Our passage of the day begins by contradicting human thinking. It tells us to have joy at the most inconvenient times and reminds us to ask for wisdom.
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“Lacking Wisdom”
James 1:2-8
- Our passage of the day talks about meeting trials of various kinds – with joy
- Perhaps they will be trials of conscience
- Trials of health
- Trials of relationship
- Trials of temptation
- Trials of stress – or any other kind of trials
- How will we meet them?
- And when we do
- Perhaps finding, in them, that we lack wisdom
- Will we look to God?
- Will we ask Him for help?
- Diverse temptations and lacking wisdom from James 1:2-8 today…
- We arrive at a passage today that begins by contradicting human thinking
- It tells us to have joy at the most inconvenient times
- Describes how useful the trying times can be
- Reminds us we are not sufficient on our own (as we need God’s wisdom)
- And warns us against double-mindedness
- James, speaking to Jewish believers says…
James 1:2
2 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;
- Other translations say it this way:
“Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds,”
- Or…
“Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy.”
- Or even…
“My brothers and sisters, you will have many kinds of trouble. But this gives you a reason to be very happy.”
- Why count it “all joy” when you face trials?
- The next verse will help
- It describes what these kinds of trial can do in our lives…
James 1:3
3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.
- Apparently, these are the kind of temptations that try our faith
- And faith-testing is useful in the development of character
- Specifically, in developing steadfastness
- This is a patience that can also be described as constancy and endurance
- The kind that is eminently useful for the various trials of the future
- As they will also surely come
- This working of patience is sufficient to make one joyful!
- As we see that God is doing something in us that is beneficial
- That will help us to cope
- That will strengthen us
- That will cause us to rely, not on ourselves, but on Him
- And as this steadfastness is developed, it makes us mature in Him…
James 1:4
4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
- These trials, as they cause us to rely on Him, do a work
- They help to perfect and complete the Christian
- To bring us to a point where we lack nothing (in regard to facing the trials)
- But we may find ourselves insufficient in knowing what to do next…
James 1:5
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.
- These times of trial are precisely the times when we need wisdom
- We need to know God’s mind
- To understand His leading
- To be dependent
- Realizing our own minds are limited, but He is not
- This is why we ask
- Knowing God’s word promises that He delivers without holding back
- Being relieved that He will not reproach us or find fault in us for asking
- We should not ask doubting…
James 1:6-7
6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.
7 For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.
- No trial we will ever face is too great for Him
- This should cause us to have faith
- He knew it was coming
- He is in control of every detail
- He always has our best interest at heart
- He is allowing this for our good
- And He knows what we should do next
- To waver is to have some level of doubt about one or more of these things – or others
- To question the liberality of His wisdom-giving
- To question if He is even there
- We don’t want to be like a boat on rough seas
- Being ever tossed to and fro
- We need the stability and the solidity only He provides
- And we can expect nothing from Him if we doubt
- Because…
James 1:8
8 A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.
- In times of trial, God provides a solid foundation
- He provides wisdom
- He is not stingy
- There is no reason for doubt
- What variety of trial are we facing today?
- Are we finding joy within it?
- Is it useful in growing our steadfastness?
- Does God have the wisdom – and will He provide it to us, so we can cope?
- Might we waver in any of this?
- I suppose we wouldn’t need this passage if we all handled these things perfectly
- The reality is, He is sufficient in all temptations
- And He freely provides wisdom
- His children must not doubt or be double minded
- But rather – be joyful