Who wouldn't want wisdom? I can't think of a single reason why anyone wouldn't want more wisdom. Verse 5 says, "If any of you lacks wisdom..." in which case, I think we all do! Therefore, ask God, who gives wisdom to all who asks- as long as they don't doubt. When you ask God for something- anything- do you believe He will answer you? Now we know as believers, that sometimes God answer isn't yes. It can also be no, or not right now. But do you believe with all that you are that God would give you wisdom if you ask for it? This text doesn't say, God will give it to some. It doesn't say God will give wisdom to preachers. It says God will give generously to all without reproach! Don't delay- ask God today!!
Verse 22: "But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves." I love the illustration James gives us of someone who looks at himself in the mirror and immediately forgets what he looks like. If you read the Bible, do you obey it too? When the Holy Spirit speaks to you, do you listen or ignore Him? When a pastor does an altar call and asks the congregation to respond or calls the people to repentance, do you stay in your seat- regardless of the loud thumping your heart is making, the sweat that's dripping from your hands or the unexplainable urge in your spirit to respond to the calling and prompting of the spirit? When you read the Bible, God asks us to respond. The response He wants is an open and willing heart to obey and practice what is learned. If you read something and you get it- don't pray about it- just do it. Often times when people say, "I'll pray about that," it often means we want to prolong our obedience- or forget the truth we read so we don't have to change our ways at all. (Thank you Perry Noble for that insight. http://newspring.cc/, http://www.perrynoble.com/) Everything we read in Scripture can be applied to our lives. It is all truth, and as 2 Timothy says in chapter 3 verse 16: "All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness."
Are you doer?
~Leanne~