PROPOSITION: THERE IS THE GREAT PRIVILEGE FOR ANY BELIEVER TO COME TO GOD IN PRAYER TO ASK FOR WISDOM WHEN THEY ARE GOING THROUGH DIFFICULTIES.

James has developed two basic central themes in this passage.

Two basic themes that James has made:

I – ASK GOD, FOR WISDOM – v. 5

James 1:5 "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.”

Santiago 1:5 “Ngunit kung ang sinuman sa inyo ay nagkukulang ng karunungan, humingi siya sa Diyos na nagbibigay nang sagana sa lahat at hindi nanunumbat, at iyon ay ibibigay sa kanya.” FILIPINO VERSION

We notice that verse 5 opens with the conjunction “But” translated in NASB which is critical to this context and missed from any other version. The Greek, “BUT (as this refers to perfect entireness which is not easy to attain (verse 4), that is why it says “if any” means if anyone or if any brethren who don’t have yet the level of perfect entireness, wanting nothing, which is the wonderful result of spiritual maturity through tested faith that produces patiently endured in verses 3 to 4. Another thing, when we are experiencing trials, there are times, when we do not know what to think, what to say or what to do. We are not sure what is going on, what is happening. “But” we have an option available to us as Christian that non-Christian do not ever has, and that option is to turn to God in prayer and ask God to give us wisdom.

The word in verse 5 if any “lack” rather, as the Greek is repeated, after James’s manner, “wanting nothing” (verse 4). What James is saying, “if any of you have wisdom, whereby “count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations” (verse 2), and “let patience have her perfect work” (verse 4). In other words, this “wisdom” is shown in its effects (James 3:17 “But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.”). The highest wisdom governs patience alike in poverty and riches (James 1:9-10 “Let the brother of low degree rejoice in that he is exalted: ¹⁰But the rich, in that he is made low: because as the flower of the grass he shall pass away”). If there is no shown effect of wisdom, it is an evidence that you lack the wisdom of God. In addition, one key factors in gaining wisdom, is that we realize we “lack” God’s wisdom. The word “lack” means to be behind in something, to be wanting or lacking of something. The beginning clause “If” in verse 5 is first class conditional, which means it is a reality that we do lack wisdom when we go through trials, we don’t show the effect of God’s wisdom in our lives.

Now let us talk about the four realities that James teaches about asking wisdom from God.

Four realities in asking God’s wisdom:

A. Great benefit that God is giving wisdom to the asking Believer – v.5a

A Believer must ask God for wisdom

James 1:5a “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God,”

Santiago 1:5a “Ngunit kung ang sinuman sa inyo ay nagkukulang ng karunungan, humingi siya sa Diyos.” FILIPINO VERSION

If any of you lack wisdom James said in verse 5, “ask” and he said in (James 4:2 “ye have not, because ye ask not”).

Asking God for wisdom when we are going through many trials is one of the great benefits, we have in our life in this Grace dispensation. We indeed, find ourselves affected by numerous trials and troubles is various ways: we feel guilty, we are confused, we feel afraid, we become emotional. It is the time we need to go to God in prayer and ask God for wisdom. God is the only source of having wisdom to cope troubles and troubles of life. People in the world preferred to run around looking for answers, looking for solutions to their pressures and problems by taking pills, by drinking alcohol, by taking drugs or antidepressant and leave out talking to God who can help them, who can give them answers and solutions to their problem, and who can give them wisdom in the midst of trials, pressures in life. People are looking everywhere for wisdom except in the right place.

Although it is fine to request others to pray for us when trials come our way, but the believer must personally and must have strong desire to ask God for wisdom, the believer must also pray ourselves as we are experiencing various trials.

There are different Greek words used for “ask.” The word “ask” used in this passage means to petition God for something. It has an idea making a request to God for wisdom.

Therefore, it is the believer responsibility to go to God specifically to ask God and make a request to God to give him wisdom when the believer is going through many difficulties, pressures, troubles as God allowed it in God’s appointed time.

