James 1:1-8: a reflection

1James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are in the Dispersion: Greetings. 2Count it all joy, my brothers, when you fall into various temptations, 3knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. 4Let endurance have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. 5But 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. 6But let him ask in faith, without any doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, driven by the wind and tossed. 7For that man shouldn’t think that he will receive anything from the Lord. 8He is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

James offers a wonderfully simple word for the times when we do not know what to do: 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. When we lack wisdom, facing a decision or a difficulty and not knowing the way, we are not left to figure it out alone; we can ask God, who gives wisdom generously, liberally, and without reproach, without scolding us for needing to ask. The invitation is simple: ask, and God will give. He does not begrudge the wisdom we need, but gives it freely to those who ask in faith.

Notice the generosity of God in giving wisdom. James does not say God gives grudgingly, or reluctantly, or reproaches us for our lack; he gives to all liberally and without reproach. When we lack wisdom and ask him, God does not scold us for not having it already, or give sparingly; he gives generously, freely, gladly. The wisdom we lack is available for the asking, from a God who gives it liberally and without reproach. We need only ask, in faith, and God will give. His generosity in giving wisdom is such that we need never hesitate to ask, fearing he will begrudge it; he gives freely and without reproach to all who ask.

That is worth taking to heart, for when we lack wisdom, we can simply ask God, who gives generously and without reproach. We often face decisions and difficulties without knowing the wise course, and try to figure it out alone, or worry, or flounder; but James says we can ask God for the wisdom we lack, and he gives it generously, without reproach. We need not lack wisdom in silence; we can ask, and God will give. When you lack wisdom and do not know what to do, do not flounder alone; ask God for it, trusting that he gives generously and without reproach. Ask God for wisdom whenever you lack it, trusting that he gives to all liberally and without reproach, as James invites us to ask and it will be given; for God does not begrudge the wisdom we need but gives it freely to those who ask in faith, and we need never hesitate to ask him for the wisdom we lack.

Lord, James offers a wonderfully simple word for the times when I do not know what to do: 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. When I lack wisdom, facing a decision or a difficulty and not knowing the way, I am not left to figure it out alone; I can ask you, who give wisdom generously, liberally, and without reproach, without scolding me for needing to ask. The invitation is simple: ask, and you will give. Show me your generosity in giving wisdom. James does not say you give grudgingly, or reluctantly, or reproach us for our lack; you give to all liberally and without reproach. When I lack wisdom and ask you, you do not scold me for not having it already, or give sparingly; you give generously, freely, gladly. The wisdom I lack is available for the asking, from a God who gives it liberally. I need only ask, in faith, and you will give. Take that to my heart, for when I lack wisdom, I can simply ask you, who give generously and without reproach. I often face decisions and difficulties without knowing the wise course, and try to figure it out alone, or worry, or flounder; but James says I can ask you for the wisdom I lack, and you give it generously. I need not lack wisdom in silence. When I lack wisdom and do not know what to do, keep me from floundering alone; help me ask you for it, Lord, trusting that you give generously and without reproach to all who ask in faith.