Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.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.But if any of you lacketh wisdom, let him ask of God, who giveth to all liberally and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
7 sermons cite this verse
… Ask God to make you wise. James 1.5 says this. If you need wisdom, just ask God. Ask God. When was the last time you asked God to make you a wise man? When was the last time you asked God to make you a wise woman?
… need God's wisdom to evaluate the reproofs, the corrections that come into our life to see if there's some sin in our life that needs to change. In James 1.5, James said, if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God who gives to all men generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him. Now, many of us have memorized that verse, but we've memorized it completely out of context. The context of that verse is found in verses two and three about going through trials in life. And James says, when you're going through trials in your life, ask for God's wisdom to know if these trials are the result of your doing, your mistakes, or whether they're coming as a sign of God's testing and strengthening of your faith. How can you make that determination? Let me suggest three people you ought to consult with to determine whether a criticism or a negative event that comes into your life is because of your own fault. The first person you ought to consult with is God. …
… but let patience have its perfect work that you may be perfect and complete lacking nothing if any of you lacks wisdom let him ask of god who gives to all liberally and without reproach and it will be given to him but let him ask in faith with no doubting he who doubts is like the wave of the sea driven and tossed by wind let not that man suppose he will receive anything from the Lord. He is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. Verse 12, blessed is the man who endures temptation. For when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life, which the Lord has promised to those who love him. Verse 18, of his own will, he brought us forth by the word of truth that we might be a kind of first fruits of his creatures. Look at verse 18 again. Of his own will, he brought us forth by the word of truth that we might be a kind of first fruits of his creatures. Let me stop here for this verse just a moment. We'll read a couple more and then we'll go back to the beginning and talk. …
… on you. Isaiah 30, 21, whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you saying, this is the way, walk in it. James 1, 5, if any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God who gives generously to all without finding fault and it will be given to you. Psalm 25, 4, Show me your ways, Lord. Teach me your paths. Guide me in your truth and teach me for you are God, my savior, and my hope is in you all day long. John 16, 13. But when he, the spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth. Proverbs 16, 9. The mind of man plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps. Psalm 73, 24, you guide me with your counsel. And then afterward, you will take me into glory. 1 John 2, 27, as for you, the anointing you receive from him remains in you and you do not need anyone to teach you, but it's his anointing teaches you about all things. …
… IS THERE IS THE SPIRITUAL DESTRUCTION THAT COMES BY PORNOGRAPHY AND LUST. JAMES CHAPTER ONE, VERSES 4-6, but every man is tempted when he is drawn away of his own lust and enticed. And then when lust hath conceived it, bringeth forth sin. And sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death. Then James said, do not err, my beloved brethren. This is why Jesus Christ said, whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart. It is SOMETHING THAT BRINGS SPIRITUAL DEATH. WHEN IT GETS INTO YOUR HEART, IT'S GOING TO BE EXPRESSED ONE WAY OR ANOTHER. NOW, PEOPLE HAVE TRIED ALL KINDS OF WAYS TO DEAL WITH LUST. PEOPLE HAVE TRIED ALL KINDS OF WAYS TO DEAL WITH THIS PROBLEM BECAUSE IT IS ALL AROUND US. AND MY DEAR FRIEND, YOU CANNOT PRACTICE ISOLATION, SO YOU'D BETTER LEARN SOME KIND OF INSOLATION AND YOU'D BETTER LEARN SOMETHING THAT'S GOING TO PROTECT YOU IN THIS DAY WHEN IT, AS I'VE SAID, WE HAVE REACHED THE ABSOLUTE BOTTOM OF THE GARBAGE CAN. HOW CAN YOU KEEP YOUR MIND PURE? MEN HAVE SEARCHED IN CAVES AND DESERTS AND REMOTE ISLANDS AND JUNGLES AND MOUNTAIN PEAKS. THEY'VE SET, SAT, THEY'VE, UH, KNELT, THEY HAVE STOOD, THEY'VE LAYNED PROSTRATE, THEY HAVE SWUNG FROM ROPES, THEY'VE PIERCED THEMSELVES THROUGH WITH, UH, UH, UH, UH, LANCES. THEY HAVE ENDURED ALL KINDS OF SELF-INFLICTED PUNISHMENT, TRYING, TRYING TO GET PURE, TRYING TO BE PURE, TO NO AVAIL. A LITTLE BOY WAS ASKED TO …
… And let endurance have its perfect result, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all men or women generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith without any doubting, for he who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind. But let not that man expect that he will receive anything from the Lord, being a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. Now, I want you to get the context of what James is saying here before we come to this matter of wavering faith because it all fits together. And so here's what he's saying. As these who were probably responding to him and talking to him about the difficulty and hardship, talking about the trials, he's writing to encourage them. And so he says, now, count it all joy when you fall into divers or various temptations and trials. …
… that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all men or women generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith without any doubting, for he who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind. But let not that man expect that he will receive anything from the Lord, being a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. Every single one of us has had the problem with wavering faith because there's some things that hit us blindsided or hit us right in the front. There's some things that you and I know that we need and we come to ask God for and we waffle in our faith. We say, well, now, here's what he said. Here's what I ask. I'm going to trust God. Hallelujah. Amen. About a half hour later, we say, oh, God, I hope you will. …