 1:5-8

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. 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. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

Reflect

When you need wisdom, who do you turn to first? Why?

The Bible has a lot to say about wisdom. You might remember King Solomon from 1 Kings. He was known for his wisdom. In fact, he is the author and compiler of much of the book of Proverbs and is the author of Ecclesiastes and Song of Solomon. His writings are collections of his wisdom regarding a wide variety of life topics.

But where did Solomon get such wisdom? 1 Kings 3 records that the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream one night and asked Solomon what he wanted God to give to him. Solomon responded, “And now, O LORD my God, you have made your servant king in place of David my father, although I am but a little child. I do not know how to go out or come in. And your servant is in the midst of your people whom you have chosen, a great people, too many to be numbered or counted for a multitude. Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, that I may discern between good and evil, for who is able to govern this your great people?” (1 Kings 3:7-9).

When we read on, we see that God blessed Solomon for asking for wisdom. He gave Solomon the wisdom that he had asked for, but He also gave him riches, honor, and the promise of a long life if Solomon continued to obey His commands. 1 Kings 4:29-34 details Solomon’s wisdom and says that Solomon was “wiser than all other men.” But the key to Solomon’s wisdom was its source, found in verse 29: “God gave Solomon wisdom and understanding beyond measure, and breadth of mind like the sand of the seashore.”

Do you long for wisdom like that? I know I do! In today’s verses, James says that if we want wisdom, we should ask God for it. James also highlights a character trait of God—generosity. James says that if we ask God for wisdom, trusting fully in Him to give it to us, He will surely give it. He is a faithfully generous wisdom giver! King Solomon believed that God would give him the wisdom he asked for and God was faithful to give him that.

But James also offers a caution to us today. We should ask God for discernment confidently and with full assurance that God is willing and able to give it. He warns that if we are doubtful when we pray for wisdom from God, we won’t receive it. As Warren Wiersbe put it, “The greatest enemy to answered prayer is unbelief.” This doubt refers to questioning either God’s ability to give it or His willingness to give it. Either way, doubt demonstrates that you must not know God well enough to trust Him. It is a sign of spiritual immaturity.

James called a person who prays for wisdom but then doubts that God either can or will give it to him “double-minded” and “unstable.” He compared it to a wave that is at the mercy of the wind—whichever way it blows, the wave goes. Mature Christians have an undivided heart for God. They don’t entertain doubts and as a result, they are able to stand firm when life is chaotic around them.

1 John 5:14-15 reassures us: “And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him.” Friends, according to Scripture, it is always God’s will to give us His wisdom, we need only ask for it. But we need to ask with confidence and a heart full of faith.

Respond

God, I need Your wisdom every minute of every day. Please give me the discernment to determine truth from lies, good from evil, and Your ways versus the ways of the world. I want to live in a way that honors You. Thank you for being my sure source of wisdom. Amen.

Reveal

Invite someone to join you in a “Wisdom Experiment”—pray separately each day for one week asking God for wisdom, then meet to talk about what each of you experienced or noticed.