DO YOU REALLY WANT IT

DO YOU REALLY WANT IT?

James 1:5-8

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.

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.

7 For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.

8 A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.

           We need wisdom to deal with some folks who drive us crazy! They do things they should not do and then tell us that we didn’t see what we clearly saw. Sometimes we believe the lie against our own senses. Psychologically, there is a word for it and we need wisdom to combat it.

           James says that, if we ask for wisdom, God will give it to us – generously. But there is a catch. You have to ask without doubting. This is not referring to doubt regarding receiving the wisdom but doubting as to whether we really want it. We doubt whether we really want to know and do God’s will. This is self doubt.

           Double-minded is from the Greek dipsuchos and it means “two-spirited; vacillating in opinion or purpose.” You can’t have two opinions on the same matter or you will tear yourself apart. Paralysis is the result.

           Begin with the attitude that you really WANT God’s wisdom on a matter and that you firmly intend to ACT on the wisdom God gives you. The request for wisdom is set in the context of trials so don’t expect a calm to sweep over you before wisdom appears. Wisdom will sometimes appear within a storm.

Isa 30:20-21

20 And though the Lord give you the bread of adversity, and the water of affliction, yet shall not thy teachers be removed into a corner any more, but thine eyes shall see thy teachers:

21 And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it,

Lord, even in the midst of a storm, let me hear Thy voice of wisdom. AMEN