Tom Lowe
1/18/2021
I. There are certain realities of life common to all believers – 1:2-1:18.
A. Trials and testing will come and can be overcome -- 1:2-8.
5. Eliminate doubt -- 1:6-8.
Lesson: James 1:6-8 - Eliminate Doubt
Text: James 1:6-8 (KJV)
6But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. 7For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. 8A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.
INTRODUCTION
James knew humanity only too well. Immediately after James invites us to charge boldly into our new lives, he points us to the tool for sustained endurance: Wisdom. Without God’s wisdom, we can quickly sprint into a concrete wall and spend months or years banging our heads against it without realizing how futile our efforts are. God’s wisdom gives us the tools to break down or circumvent the obstacle. In some cases, wisdom will even tell you to rest in front of the problem, even if it is incredibly uncomfortable at that moment. Accepting God’s wisdom means that you no longer let any circumstances drive your decisions or your reactions. This does not mean that you ignore your circumstances, but that your God-given perspective always trumps their weight in your decision-making process.
This is a good time to reread my commentary on verse 5.
COMMENTARY
6. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed (Paul’s description of a man who doubts).
When James used the word “faith,” he meant, as did Jesus and Paul, “that faith is trust in God.” That is, that faith is a full commitment of self to God and what God wants to be done. Thus, the meaning is far more profound than mere belief in dogma or acceptance of a doctrinal position.
I have been immensely encouraged by verse 5 ever since I wrote a commentary for it. To see that God wants everyone to ask for wisdom and to know that if they ask in faith, they will receive it. Everyone! That is a remarkable statement. I firmly believe that whoever prays for this wisdom with even the smallest amount of faith will receive lie-exposing, truth-revealing wisdom and that it will bring about a renewed, God-filled life.
What I find interesting in verse 6 is that James does not say, “the unwise person is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind.” Instead, he says, “the one who doubts . . .” That is a remarkable distinction he has made. To receive Godly wisdom, we must first believe. In other words, wisdom is not required to believe.
This understanding of wisdom is not unique to James. He was familiar with the book of Proverbs in the Old Testament, where wisdom is exalted to a lofty degree. James may also be familiar with two Jewish books of wisdom, Ecclastics and the wisdom of Solomon. In both of these books, the same idea is presented – that wisdom comes from God. Of course, Solomon is the best-known example of a man with wisdom. He asked for wisdom from God, and it was given to him (1 Kings 3:3-14). James was sure that any believer could ask God for wisdom and be confident that he will receive it.
7. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.
We are so accustomed to equating wisdom with knowledge that it is difficult for us to understand that wisdom is not a human attainment. In this generation, great emphasis is put upon the accumulation of knowledge. Students spend endless hours trying to acquire as much information as possible. But this is not the wisdom of which James spoke. Wisdom is not something gained from books, not even from other people. It is something that only comes as a gift from the Bible. It is not something acquired by conversation with God. “With James, wisdom is the proper use of one’s opportunities in holy living. It is living like Christ in accord with the will of God.”
Not only does God give wisdom, but He gives it generously and without passing judgment. Actually, James said God gives simply, a word which frequently in the New Testament carries the idea of generosity. God’s gift of wisdom is generous. He does not give this gift accompanied with criticism, and it is an unconditional gift. It is not something that is earned or bartered for. God simply gives it upon request. This causes one to recall Jesus’ teaching on prayer. He encouraged His followers simply to ask of God with the confidence that He would give what was requested (Luke 11:9-13)
My friend, we face the danger of assuming that if someone will subscribe to a creed or statement of principles, he is a man of faith. In reality, a person can give his pledge to a statement of principles and still have no vital relationship with God. While it is essential to be biblically correct in one’s doctrine, it is even more critical that a person has the type of faith of which the New Testament speaks –- complete trust in the person, the wisdom, the power, and the mercy of God. This is the type of faith that brings wisdom in answer to prayer. If we are troubled by seemingly unanswered prayers, we need to take stock to see if we have asked in full trust and commitment.
8. A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.
When James discusses how the “double-minded man is unstable in all his ways,” he is referring to any person who, at one time or another, finds himself consciously or unconsciously trying to cram two different paradigms into his head. While it may be easy to flip-flop from one way of thinking to another, that will lead to a loss of direction and focus in the middle of the storms of life.
What does James mean when he talks about the double-minded person? Such a person is constantly in the position of not knowing whether or not to trust God. At one moment, he wants to trust Him, but at the next, he has no confidence in God and depends upon himself. James described him as “a surging of the sea, wind-tossed and billowing.” The picture is of one who is constantly shifting, one who is unstable and undependable. James has told us what he means by doubt. It is immediately apparent that he is talking about someone who is “double-minded,” someone we may think of as “two-faced” and “inconsistent.” When we approach God with an attitude such as this, we have no right to expect to receive anything from Him.
There is yet another way to put this. The doubter is someone who wants to hedge their bets two ways. They’ll ask God for wisdom, but they’ll also look over their shoulder to see if anyone has anything better to offer. They’ll check out what the Bible says, but they’ll also check out what the wisdom of the world says. They don’t believe God’s ways will necessarily and always be the best ways. They are double-minded: trying to live in more than one direction at once, which is a very precarious position. One foot is in the kingdom of God; the other in the world. Christian wisdom is pulling them in one direction: worldly wisdom in the other. They think they can switch between worldly wisdom and God’s wisdom at will and get the best of both. Two foundations are better than one? James’s point is clear. We need to be just as sincere about receiving God’s wisdom as He is about giving it.
