Glorifying God through trials
James 1:5-8
Christians need godly wisdom to navigate through the storms of life!
#wisdom
#trials
#endurance
Published June 14th, 2021; Updated June 14th, 2021
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James 1:5-8
ESV
James 1:5-8
NA28
Sermon Notes
English Phrasing
Greek Phrasing
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James 1:5-8 ESV
NT
James 1:5-8
esv
5 j If any of you lacks wisdom, k let him ask God, l who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. 6 But m let him ask in faith, n with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like o a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 p he is a double-minded man, q unstable in all his ways.
James 1:5-8 NA28
James 1:5-8
na28
5 Εἰ δέ τις ὑμῶν λείπεται σοφίας, αἰτείτω παρὰ τοῦ διδόντος θεοῦ πᾶσιν ἁπλῶς καὶ μὴ ὀνειδίζοντος καὶ δοθήσεται αὐτῷ. 6 αἰτείτω δὲ ἐν πίστει μηδὲν διακρινόμενος• ὁ γὰρ διακρινόμενος ἔοικεν κλύδωνι θαλάσσης ἀνεμιζομένῳ καὶ ῥιπιζομένῳ. 7 μὴ γὰρ οἰέσθω ὁ ἄνθρωπος ἐκεῖνος ὅτι λήμψεταί τι παρὰ τοῦ κυρίου, 8 ἀνὴρ δίψυχος, ἀκατάστατος ἐν πάσαις ταῖς ὁδοῖς αὐτοῦ.
Sermon Notes
Point 1: The need for wisdom in trials When we are in the midst of trials, we often cry out, “God, why me? There is nothing good in my trial! Why does it go on?” Or, “Lord, get me out of this.” But how many of us say, while being tested, “Lord, I need wisdom - please use this trial to increase my wisdom and understanding of you, your people, and life”? But that is exactly what James commands: “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God” (v. 5a). Point 2: The prayer for wisdom How should we pray? Is there a condition? Yes, says James. We must pray with faith, trusting that God meant it for good and that He will give what He promises - wisdom. Christians must understand their need for wisdom and not rely on their own understanding. We must realize our total dependence on Christ to live the Christian life. The point James is making is we cannot endure, we need Godly wisdom. An so we must believe what Rom. 8:28-30 says and pray for greater insight. Point 3: The promise of wisdom 1 John 5:14 says if we ask anything according to God's will, He hears and answers us. Now, here is a prayer to pray that we can be certain that Christ will answer: "Lord, please give me wisdom to understand the purpose of my trail and trust in your goodness. Please make me more like Christ through this trial. Please help me to endure." This prayer, James says, will be answered if we believe that God meant all things for good for those who love God. Our heavenly Father desires for us to be more like his Son. Hebrews 12:7-11 teaches that we are disciplined because He loves us. We must see and believe it.
English Phrasing
James 1:5-8
You need godly wisdom to endure
If any of you lacks wisdom,
You must pray in faith for wisdom
let him ask God,
who gives generously to all without reproach,
God promises to give the wisdom
and it will be given him.
But let him ask in faith,
with no doubting,
for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind.
For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord;
he is a double- minded man,
unstable in all his ways.
The question doesn't imply an occasional need for wisdom because "Let him ask" is stated in the third-person imperative in the Greek. James states through a question that we need godly wisdom to correctly understand trials and hence the instruction to ask for it.
The wisdom James has in mind is the wisdom needed to understand the value and purpose of trials, and living through them in a way that glorifies God (vv. 2-4). It is the understanding that God is always good, everything works together for His good purposes, and that our lives is always in His hands. Nothing happens outside of His sovereignty and good will. No hair falls from the head of a believer without God knowing and having decreed it (Luke 21:18-19; Luke 12:7; Matthew 21:18)
What doubting is in mind here? When believers go through trials, doubt is often their experience. Do we need perfect faith to receive anything? Would the slightest doubt prevent us from receiving this wisdom from the Lord? We can draw on the Psalms here where David lament the success of the unrighteous while the righteous suffers. Our God is a good Father who allows his children to come to His throne of grace to receive sympathy and mercy ( (Heb. 4:14-16). Also, we can look at the incident in Mark 9, " Jesus Heals a Boy with an Unclean Spirit" - Mark 9:2 - " I believe; help my unbelief."
