JAMES 1:5-8 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. 6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.
NSB* The wisdom God gives is not necessarily information on how to get out of trouble but rather insight on how to learn from one's difficulties (see Proverbs 29:15). It is not more information about how to avoid times of testing but instead a new perspective on trials. The wisdom of God begins with a genuine reverence for the Almighty (see "the fear of the Lord" in Psalm 111:10, Proverbs 9:10) and a steadfast confidence that God controls all circumstances, guiding them to His good purposes (Romans 8:28).
Note References: Proverbs 29:15 The rod and reproof give wisdom: but a child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame. - KJV
Psalm 111:10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever. - KJV
Proverbs 9:10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding. - KJV
Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.
Wisdom; Greek - σοφία sophia
Strong's G4678
Strong's - wisdom (higher or lower, worldly or spiritual).
Vines - (def 1) is used with reference to "(spiritual) wisdom,"
Thayer expands - 1) wisdom, broad and full of intelligence; used of the knowledge of very diverse matters 1a) the wisdom which belongs to men 1a1) spec. the varied knowledge of things human and divine, acquired by acuteness and experience, and summed up in maxims and prov.
Liberally; Greek - ἁπλῶσ haplōs
Strong's G574
Dodson denotes - simply, sincerely, graciously, bountifully.
LSJ Gloss - singly, in one way
Thayer expands - 1) simply, openly, frankly, sincerely.
Reproach; The King James version uses "upbraideth". So the idea is the opposite of the definition i.e. "upbraideth not".
Greek - ὀνειδίζω oneidezō
Strong's G3679
Strong's - to defame, i.e. rail at, chide, taunt
Vines - (def B-1a) in the Active Voice, "to reproach, upbraid," "upbraideth;".
Matthew 7:7 “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.
Jeremiah 29:12 Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. - KJV
Moving to verse 6.
James 1:6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind.
NSB* - Doubting means "to be divided in one's mind" or "to debate". The term does not describe momentary doubt but a divided allegiance, an uncertainty.
Faith; Greek - πίστις pistis
Strong's G4102
Strong's - persuasion, i.e. credence; moral conviction (of religious truth, or the truthfulness of God or a religious teacher), especially reliance upon Christ for salvation; abstractly, constancy in such profession; by extension, the system of religious (Gospel) truth itself.
Wave; Greek - κλύδων kludōn
Strong's G2830
Strong's - a surge of the sea (literally or figuratively)
Vine's - (def 3) "a billow," is translated "wave".
My notes - essentially, this verse is saying when you ask for wisdom from God, have conviction, don't waver around all over the place regarding your certainty.
Moving to verses 7 and 8.
James 1:7-8 For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.
NSB* - Double-minded is literally "two souls". If one part of the person is set on God, and the other is set on the world (see Matthew 6:24), there will be constant conflict within.
Note Reference: Matthew 6:24 No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.
Suppose; The King James version uses the word "think" here.
Greek - οἴομαι oiomai oimai
Strong's G3633
Strong's - Or (shorter) οἶμαι to make like (oneself), i.e., imagine (be of the opinion).
Dobson denotes - I think, suppose, expect, imagine.
Receive; Greek - λαμβάνω lambanō
Strong's G2983
Strong's - Derivation: a prolonged form of a primary verb, which is use only as an alternate in certain tenses; to take (in very many applications, literally and figuratively (properly objective or active, to get hold of; whereas G1209 is rather subjective or passive, to have offered to one.
Dobson denotes - (a) I receive, get, (b) I take, lay hold of.
Double-Minded; Greek - δίψυχος dipsuchos
Strong's G1374
Strong's - two-spirited, i.e. vacillating (in opinion or purpose)
Dobson denotes - double-minded, wavering (lit: of two souls, of two selves), double-minded, wavering.
Unstable; Greek - ἀκατάστατος akatastatos
Strong's G182
Strong's inconstant Derivation: from G1 (as a negative particle) and a derivative of G2525. My Notes - so unstable is the opposite of "placed" καθίστημι kathistēmi.
Thayer expands - 1) unstable, inconstant, restless.
Takeaway - We never want to ask God for wisdom, expecting it won't happen because we ourselves have doubt. I think one thing Christians need to really work on is being very careful about what we declare is "from God". No wisdom God provides you is going to contradict the wisdom He has already given us through His Word.
*= Nelson Study Bible.
All verses in this study are from the New King James Version unless noted otherwise.
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