James 1:5-11 – Wisdom and Faith
Throughout the Bible are people who turned defeat into victory and trial into triumph. Instead of being victims, they became victors. James tells us that we can have this same experience today. No matter what the trials may be on the outside (James 1:1–12) or the temptations on the inside (James 1:13–27), through faith in Christ we can experience victory. The result of this victory is spiritual maturity.
If we are going to turn trials into triumphs, there are four essentials to victory: a joyful attitude (v. 2), an understanding mind (v. 3), a surrendered will (v. 4, 9-11), and a heart that wants to believe (v. 5-8)
God’s goal for our lives is maturity. If we resist Him, then He chastens us into submission. But if we submit to Him, then He will accomplish His work. He is not satisfied with a halfway job. God wants a perfect work; He wants a finished product that is mature and complete.
5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. 6 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. 7 For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. 9 Let the lowly brother boast in his exaltation, 10 and the rich in his humiliation, because like a flower of the grass he will pass away. 11 For the sun rises with its scorching heat and withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beauty perishes. So also will the rich man fade away in the midst of his pursuits. (ESV)
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- God’s gift of wisdom allows us to understand how God is involved in life’s daily events
- Faith alone opens the door to God’s limitless treasury of wisdom. We must be diligent as we seek Him (Heb 11:6)
- Whether poor or rich, we must find our joy in our spiritual privileges as children of God.