This phrase reminds us of the parable of the house on the Rock - Matt. 7:24-27. A person who doesn't trust in Christ alone will look at other things for answers. His own mind, abilities, ideas, books, people, psychologists, motivational speakers, false teachers, etc. These things tend to change from day-to-day, month-to-month, and year to year, as we see new crazes emerge. The end result is a life that is tossed to and fro - like a boat in the waves. "E very wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people" - Eph. 4:14. We can consult godly advisors, and look to God's creation, but we can't weigh His wisdom against that of the world before we decide who to trust.
Such a person is like someone with a spilt personality. On the one side he trusts in the Lord and on the other hand, he trusts in his own understanding. Prov. 3:5-6. Since he claims to have faith but, in reality, he is a doubter. James is not saying that our prayers will be answered only if we have a perfect faith that never entertains any kind of doubt. He condemns the believer who is trying to serve two masters at the same time (Matt 6:24).
When His children trust in Him, our Father gives generously and without finding fault. He does not scold his children for asking or criticizing their weaknesses - weak faith. He deals with us as human beings. He knows our frame and that we are flesh and blood. He doesn't expect perfect faith but simple childlike trust (Matt. 19:14; Matt. 5:3). He wants us to humble ourselves and commit our ways to Him irrespective if we understand everything (1 Pet. 5:6). Humility is the attitude God is looking for. Are we the kind of people that put our fist to heaven when trials come or do we pray for wisdom and understanding to endure?
In one’s personal life, business life, social life, as well as spiritual life, indecisiveness negates all effectiveness. But how does this compare with the father who said to Jesus, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” ( Mark 9:24 ). This father was not oscillating between belief and unbelief. He desired to believe - and even asserted his belief - but because he felt keenly the inadequacy of his faith, he asked for help in believing. He was not facing both directions at the same time like the “double-minded man” of James 1:8 . In spite of his conscious weakness, he had set his heart to believe. And Christ responded to his faith and healed his son ( Mark 9:25–27 ). In response to this kind of faith, God will give wisdom to those who ask for it and enable them to persevere in times of trial.
There is a condition attached to this promise: We must believe and not doubt. In other words, God wants us to come to Him convinced both that He is the one true source of wisdom, and that the wisdom He gives is trustworthy. He wants us to be ready to act on it.
How important is it for Christians to trust God? It's so important, James writes, that we should call our worst moments joyful things, because trials help us trust God more. People who trust God ask Him for wisdom—and then take what He gives. People who trust God make a bigger deal about their rewards in the next life than their wealth in this one. People who trust God don't blame Him for their desire to sin; they give Him credit for all that is good in their lives. They look into His Word, and they act on what they see there.
Εἰ δέ τις ὑμῶν λείπεται σοφίας, αἰτείτω παρὰ τοῦ διδόντος θεοῦ πᾶσιν ἁπλῶς καὶ μὴ ὀνειδίζοντος καὶ δοθήσεται αὐτῷ.
αἰτείτω δὲ ἐν πίστει μηδὲν διακρινόμενος• ὁ γὰρ διακρινόμενος ἔοικεν κλύδωνι θαλάσσης ἀνεμιζομένῳ καὶ ῥιπιζομένῳ.
G1857+1
μὴ γὰρ οἰέσθω ὁ ἄνθρωπος ἐκεῖνος ὅτι λήμψεταί τι παρὰ τοῦ κυρίου,
ἀνὴρ δίψυχος, ἀκατάστατος ἐν πάσαις ταῖς ὁδοῖς αὐτοῦ.
Εἰ δέ τις ὑμῶν λείπεται σοφίας, αἰτείτω παρὰ τοῦ διδόντος θεοῦ πᾶσιν ἁπλῶς καὶ μὴ ὀνειδίζοντος καὶ δοθήσεται αὐτῷ.
αἰτείτω δὲ ἐν πίστει μηδὲν διακρινόμενος• ὁ γὰρ διακρινόμενος ἔοικεν κλύδωνι θαλάσσης ἀνεμιζομένῳ καὶ ῥιπιζομένῳ.