It is not our works but it is our prayer that mark the spiritual development in our Christian life.

Now, since it is possible for every believer to go through all kinds of trials, trouble, pressures that produces a well-developed, solid, wise person of God within us, and by realizing this, we need to ask God for His wisdom. Besides, when we are going through difficulties, pressures, trials in life, there will be times, we do not have any hint or clue as what God is doing, that is the very moment we need to go to God in prayer and ask for wisdom and when we saw God answer the prayer, it was glorious. One of the great privileges we have as believers is to ask God for wisdom when we are in trouble.

B. Generosity of God in giving wisdom to the asking Believer – v.5b

A Believer can know God gives wisdom generously to all who ask.

James 1:5b “that giveth to all men liberally,.”

Santiago 1:5b “na nagbibigay nang sagana sa lahat.” FILIPINO VERSION

James explained that God giveth to all men “liberally” In Greek [haploos (G574)] that is with simplicity as Paul said in Romans 12:8 “he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity”, God gives without adding anything to take from the graciousness of the gift. God requires the same “simplicity” in God’s children (“eye” … single,” Matthew 6:22 “thine eye be single”, that is literally, simple). Therefore, God by his graciousness, loving-kindness, gives liberally or with simplicity to any who ask God’s wisdom.

The participle “giveth” or “gives” is in pretense tense, that indicates that God gives His wisdom continually at all time to all who ask for it.

God promises the believers that He will be generous to give His wisdom to “all” who ask it. The adverb “liberally” in KJV; or “generously” in NASB and ESV means God will be magnanimous toward each believer who asks for God’s wisdom.

God gave liberally without any conditions that He will only give wisdom if the believer have been really good. God will give generously or liberally to any believer who ask for wisdom.

In case the trouble you are experiencing is caused by something you have done or said, then once you asked for wisdom, God will convict you of the problem that is a result of what have you done, and even at that way, God is giving wisdom generously to a believer who sincerely asked for God’s wisdom. If you are in need of wisdom and help, do not hesitate to go to God and ask Him for wisdom, He will generously give it to you. God is a generous God and God is a gracious God and He stands ready to help His people.

C. Goodness of God in giving wisdom to the asking Believer – v.5c

A believer can know God gives wisdom without reproach to those who ask

James 1:5c “and upbraideth not.”

Santiago 1:5c “at hindi nanunumbat.”

The phrase in verse 5 “updraideth not” KJV or “without reproach” NASB, ESV, NKJV is an illustration of simply. God gives to the suppliant without upbraiding him with past ingratitude or future abuse of God’s goodness. The Jews pray, “Let me not have need of the gifts of men, whose gifts are few, but their upbraidings manifold; but give me out thy large hand.” Now please compare that prayer of the Jews to Solomon’s prayer for “wisdom” and God’s gift above what he asked, though God foresaw his future abuse of it would deserve very differently.

God does not hesitate to give wisdom and God delights when the believers ask for God’s wisdom. God does not and never mock His children or holds them in contempt or reproach for crying to God in times of trials.

God made us, so He know what we are and what we need, so God loves us when we come to Him and ask for His help and wisdom.

God will not belittle us for our stupidity, that is why do not think and do not feel that you have something wrong within you when you come to His throne and ask for His wisdom and help in times of need and trials.

God will not hold the believer’s failures or our lack of wisdom against us, besides we as believers will never end up being a reproach to God or a reproach before others when we go to God and ask for God’s wisdom. What a blessing to know that, it is His amazing grace.

D. Guarantee of God in giving wisdom to the asking Believer – v.5d

A believer can know with certainty God will give wisdom.

James 1:5 “and it shall be given him.”

Santiago 1:5d “at iyon ay ibibigay sa kanya.”

In verse 5, we see in the beginning the pronoun “you” is plural but at the end of verse 5 the pronoun “him” is singular, it is because every specific individual who ask God for wisdom in times of trial and trouble will be given wisdom by God directly. God with certainty will give wisdom to anyone, who personally asks for wisdom.

