Seek Wisdom (James 1:5)

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.
– James 1:5

Is that not an incredible promise?

Think for a moment about the wisdom you need today. We often hear the word wisdom and immediately think of major life decisions—and we certainly need God’s wisdom in those. But we also need his wisdom in small decisions, in daily conversations, in hidden battles of the heart, in ordinary moments. We need wisdom in every facet of our lives.

James 1:5 teaches that God gives wisdom generously to those who ask.

Because of our sinful nature, we are prone to foolishness, which means we need God’s wisdom at every moment. I think of Solomon’s prayer in 1 Kings 3, when he says, “God, I am only a child; I do not know how to carry out my duties.” I feel that. As a husband, as a dad, as a follower of Jesus, I do not know how to carry out my responsibilities on my own. I need God’s wisdom at every moment.

And the beauty of James 1:5 is this: anyone who realizes they need wisdom can ask God, and he gives it generously. God—the author of wisdom, the One who is all-wise—says, “I do not hold back wisdom. I give it generously to all who ask and trust me.”

The next verse says, “Let him ask in faith, with no doubting.” The one who doubts is tossed like a wave of the sea. So ask God—and trust God—for wisdom. He promises to give it.

James 1:5 calls us to trust God’s wisdom over the world’s ways.

How encouraging and comforting that is for us. And how necessary—especially when James 3 contrasts worldly wisdom with spiritual wisdom. If we are not careful, we will live according to worldly wisdom—based on what the world says is right or important or best—rather than according to the wisdom of the Spirit, which alone leads to life.

O God, we need your wisdom. We need the kind of wisdom that only you can give.

So, God, we pray—and intercede for one another—for wisdom in every area of our lives: in our families, our relationships, our work, our decisions. We pray for wisdom simply to perceive what is happening around us with clarity—to discern what you are doing and how you are leading us. We pray for wisdom to trust you instead of trusting the world’s ways. Give us spiritual wisdom; deliver us from worldly wisdom.

And as we pray this, we praise you for your promise to give wisdom generously. We praise you that you do not hide your will from us. You do not withhold wisdom. You give it freely. We praise you for your generosity. And we seek your wisdom in both the small things and the big things. Let your wisdom guide us in everything.

God, help us also lead others to your wisdom. We think of 1 Corinthians 1, where your wisdom is displayed most clearly in the cross of Jesus. Help us lead others to salvation through the wisdom of the cross—where Jesus paid the price for our sins.

A Prayer for the Eastern Yiddish Jewish People

We pray this for people around us. And we pray this for people around the world—for Eastern Yiddish-speaking Jewish men, women, and children in the United States, in Northern Europe, and in Israel. God, we pray that they would come to know the wisdom found in Jesus the Messiah.

O God, show your generosity by spreading the wisdom of Jesus among all the nations, for your glory and for their good—and for our good.

We pray all this in light of your Word in James 1:5 and your promise to give us what we have asked for. Amen.