G1857+1
μὴ γὰρ οἰέσθω ὁ ἄνθρωπος ἐκεῖνος ὅτι λήμψεταί τι παρὰ τοῦ κυρίου,
ἀνὴρ δίψυχος, ἀκατάστατος ἐν πάσαις ταῖς ὁδοῖς αὐτοῦ.
Εἰ δέ τις ὑμῶν λείπεται σοφίας, αἰτείτω παρὰ τοῦ διδόντος θεοῦ πᾶσιν ἁπλῶς καὶ μὴ ὀνειδίζοντος καὶ δοθήσεται αὐτῷ.
αἰτείτω δὲ ἐν πίστει μηδὲν διακρινόμενος• ὁ γὰρ διακρινόμενος ἔοικεν κλύδωνι θαλάσσης ἀνεμιζομένῳ καὶ ῥιπιζομένῳ.
G1857+1
μὴ γὰρ οἰέσθω ὁ ἄνθρωπος ἐκεῖνος ὅτι λήμψεταί τι παρὰ τοῦ κυρίου,
ἀνὴρ δίψυχος, ἀκατάστατος ἐν πάσαις ταῖς ὁδοῖς αὐτοῦ.
Εἰ δέ τις ὑμῶν λείπεται σοφίας, αἰτείτω παρὰ τοῦ διδόντος θεοῦ πᾶσιν ἁπλῶς καὶ μὴ ὀνειδίζοντος καὶ δοθήσεται αὐτῷ.
αἰτείτω δὲ ἐν πίστει μηδὲν διακρινόμενος• ὁ γὰρ διακρινόμενος ἔοικεν κλύδωνι θαλάσσης ἀνεμιζομένῳ καὶ ῥιπιζομένῳ.
G1857+1
μὴ γὰρ οἰέσθω ὁ ἄνθρωπος ἐκεῖνος ὅτι λήμψεταί τι παρὰ τοῦ κυρίου,
ἀνὴρ δίψυχος, ἀκατάστατος ἐν πάσαις ταῖς ὁδοῖς αὐτοῦ.
phrasing
Greek Phrasing
James 1:5-8
na28
You need godly wisdom to endure
Εἰ δέ τις ὑμῶν λείπεται σοφίας,
You must pray in faith for wisdom
αἰτείτω παρὰ
τοῦ διδόντος θεοῦ πᾶσιν ἁπλῶς καὶ μὴ ὀνειδίζοντος
God promises to give the wisdom
καὶ δοθήσεται αὐτῷ.
αἰτείτω δὲ ἐν πίστει
μηδὲν διακρινόμενος•
ὁ γὰρ διακρινόμενος ἔοικεν κλύδωνι θαλάσσης ἀνεμιζομένῳ καὶ ῥιπιζομένῳ.
μὴ γὰρ οἰέσθω ὁ ἄνθρωπος ἐκεῖνος ὅτι λήμψεταί τι παρὰ τοῦ κυρίου,
ἀνὴρ δίψυχος,
ἀκατάστατος ἐν πάσαις ταῖς ὁδοῖς αὐτοῦ.
“Let him ask God” (v. 5) is in the third-person imperative in Greek. Therefore, "If he lacks wisdom" is not a mere possibility but statement, "you need wisdom so ask for it." The Greek phrase could be translated, “The person who lacks wisdom must ask God."
Εἰ δέ τις ὑμῶν λείπεται σοφίας, αἰτείτω παρὰ τοῦ διδόντος θεοῦ πᾶσιν ἁπλῶς καὶ μὴ ὀνειδίζοντος καὶ δοθήσεται αὐτῷ.
αἰτείτω δὲ ἐν πίστει μηδὲν διακρινόμενος• ὁ γὰρ διακρινόμενος ἔοικεν κλύδωνι θαλάσσης ἀνεμιζομένῳ καὶ ῥιπιζομένῳ.
G1857+1
μὴ γὰρ οἰέσθω ὁ ἄνθρωπος ἐκεῖνος ὅτι λήμψεταί τι παρὰ τοῦ κυρίου,
ἀνὴρ δίψυχος, ἀκατάστατος ἐν πάσαις ταῖς ὁδοῖς αὐτοῦ.
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