Our Father's Wisdom

"If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does." (James 1:5-8)


"Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. Such "wisdom" does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil. For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you have disorder and every evil practice.

But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure, the peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere." (James 3:13-18)


I find it interesting that these verses about the wisdom that God gives, the wisdom from heaven, both follow and are followed by verses on suffering - yesterday's verses on suffering producing endurance (James 1:2-4) lead into the verses about asking God for wisdom, and the verses about what the wisdom of heaven looks like are followed by an exhortation to be patient in suffering and the example of Job as someone to emulate for patience in suffering (James 5:7-11).

It seems that the endurance that is developed through suffering helps to produce God's wisdom in us. And his wisdom will help us to be humble, peace-loving, and merciful. It will help produce those character traits in us that will help us to get through this life on earth in a way that is pleasing to God - for which we be rewarded when the Lord returns - because the Lord who "is full of compassion and mercy" (James 5:11) will lavish his mercy upon us at that time, if we have shown mercy here on earth (James 2:12-13).

Father, I desire to have your wisdom guiding me through this life. Please give me your wisdom. Help me not to doubt that you will do this work in me, because I do not want to be blown about by the storms of this life. Help me to patiently accept suffering in my life so that I can become more like you, with your wisdom, humility, peaceful nature, mercy, and compassion. Help me to keep my eyes on the things of eternal value instead of on the things that will wither away. Thank you for being compassionate and merciful with me.