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James 1:5
Asking God for Wisdom
James 1:5
But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.
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Why it is worth knowing
- The premise is that we lack wisdom: James expects us to acknowledge this
- God gives “liberally”: there is no scarcity of divine wisdom for those who ask
- “Without reproach” means God does not shame us for asking again and again
- The promise is direct: ask and it will be given
Where it sits: James 1:5-8
But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, without any doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, driven by the wind and tossed. For that man shouldn’t think that he will receive anything from the Lord. He is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.
Hear the passage it sits in, sung word for word, on BibleDo's James page.
Background
In context, this verse follows the call to count trials as joy (verses 2-4). James anticipates the reader’s question: how do I navigate trials wisely? The answer is prayer. The word “wisdom” here is practical wisdom (knowing how to live, how to respond, how to persevere) not merely intellectual knowledge. God’s generosity in giving wisdom stands in contrast to the uncertainty and scarcity of human sources. The one condition (asking in faith) is not about perfect certainty but about sincere trust rather than double-minded wavering.