If Any Lack Wisdom

by Robert A. Armstrong, M.D.

“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 let him ask in faith, nothing wavering” (James 1:5,6).

Although some commentaries suggest that this promise relates only to wisdom in understanding why we may be going through trials, the promise itself makes no such stipulation and seems to be quite general. That is, if anyone does lack wisdom, let him ask of God. This is a wonderful promise—that God is willing to give us wisdom to evaluate information and to discern His will and direction, if we but ask for it in faith, nothing wavering.

That the Lord would grant us wisdom in any situation is consistent with I John 5:14,15: “And this is the confidence that we have in Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He heareth us: And if we know that He hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of Him.”

These two verses in I John assure us that if we ask anything according to His will, He will answer. When we pray that the Lord will change people or situations, although that which is requested may please the Lord, He does not force rebellious or unwilling individuals to respond to Him. We should ask, nonetheless, since the Lord has many ways of changing situations and attitudes.

When we request wisdom, however, we can be certain we will receive it, and that we will have the capacity to deal with problems with others, or with ourselves, in a way that is pleasing to Him. The promise of James 1:5 is a very precious one. When we consider our wisdom as compared with the Lord’s, there is really no situation in which we do not lack wisdom. Therefore, in every situation, we need to ask for it “in faith, nothing wavering.” RRA