James 1:5

‘But if any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and does not upbraid, and it will be given him.'

In the face of many trials and temptations they may often be brought to a standstill. They may wonder what they should do in the light of them, and may need wisdom and guidance along the way. God therefore tells them that if they need wisdom in the light of trials they should ask it of Him and He promises that He will give it to them, for He is the One Who gives to all men liberally. As Jewish tradition (Sir 1:1) declares, "All Wisdom comes from the Lord and is with him for ever". If we are to have true wisdom it must come from Him, and especially so when that wisdom comes through the Holy Spirit as ‘wisdom from God' which is found in Christ resulting in His becoming to us righteousness, sanctification and redemption (1 Corinthians 1:30).

Nor will He will upbraid them for asking for what is good for them. No one is so unimportant that God will begrudge enlightening his heart and life. Indeed in matters like needing spiritual wisdom He declares, ‘ask and it will be given you, seek and you will find, knock and it will be opened to you -- how much more will your Father in Heaven give good things to those who ask Him' (Matthew 7:7). And His promise is that He will bring home to them the truths that will enable them to overcome. ‘For the Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of testings' (2 Peter 2:9). And He does it by giving spiritual discernment in the things of God (1 Corinthians 2:5).

James is often accused of not mentioning the Holy Spirit, but it is the Holy Spirit, the giver of wisdom (1 Corinthians 2:8), the Spirit of truth (1Co 14:17; 1 Corinthians 14:26; 1 Corinthians 15:28; 1 Corinthians 16:13), Whom he has in mind here. See for this idea of wisdom Jesus' words in Luke 11:49. ‘The wisdom of God says --', in comparison with ‘the Spirit says --' (Matthew 24:23; Revelation 2:7; Revelation 2:11; Revelation 2:17; Revelation 2:29; Revelation 3:6). Compare also 1 Corinthians 2:4 where the wisdom of men is contrasted with the power of God, and with the demonstration of the Spirit and power, the latter indicating the powerfully effective true wisdom which is greater than that of men. Wisdom is thus found in the word of God illuminated and applied by the Holy Spirit (James 1:18; James 1:21; James 4:5; James 4:11) which has to be lived out in life (James 1:22), and is revealed in true goodness of life (James 3:13).

‘Lack wisdom.' This has little to do with gaining worldly knowledge. To the Jews wisdom was found in knowing the fear of the Lord (Proverbs 1:7; Proverbs 3:7). The man who thus finds wisdom and gets understanding will truly be able to rejoice, for it will be better for him than a multitude of riches (Proverbs 3:13). That is why the wise man builds his house on a rock by hearing Jesus' words and doing them, then he knows that the storms and tempests cannot move him (James 1:6; Matthew 7:24). He responds to the Spirit and His wisdom.

There have been many times in history when religious leaders have sought to prevent common people from seeking wisdom on the grounds that any wisdom must be seen as coming through them. Perhaps James knew of some Rabbis and Pharisees who were doing precisely that, men such as the Judaisers who were travelling around trying to imprison men's minds in rites and ceremonies, and bringing them into subjection to their own ideas and ultimately to themselves. But he wants God's people to know that God will freely give His true wisdom to those who ask Him and will enlighten them with spiritual truth (1 Corinthians 2:11) so that they will be delivered from such perversions. This wisdom is found through ‘the implanted word which is able to save your souls' (James 1:21). It is ‘from above' (James 3:17), and is real and genuine, resulting in hearts that are at peace (James 3:18).