God will grant us the ability to have wisdom that is not only complete understanding of everything with what is going on but also to develop Christ-like character as we see and deal what is really happening.

We can begin to find joy as we go through trials, because knowing that God with certainty will give wisdom.

Actually, we can come boldly to the throne of God, we expect that God’s intervention in our behalf and God grant us wisdom to be able for us to develop and cope with the depressing, discouraging moments of life.

---Continuation --Part 2

II – ASK GOD FOR WISDOM IN FAITH WITHOUT WAVERING – v.6-8

James 1: 6-8 "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. ⁷For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. ⁸A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.”

Santiago 1:6-8 “Ngunit humingi siyang may pananampalataya na walang pag-aalinlangan, sapagkat ang nag-aalinlangan ay katulad ng alon sa dagat na hinihipan at ipinapadpad ng hangin. ⁷Sapagkat ang taong iyon ay hindi dapat mag-akala na siya'y tatanggap ng anumang bagay mula sa Panginoon. ⁸Siya ay isang taong nagdadalawang isip, di-matatag sa lahat ng kanyang mga lakad.” FILIPINO VERSION

Now there are three specific reasons why one must ask without doubting:

A. Resemblance of the Doubter is like the unstable sea – v.6

James 1:6 “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.”

Santiago 1:6 “Ngunit humingi siyang may pananampalataya na walang pag-aalinlangan, sapagkat ang nag-aalinlangan ay katulad ng alon sa dagat na hinihipan at ipinapadpad ng hangin.” FILIPINO VERSION

James give us the image of one who doubts is like the unstable sea.

James said in verse 6 “ask in faith,” This is the persuasion (“ask”) that God can and God will give James and ends with faith. Notice that in the middle of the letter of James, he removes hindrances to faith, and show true character of faith. In our relationship to God as a believer in Christ, faith is very important factor, for without faith it is impossible to please God (Hebrew 11:6). Faith is essential and valuable to our whole Christian life; besides it is faith that which links or connect us to God. When we come to God, we must believe that God is capable to do whatever we ask Him to do, that is asking God in faith.

James said in verse 6, asking in faith “nothing wavering”. The word “wavering” in Greek is [diakrinomenos (G1252), that is wavering between belief and unbelief. Remember the Israelites who seemed to believe in God’s power but leant to unbelief by limiting what the power of God can do. (Psalm 78:41 “Yea, they turned back and tempted God, and limited the Holy One of Israel”). This unbelief of Israel is an evidence in contrast of faith: First example, that while Peter was greatly perplexed in mind of the vision he had, the men who had been sent by the gentile Cornelius, having asked directions for Peter’s house, appeared at the gate, calling out, asking whether Peter was staying there. While Peter was reflecting on the vision, the Spirit said to Peter in Acts 10:20 “Arise therefore, and get thee down, and go with them, doubting nothing: for I have sent them”. That is the word “doubting nothing”, the opposite of faith. Second example, is about the promise to Abraham or to his descendants that he would be heir of the world was not through the law, but through the righteousness of faith, it is by faith, in order that it may be in accordance with grace, so that the promise will be guaranteed to all the descendants, not only to those who are of the Law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all. So, with regards to the promise of God to Abraham as he realized that justification in the Old Testament is through faith, it says in Romans 4:20 “He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God;” That is the word “He staggered not” in KJV or “he did not waver in unbelief” in NASB that is literally “wavered not”. Paul said in I Timothy 2:8 “I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.”

James said in verse 6, that those who wavereth is “like a wave of the sea” (Isaiah 57:20 “But the wicked are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt”; Ephesians 4:14 “That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;”). That is [kludonizomenoi, like a wave] as Paul said,“tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind.”

James said in verse 6, that those who wavered like a wave of the sea is “driven with the wind” that means from without.

Then James continues in verse 6 when he said “and tossed” that means from within. It means tossed by its own instability. It was a picture that at one time cast on the shore of faith and hope, at another toiled back into unbelief; or at one time raised to the height of worldly pride, at another tossed in the sands of despair.

