Introduction: The Inevitable Question
Last time we were in the book of James, we looked at one of the most challenging commands in the entire Bible: "Count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations." We learned that God uses trials to test our faith and produce a steadfast endurance that leads to spiritual maturity.
But if we are honest, that command immediately raises a very practical and urgent question: How?
How do I count it joy when I get a call from the doctor with bad news? How do I find joy when my family is in turmoil or my finances are collapsing? How am I supposed to endure patiently when I don't even know which way to turn? When you're in the fog of a trial, you don't feel wise; you feel lost. You feel confused. You feel overwhelmed.
James, writing as a masterful pastor, anticipates this question. He knows that telling us what to do isn't enough; he has to tell us how to do it. And in verse 5, he gives us God’s direct answer. He points us to the one resource we need more than anything else when life stops making sense. It isn't more money, more strength, or even an escape plan. The antidote to our confusion is divine wisdom.
I. The Gracious Promise of God (Verse 5)
James begins with a beautiful and open invitation. Look at verse 5: "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him."
1. Notice the condition: "If any of you lack wisdom..."
This is perhaps the most relatable "if" in all of scripture. Who here doesn't lack wisdom when facing a complex trial? This isn't about IQ or book smarts. The wisdom James is talking about is divine skill for living. It’s the ability to see your trial from God's perspective. It's the practical, heaven-sent insight to know how to respond, what to say, and how to honor God in the middle of the mess. James is saying, "When you don't know what to do, you are in the perfect position to receive what God wants to give."
2. Notice the simple command: "...let him ask of God..."
The solution to our greatest need is not found in a self-help book or a new strategy; it begins with the humble act of prayer. To ask God for wisdom is to admit, "God, I can't figure this out on my own. I'm at the end of my resources. I need Your mind on this matter."
3. But the most powerful part of this verse is the description of the One to whom we are asking. He is the God "that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not."
1. To give "liberally" means to give generously, lavishly, with an open hand.
God isn't stingy. He's not an ATM that begrudgingly spits out the bare minimum you requested. He is a flowing fountain of grace, and when you come to Him for wisdom, He delights in giving you more than enough.
2. And even more comforting, He gives and "upbraideth not."
This means He doesn't shame you for asking. He never looks at you and says, "What, you again? Haven't you learned this lesson yet? Why are you so needy?" No, our God welcomes our dependent cry for help. He sees our lack not as a failure, but as an opportunity for Him to show His fatherly goodness.
When you understand this is the God you are approaching, the final phrase becomes a rock-solid promise: "...and it shall be given him." It's a divine guarantee.
II. The Required Posture for Receiving (Verse 6)
Now, with any great promise, there is often a condition. God's provision of wisdom is no different. The promise is for the one who asks in the right way. Look at verse 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."
1. The prerequisite is to ask "in faith."
This isn't a blind leap into the dark. It is a confident trust based on the character of God we just saw in verse 5. To ask in faith means you actually believe that God is who He says He is—that He truly is a generous giver and that He won't shame you for asking. It’s a settled confidence in His goodness and His ability to provide exactly the wisdom you need for the trial you are in.
2. The opposite of this faith is "wavering."
And James gives us a powerful and vivid image to describe it. A wavering person is like a wave of the sea. Think about a piece of debris floating on the surface of a stormy ocean. It has no direction, no stability, and no control. It is completely at the mercy of every external force—pushed one moment by the wind, pulled the next by the current. It is utterly unstable.
James says this is a picture of the person who comes to God for wisdom but doesn't fully trust Him. They are torn between two realities. They want to trust God, but they are also being tossed about by the winds of their fear, the currents of their doubt, and the storms of their circumstances. One moment they believe God will help them; the next moment they are overwhelmed by the problem and sink into despair. This internal conflict makes it impossible to receive God's gift.
III. The Prohibitive Problem of a Divided Heart (Verses 7-8)
1. This leads to James's stark and serious warning.
A person who prays with this kind of wavering, divided heart should not expect a positive result. Verse 7 says, "For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord."
The problem is not that God is unwilling to give. The fountain of His wisdom is still flowing freely. The problem is that the wavering person is not in a position to receive it. Their internal instability short-circuits the entire process.
2. James then gives a final diagnosis of this condition in verse 8: "A double minded man is unstable in all his ways."
The Greek word for "double minded" is dipsychos, which literally means "two-souled." This is a person trying to live with two competing loyalties. They have one soul, one part of their heart, turned toward the Kingdom of God. But their other soul is still loyal to the kingdom of self or the kingdom of this world.
The two-souled person prays, "God, give me wisdom to get through this financial crisis," but they are simultaneously trying to cook the books or devise a dishonest scheme as a backup plan. They pray, "God, give me wisdom in this broken relationship," but they refuse to let go of their bitterness and their demand for revenge. They want God's help, but they want it on their own terms. They want to hold onto God's hand while also keeping a firm grip on their own worldly solutions.
3. And the result?
They are "unstable in all his ways." Not just in their prayer life, but in everything. Their decisions are inconsistent, their emotions are a rollercoaster, and their relationships are unreliable because their core allegiance is fractured. You cannot serve two masters, and you cannot receive from a God you are only partially trusting.
Conclusion: The Choice of a Single Mind
So where does this leave us today? We have seen God's incredible, gracious promise: if you lack wisdom in your trial, ask Him, and He will pour it out for you generously and without shaming you. But we have also seen the critical condition: you must ask with a single, undivided heart that trusts Him completely.
The question for each of us is this: What kind of heart are you bringing to God today?
Are you facing a trial that has you confused and lost? Are you wavering, tossed between faith and fear? Are you living a double-minded life, asking for God’s help while secretly relying on your own backup plans?
The antidote to a double mind is a single choice. It’s the choice to go all-in with God. It’s the decision to let go of your own schemes and your worldly safety nets, and to place your full confidence in the character of your Heavenly Father. It’s to pray honestly: "God, I lack wisdom. I confess that I have been trying to solve this on my own and have been doubting Your goodness. Today, I choose to trust You alone. I submit my will to Yours. Please give me Your wisdom."
That is a prayer God is not only able, but delighted, to answer. Don't leave here today tossed by the waves of confusion. Make the choice to anchor your soul in the unshakable goodness of God. Ask Him for wisdom with a single mind, and He has promised He will give it.
