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“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, 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.”    (James 1:5-8, ESV)

“I’m so sick of being on this boat.  All our hard-earned money wasted. Will this nightmare ever end?”

Heather was miserable.  She and Steve had saved up for a cruise.  It was too good of a deal to pass up. She soon realized why it was so cheap because the ship was defective, stuff constantly breaking.  A few days into their cruise the anchor broke.  Three weeks later they were still drifting, waiting for help.

Spending money for a cruise on a boat without an anchor – seems pointless right?

That’s exactly what James was talking about in today’s verse.

“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.”  

If we lack wisdom, James instructs us to ask God for it.

“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.”              

Growing in wisdom requires seeking God’s will before we act.  Often the Holy Spirit will lead us to make decisions that seem contrary to what might make sense.  God’s ways are not our ways.

Without faith to steady us, we will be like a vessel without an anchor.  We will make decisions based on how we feel. Up one day and down the next. Obeying God one minute, disobeying the next — that is a double-minded person.  Floating along aimlessly in life – unable to make progress in our walk with the Lord. Never receiving the wisdom He’s trying to give. Always in need of help, but never able to extend it to others.

Our feelings know our past. The Holy Spirit knows our future.

James instructs us not to even ask God for wisdom if we don’t have faith.

With faith, we can receive the wisdom God is trying to teach us.

Faith allows us to act on what God is telling us versus acting on our feelings.

Faith is the anchor that holds us steady.

Every time we act on our faith – our wisdom grows.  You will never gain wisdom by being tossed back and forth by your feelings.

Father, our feelings are not truthful. Teach us anchor our faith in You so we can grow in wisdom.

For His Glory

Laura Holmes (www.ephraimministries.org)
TRBC Women’s Life