The Book of James Week One Lesson Two

“Got Wisdom?”

“If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. 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.” James 1:5-8

Who of us doesn’t need wisdom? Look at the following verses and describe what each says about it:

1 Kings 3:9-10

Proverbs 2:3-6

Psalm 51:6

Daniel 2:21

In these verses we get just a sample of what the Bible says about wisdom. The overriding theme of each of these verses is the source of true wisdom. God alone is the source for this kind of wisdom. Often we don’t seek God for wisdom, we seek it elsewhere. Later on in this study we will look at two kinds of wisdom. For now, we are looking at the source of true wisdom and that is God.

In James 1:5 James writes, “If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and He will give it to you.” Sounds pretty simple, but why is it so hard to know what to do? As I am writing this study, I bowed my head and asked Him to give me wisdom to write. It’s still hard. I pray and look at the verses he has given me for this lesson. The answer is there. Let’s look together.

Break down each verse with me. In it we will see step-by-step instructions.


Verse 5 If you need wisdom what are you to do?


What will God do?


What will God NOT do?

Remember in our first lesson we learned that we are “slaves” of Jesus. He is our Master. Since He is our Master then He is the source of everything we need to survive. We understand that our Master is good and gives good things.

Read Matthew 7:7-11. What does Christ say in these verses that tell us about asking and what He will give?


The Master Himself has given us permission to ask Him to fulfill our needs.  He always gives the appropriate response. You ask for bread, He gives it. You ask for wisdom, He gives it. He gives appropriately out of His divine provision. So what are we to do? ASK.

Verse 6 What must we do when we ask the Lord for wisdom?


What is the result of doubt?

Have you ever been seasick? It’s not a very good feeling to say the least. When we are on a boat and feel queasy and dizzy, with no sea legs to hold us up.  The best thing we can do is keep our eyes on the horizon. The stability of the horizon helps our brains calm the effects of the unstable motion of the sea. The moment we take our eyes of the stability of the horizon and look at the waves, the seasickness and instability comes back.

Doubt creates a spiritual motion sickness that affects our daily lives. James tells us not to doubt but to believe. To believe means to keep our eyes on Jesus. He alone is stable when the waves of this world and circumstances of our lives toss us around. When we depend upon our wisdom and not God’s wisdom we can’t stand strong. It’s only through His wisdom and dependence upon Him as our Master and thus our Provider can we walk on solid ground.

Verse 7 If we don’t believe the Lord when we ask for wisdom, what should we expect the result to be?


Verse 8 How does James describe that kind of person?


The New Living Translation of the Bible, that I used at the first of this lesson, calls us "divided in our loyalty" when we doubt the Lord. The New International Version (verses 7-8) says this, “That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.”

A person who doubts shouldn’t expect anything from the Lord. They are double-minded and unstable in all they do. Whew! Now wait a minute. When I doubt my Master Jesus will provide what I ask from Him, I am double-minded and unstable. What does that mean?

To be double-minded means just what it says. I have two trains of thought. My loyalty to my Master is divided. I am compromised. I don’t know which way to look and a dizzy head shaking occurs as I look from the One who can provide back to my doubt. The back and forth movement of taking my eyes off of Jesus, and looking elsewhere in my doubt of His capability to provide, makes my walk unstable.

Everything I do is challenged by the stability of my faith. It’s time to choose who I will believe. Will I keep my eyes fully fixed on Him and what He provides for me as my Master? Or will I seek another master to replace Him?

What about you? Who do you look to for wisdom and provision in your life? Are you dizzy and double-minded? Take this time to tell Jesus what you are going through. Ask Him for wisdom and seek Him as your sole Provider. Remember, He is your Master if you have fully given your life over to Him and He deserves your full loyalty. Got wisdom?