We have seen what the hurricanes can do. The winds blow and howl, it has constant moving up and down, so there is no stability, no certainty in the sea. That is the perfect portrayal of a person who wavers in his faith before God. That person is up and down, no stability, no certainty to him. Like a wave he rolls one way one day and a different way the next day. He is unstable in all his movements. Sometimes when we go along the way of life, it is easy to trust God, but when things get difficult that is when we will see how much we trust God and His Word, whether we still trust God enough to ask for wisdom.

This faith that James is talking about here do not refers to saving faith; this is referring to sanctifying faith that does not flinch (naudlot or umurong) when it comes to the ability of God to grant us the wisdom to develop in anything.

B. Request of the Doubter is ungranted – v.7

James 1:7 “For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.”

Santiago 1:7 “Sapagkat ang taong iyon ay hindi dapat mag-akala na siya'y tatanggap ng anumang bagay mula sa Panginoon.” FILIPINO

James warns that one who doubts can’t expect to receive anything from the Lord.

In verse 7, James begins with “For” it means he resumed from verse 6.

The James pointed to, “that man” was such a wavering self-deceiver. That man deceived his own.

James said “think” it means that real faith is something more than a mere surmise. We are to ask God with a mind that is not divided, a mind that makes a decision and judgment to believe God. The word “ask in faith” clearly has the mind in view, rather than the emotions. Although it is possible that when we are going through difficulty and hardships and the storms of life, the emotions arise, but God wants us to use our minds to think about Him and come to Him and ask for God’s wisdom. Therefore, we are instructed to have a mind that truly trust God can and will help us.

James used the word “anything” in verse 7. James does receive many things from God, food, raiment, etc..,. but these are the general gifts of God’s providence. Now, of the things specially granted in answer to prayer, the waverer shall not receive “anything”, much less wisdom. When we pray believing that God will answer prayer, but anyone who prays doubting cannot expect God will ever answer prayers and will not receive anything from the Lord. James is saying that man who asks God for wisdom but doubting like a wave of the sea, that man will not receive “wisdom” from the Lord and even anything from the Lord.

C. Regimen of the Doubter is unreliable – v.8

James 1:8 “A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.”

Santiago 1:8 “Siya ay isang taong nagdadalawang isip, di-matatag sa lahat ng kanyang mga lakad.” FILIPINO VERSION

James reveals that the one who doubts is unstable in all his ways.

James in verse 8 used the word “double minded” in Greek [dipsuchos (G1374)] – that is double souled, the one soul directed toward God, the other soul directed to something else.

The words in this verse 8 “A double minded man is unstable in all his ways” are in apposition with “that man” in verse 7, thus the word “is” which is not in the original, needs not to be supplied. Thus, it rendered, “A man double-minded, unstable in all his ways.” The Greek Dipsuchos (G1374) is found here and James 4:8 says “ye double minded.” for the first time in Greek. This is not a hypocrite, but fickle “wavering” man in verse 6 that is opposed to the single eye (Matthew 6:22 “if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light”).

A double minded man does not trust God, so unstable in all his ways, and cannot face two opposing things at the same time, whose loyalties are divided, they do not know where to stand, so you can’t depend on them to stand strong for much of anything. A double minded man is like yo-yo, for in one minute they are up and the next minute they are down. A double mined man talks to someone believing something and get confused so do not know what they believe. When a double minded have problem and one person advised them one thing and another person instructed them something else and the double minded person drifted along this way and shifted that way.

When it comes to God, a double minded people are consistently unstable and fickle, unreliable, they run hot and cold. A double minded person cannot truly follow God and His Word, cannot be on your side in a battle. A double minded man does not know what to do, do not know what choice to make, to follow the Word of God or follow something or someone else.

God will not answer the prayers and will not give His wisdom to the double minded man. Double minded people make God sick.

THERE IS THE GREAT PRIVILEGE FOR ANY BELIEVER TO COME TO GOD IN PRAYER TO ASK FOR WISDOM WHEN THEY ARE GOING THROUGH DIFFICULTIES. AND TRIALS.