Wisdom From God - James 1:5-7 Series

Wisdom! Is there anyone here who is wise and has all of the wisdom they will ever need?

And, you all have probably heard the old quote attributed to Yogi Berra about the fork in the road, “When you come to a fork in the road, take it!”

Life is filled with forks in the road, choices, decisions.

We are all faced with decisions every day.

Spiritual decisions: Will I be a fully committed follower of Christ?

Financial decisions?

Bag lunch v. restaurant?

Turn up heat v. put on sweater?

Starbucks or thermos of coffee?

Time decisions? Late night hours

Stay up late & too tired to work or sleep and be productive?

Surfing the net at work or doing my job?

Moral decisions? Entertainment choices, flirting,

I think you’re getting the idea! We need wisdom!

James goes ahead in chapter 1 and talks about wisdom in verses 5-7

“If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.

“But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.

“That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.”

Ok James 1:5

“If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.”

What is wisdom? Knowledge? Experience? Tradition?

So, what is wisdom?

Wisdom is dependence on God for direction in any and all decisions.

We all know Proverbs 3:5-6, “Trust in the Lord … (recite the rest)

Years ago I remember being in an adult SS class with many who had been Christians for a long time. One lady told about two interviews she and two job offers she had had that week and was not able to decide which to take. People started asking her about the benefits and pay of each job and the responsibilities, etc. One person said, “Have you asked the Lord about which one you job you should take?”

The conversation stopped and the people looked at that person like they had two heads. There was silence for a moment and then they all went back to discussing the comparative aspects of the two jobs.

You can make all of the comparative lists you want. You can go back and speak to the interviewers. You can talk to the potential co-workers. You can read the company backgrounds on the internet but you will never, ever have enough information to make the decision in a way that pleases God.

In this case you have a 50/50 chance of choosing the job that God would have you choose but your method of choosing will not be pleasing to God because you did not “Trust in the Lord …”.

So should we be asking the Lord to show us how to make

Spiritual decisions?

Financial decisions?

Personal life decisions?

Work decisions?

Is there anything too big/small that we should not consult the Lord about it?

I mean … what kind of toothpaste to buy?

OK. So in all of these decisions let’s just go back to the Sunday School example. Which job is the best one for me?

We may even pray it that way!

But that is the question asked by immature Christians.

What is the question that a fully mature Christian would ask???

God, please let me know which job is best for You and Your kingdom?

Where do you want me so that I can best represent you to others?

I don’t even know right now why You want me there I just need to know the one You want for me!

It may pay less.

It may have longer hours.

It may have horrible benefits.

There may be a mean boss.

You may need to work standing on your head but that’s not the issue.

Is that where God wants you for His kingdom at this time. PERIOD!

This world is so “me” centered that it takes some time for God to readjust our focus of devotion.

How does that refocus happen?

Scripture and the Holy Spirit!

Proverbs 3:5-6 (recite)

Matthew 6:31-33

“So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.

“But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”

Look again at verse 31

“So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’”

This verse is not saying that we should not pray about these things and seek God’s direction regarding them. It’s saying we should not worry about them but when we are seeking the kingdom of God He will provide for us even if the decision we make appears to be insane to the world.