PODCAST
Seek Wisdom
June 8th, 2025
James 1:1-8
The focus of James 1 is, “If any of you lacks wisdom” (v. 5). Only the arrogant of heart would deny this lack. The rest of us (hopefully) recognize that we cannot—dare not—rely on our human wisdom to get us through the “trials” and temptations that Satan throws at us daily. Thus, we need God’s wisdom. So, James advises, “Continually ask from God, who gives freely” (v. 5, author’s translation). “This prayer is not to be a one-time request, but a daily petition.”*
God’s wisdom gives us guidance when our “faith” is tested, which enables us to persevere until life itself for each of us is ended and we appear before the Father “mature and complete” (v. 4).
James adds a condition when asking God for wisdom: “When you ask, you must believe and not doubt” (v. 6). We must believe (or “trust”) that God will, in fact, respond to our requests. If we do not believe we will receive wisdom, we will not “receive anything from the Lord” (v.7).
__________________
* C. Jeanne Orjala Serrão, James, New Beacon Bible Commentary (Kanas City: Beacon Hill Press of Kansas City, 2010), 53.
Author: Barry Ross
