"FROM THE OLD HOME PLACE "

Being Wise – Using Wisdom

James, in his short but powerful letter, makes some statements about wisdom that leave many people on the short side of the divide. This, obviously, isńt a result of what he wrote, or how he wrote it, but rather to the simple fact that readers so often see the promise, but never take time to look at the conditions.

“Ask of God...” (James 1:5) is taken to mean that we can use Him as a way out of trouble – and it may be, but not without prior preparation.

In verse 6, James goes on to state the first of the requirements – the condition of faith. To what extent are you willing to, and are you capable of, simple trust in His willingness and capacity? Many years ago, one of our three daughters had climbed on a piece of furniture to jump into daddýs arms. Great! It was a game that we played often. Only, this time daddy had not seen her climbing, and did not see when she jumped. God is never caught off guard, especially if our faith is intact.

Continuing in the same verse, he states that doubt cancels the promise. It is told of a person who prayed for years relative to a certain problem, and each morning she would look out her window and comment, “Just as I thought, it́'s still there...!”

James says that this person is double minded, as is said of the American Indiańs expression, “He speaks with a forked tongue.” James also says that this person is intrinsically unstable, and can not be depended upon. How often do our churches, as well as our individual lives, stumble and possibly fail completely, because we have placed unmerited trust in a person who is deep down, an incurable doubter with relation to God́s promises.

James gives us the conclusion of this matter before he states the problem. A look into the original languages indicates a translation of verse 4 might be something like this, “Perseverance must be allowed to take its full course so that you may be perfect, possess integrity, and not be deficient in any way.”

True it is, “...God gives to all men liberally...” as long as we “play by the rules.”

 

JSturgill
12/01/2007
Vol.1 - No.5

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