“IF ANY OF YOU LACKS WISDOM, LET HIM ASK GOD WHO GIVES GENEROUSLY…”
— James 1:5
When our decisions go beyond black and white, right or wrong, true or false, the one thing we need most is wisdom.
Wisdom helps us navigate the complexities of life. Wisdom guides us through situations that cannot be solved by rules to follow. Wisdom is a lighthouse amidst a sea of opinions.
Information is free. Knowledge is for sale. Wisdom must be imparted.
God’s way of imparting wisdom includes us asking. If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God who gives generously…
Wisdom doesn’t just come to us. You must ask God. He designed it to be inherently relational. God gives us wisdom by drawing us near to himself.
Every difficult decision is an invitation. Every time we’re confused, it’s an opportunity. When we’re stuck and don’t know the way forward, God wants us to ask him.
Our pride and stubbornness get in the way. We search for knowledge and stress over options. We lean on our own understanding and intelligence. But what we need most is wisdom.
By asking God for wisdom, we express our dependence upon him. We’re a branch in need of the vine. We’re a creature admitting we need our Creator. By asking God for wisdom, we also honor him, acknowledging that he is rich in wisdom and generous with it.
When Solomon asked God for wisdom, he received it and became the wisest man on the earth. When we ask God for wisdom, he promises to give it, not in little dribbles or drops, but generously. Generous means above and beyond expectation. It’s more than you ask for. And God is generous with wisdom.
Why would we not run to him today with our questions and concerns? Why would we stay thirsty when the fountain of wisdom bubbles over? Why wait another hour when we could ask him right now?
If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God who gives generously…
The generosity of God is unfathomable. He gave us his one and only Son and he offers us wisdom as well.
© John Rinehart 2025