Do You Lack Wisdom?

In October 2010, there was a story of a group of nuns who were given an old Honus Wagner baseball card. It was badly damaged, and they assumed that it wasn’t worth much. They were surprised to find out that the card could be word $200,000! Similarly, godly wisdom is valuable yet unappreciated.

Life was exceedingly difficult for those to whom James addressed his wonderful epistle. A small Christian minority, even in their places of greatest strength, they were scattered abroad throughout the Roman Empire. They were misunderstood, and in many instances they were the subjects of ridicule and persecution. It was very difficult to know how to be master of circumstances as they faced the trials of life from day to day. Because of these circumstances from which they could not escape, the inspired writer poses a pointed question and makes a practical suggestion.

“Do any of you lack (or have a shortage; or need of) wisdom?”

By asking this basic question, James was not seeking to be academic. This question did not arise out of theoretical speculation. He was aware of the difficult situation in which his readers found themselves. By his question and suggestion, he informs them of his awareness of their need for divine insight.

Wisdom is more than the possession of knowledge. A person can have all the facts and still not know what to do with them.

Wisdom is more than understanding. One can have all the facts and be sympathetic with the people involved and still not be able to know how to utilize both his knowledge and his sympathy.

Wisdom has been defined as divine insight or divine intelligence. It has also been defined as sanctified common sense. James was raising the question concerning whether his readers had a Christian interpretation of the circumstances of life as they faced it.

Easton's Bible Dictionary defines wisdom as: “a gift from God to those who ask it.” Noah Webster's New International Dictionary of the English Language defines wisdom as: “the quality of being wise; knowledge, and the capacity to make due use of it.”

Christianity teaches us to be joyful under troubles: such exercises are sent from God's love; and trials in the way of duty will brighten our graces now and our crown in the end. Let us take care, in times of trial, that patience, and not passion, is set to work in us. Simply put, whatever is said or done, let patience have the saying and doing of it.

When the work of patience is complete, you will find that it will furnish all that is necessary for our Christian race and warfare. That’s why we should not pray so much for the removal of affliction, as for wisdom to make a right use of it. And who doesn’t want wisdom to guide him under trials, both in regulating his own spirit, and in managing his affairs?

Scripture: James 1:5; Job 28:12; Proverbs 3:13; Romans 1:22; Romans 16:27; 1 Corinthians 1:17; 1 Corinthians 2:6

We will continue this discussion of wisdom next time. Thank you for letting me share this special message with you today. May God bless you all.

Let us pray: God our Savior, bring us back to you and fill our minds with your wisdom.We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

God Bless You,

Adele