James 1:1-8: Asking for Wisdom
February 2025
What if you could ask God for anything? What would you ask for? An all-expense-paid vacation? A full week with no sick kids? A few hundred thousand dollars extra in your accounts? The first chapter of James proposes we ask for wisdom! Perhaps you consider this boring, or maybe unnecessary. For those of us who are stuck in confusing situations, maybe it sounds too good to be true. Let us consider this real offer together.
James 1:1. This letter is from James, a slave of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ. I am writing to the "twelve tribes" - Jewish believers scattered abroad. Greetings!
There are several men named James in the New Testament. The early church fathers claimed the author of this letter is "James the Just", the half-brother of Jesus. Modern conservative scholarship agrees. The themes of this letter fit well with the concerns for ethical conduct we see in Acts 15. The other famous James son of Zebedee, the apostle, otherwise known as "James the Great" was killed around 44 C.E, likely before this letter was written. This is a very early letter composed around 45 A.D. James the Just led the Jerusalem church and was killed in 62 A.D. He writes to Jewish Christians scattered abroad from Jerusalem. Many of these may be the same Christians who were under his care until the death of Stephen in the mid 30s and the subsequent persecution which dispersed them across the countryside. He writes during or just after the death of James the Great. The letter's audience is in a period of trial and difficulty, and the letter speaks to these themes. Charles Swindoll puts it well in his commentary: the book of James is about real faith producing genuine actions. In James 1:1-27 we see real faith produces stability in our lives. Chapters 2:1-3:12 show how real faith leads to love. Verses 3:13-5:6 discuss real faith requires humility. The final section, 5:7-20, exhort us that real faith produces patience. In this passage, we'll look into how real faith should lead us to ask for wisdom.
James 1:5. If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking.
This sounds straightforward and simple. If you need wisdom, ask God for it, and he will give it to you. What is wisdom? In the Bible, wisdom is using knowledge to make good decisions and living a godly life. Some illustrations help flesh this out. What about the person who knows how to do their job well, but then spends all their time complaining instead of working? Are they wise? No, knowledge is not enough to be wisdom. We have to actively use the knowledge we have in productive ways. I've noticed no one asks me for advice or wisdom on fixing their car... or doing their hair. Why not? Because, I don't know anything about those things! Wisdom requires knowledge, but it is more than knowledge. Wisdom is the ability to use our knowledge and experience to make good decisions. Wisdom is not only knowing what's right, and good, but doing what's good.
Wisdom is further understood in contrast with its opposite: foolishness. We know we want to lose weight, but we then we eat lots of cookies. We want to be productive, but we don't plan on how to prioritize our lives. I want my kids to listen to me, but then I get impatient with them, which drives them to rebel instead of listen. All these are examples of foolishness. If we do not have wisdom, but God would give us wisdom if we asked, what is the biggest blocker to wisdom? Not asking.
Why wouldn't we ask for wisdom? What are some reasons?
There is another reason we may not have wisdom, besides not asking.
James 1:6-8. But when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind. Such people should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Their loyalty is divided between God and the world, and they are unstable in everything they do.
Is this saying God expects perfect faith from us before answering our prayers!? Does "waver" indicate if we have any doubts at all, then God will not help us? No, we can look to the rest of the Bible to see this isn't the case and then use that information to help interpret this passage. Consider Mark 9:24, in this passage a desperate father is asking Jesus to heal his very sick child. His son is demon possessed and practicing lots of self-harm. The father asks Jesus for help, if he can. Jesus seems to take offense to this, asking what the father means, by if he can. The father says, "I do believe, but help me overcome my unbelief." What does Jesus do when faced with someone who is uncertain about God's power? Jesus immediately helps him. God does not expect or require certainty in our faith before assisting us. The Bible has many other examples of this.
What about doubts? In John 20, we read the famous, or infamous, account of "Doubting Thomas". Thomas was one of Jesus's disciples who, after the resurrection, was more skeptical than the others. He exclaimed he would never believe Jesus rose from the dead, "unless I see the nail wounds in his hands, put my fingers into them, and place my hand into the wound on his side". Thomas wanted clear evidence before he'd believe and had doubts. What does Jesus do with these doubts? Jesus appeared to Thomas and said, "put your finger here, and look at my hands". He gave Thomas evidence and exhorted him to believe. God does not expect our faith to be doubt-free before he blesses us.
Peter denies Christ three times in Luke 22. Peter certainly wavers here and does foolish things. I do not think he was asking God for wisdom that night, nor does he act like he received any. What does Jesus do with someone after they waver? Jesus asks Peter if he is sorry and forgives him. Peter is taken back into the fold and does powerful and amazing things for God. Even when we waver, it is not the end for us. God forgives those who turn back to him.
We now know "wavering" in our passage is not merely uncertainty or doubt. The key to understanding "wavering" is the part about "divided loyalty". Many of us watched the Super Bowl. What if your friend came in wearing the hat for one team and a shirt for the other? You would be confused... "Who are you rooting for!? What side on you on?" would be valid questions. Maybe you have a friend who you discover has been talking bad about you behind your back. Are they your friend or not? These are questions of loyalty. For someone to have divided loyalties spiritually means they are trying to follow God and not follow God at the same time. This is contradictory. It will not work and is incompatible with wisdom.
Why would God not give someone wisdom? Note the passage says the divided person should not expect to be given wisdom. Sometimes God gives good things even to stubborn and divided people. But those people shouldn't expect it. For example, imagine a family member who asks for money, but never uses it well. Does that behavior make you want to continue giving them money? No, it is wasteful. God's wisdom is valuable and he doesn't want to waste it. Use what he gives you.
Why should we be loyal to God? If you have never tried to follow God, the first step is asking Jesus for help with your whole life. We must acknowledge we've made mistakes and ask for forgiveness. Not only will you receive wisdom, but forgiveness, the certainty of going to heaven and a spiritual role here on earth. You will become part of God's family. James 1:18 says, "God chose to give birth to us by giving us his true word. And we, out of all creation, became his prized possession." God gives us spiritual birth by Jesus, the true word. God views us as his prized possession. He is loyal to us, completely. He is asking for loyalty back.
There are two kinds of people who reject wisdom. People who think one of the following:
- Being foolish is more fun!
- I don't need wisdom. I am wise already...
What would you say to someone who thinks they don't need God's wisdom?
It is arrogant to think we do not need God's wisdom. Everyone is finite and so our knowledge and perspective are finite also. God has a bigger picture than us. Getting his wisdom does not force us into a decision, it gives us more information for the decisions we are making. Perhaps we do not trust God to give us good advice, or any advice. We should consider the cross and what he's done for us. Sometimes we not only raise ourselves up, but we try to feel wise by putting others down.
How do we avoid judging other people's messy lives? (and focus on our own)
Asking for wisdom requires we believe God will help us. It gives us more stable lives since we will navigate life with a level of insight beyond our own. Really believing in God, means we'd take him up on this offer. Are you unsure about how to deal with your kids current issues or life state? Ask God. Are you having trouble balancing life and work? Ask God. Are you wondering how to impact your family or community positively? Ask God. Are you worried about something looming in your future? Ask God. Each of my kids is going through a significant life transition this year. I have as much responsibility in various aspects of life as I ever have. I need wisdom on how to balance it all and navigate it all. I want to go beyond just knowing the right thing to do... I want to act on it. Act on the wisdom God gives you today.