Why should you lack wisdom?
It was my first business meeting, and I was the new guy on staff.
Not only was I the new guy, but I was also the least experienced and youngest pastor by over a decade. Our senior pastor, who was 15 years older, was leading the business meeting when things started to heat up. I don’t even remember the topic of discussion, but I remember that one of the ladies in the congregation was getting more and more frustrated. As her frustration grew, she got louder and more insistent.
As I listened, the Lord brought to mind a verse I had recently read in my quiet time. James 1:5 & 6 says, “Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives to all generously and without criticizing, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith without doubting. For the doubter is like the surging sea, driven and tossed by the wind” (HCSB).
So, taking God at His word, I started praying for wisdom. “Lord, please help us here. This meeting is not going in a good direction. Would you grant us wisdom to know how to handle this conflict? Would you give me wisdom and let me know if I’m supposed to say anything?”
After a few moments of praying, some thoughts came to mind. I knew the Lord wanted me to speak up, so I did. After a couple questions and an affirmation that we heard what she was saying, the woman settled right down, and we were able to continue the business meeting. It probably helped that I wasn’t the object of her criticism!
Prior to the “wisdom directive” in James 1:5-6, James writes that we should count it a joy when we experience trials because they cause us to grow in faith and endurance.
It’s not a coincidence that James tells us to seek God for wisdom directly after instructing us to see trials as an opportunity for joy. We absolutely need the Lord’s wisdom when we are facing difficult times. And those difficult times, whether big or small, present the opportunity for us to rely on God instead of relying on our own resources and strategies.
But isn’t that the temptation? In those moments of stress, trial, or difficulty, the temptation is to resort to our old ways of doing things. Some people blow up in anger to get others to back down or at least be quiet about an issue. Others manipulate the person or situation to get what they want. And still others withdraw in fear of facing the difficulty. There are many other avenues that the world, the flesh, and the devil present to us for dealing with challenges and trials.
But the Lord’s instruction is that we seek Him for wisdom.
He knows exactly what we need and exactly what the situation requires. So what prevents us from asking Him for wisdom more frequently? James gives us some help here too. James tells us that when we ask God for wisdom, God provides it “generously and without criticizing.”
I don’t know about you, but if I ask someone for something and their response causes me to feel like I’m squeezing something out of them, I’d rather go without what I asked for!
Or have you ever asked a question and gotten a response that made you feel stupid for even asking the question? Maybe someone even said, “That’s a dumb question!”
God never says, “That’s a dumb question.” He welcomes your questions and requests for help and wisdom. And God gives generously, even bountifully. So don’t hesitate to ask!
Dear Saints, do you go to God for wisdom in any and every situation? Do you honor Him as the One who directs your steps? Proverbs 9:10 says, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding” (HCSB).
Do you seek to follow the Lord’s commands? As Moses was giving his final speech to the Hebrews as they prepared to cross into the promised land, he reiterated the laws God had given them as a nation. He said, “Observe them carefully, for this will show your wisdom and understanding to the nations” (Deuteronomy 4:6a, HCSB). Obeying the Lord displays God’s wisdom to the world. (See also Psalm 19:7 and James 3:13-18)
Do you seek the counsel of wise people? Solomon wrote that “the wise listen and add to their learning” (Proverbs 1:5, HCSB).
Let’s not hesitate to go to the Lord for wisdom. Just as He responded to my brief prayers for wisdom in the middle of a tense meeting, He is generous and promises to answer our request for wisdom in whatever situation we find ourselves.
“How much better to get wisdom than gold, to get insight rather than silver” (Proverbs 16:16, HCSB).