James 1v5 – Seek wisdom

“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.” James 1:5
God is a generous giver, especially when we ask for things with selfless motives. If our desire is to use what God gives us to bless others God does not hold back in giving us His gifts. We see that in 2 Kings 3 when Solomon prays for wisdom to lead the people of Israel well. God is thrilled that of all the things Solomon could have asked for he chose to ask for something that wasn’t centred on Solomon’s good, but on the good of Israel.
James is suggesting here it is very possible to be lacking in wisdom. We can lack wisdom for a number of reasons. Inexperience. Youth. Stubbornness and a refusal to learn from the past. The problem is, often we don’t realise our lack of wisdom. It is important we ask the Holy Spirit to give us insight into our blind spots, to show us the areas where we are foolish and need God’s wisdom. And when we have identified those areas, we must ask for wisdom from God.
But it is not enough just to ask. We must then take on board the wisdom God gives. We are not instructed to ask God for advice or suggestions to considered but for wisdom to be acted on, to be lived out. We are not seeking wisdom for the sake of seeming wise to those around us, but in order to be able to live the life God has called us to and to be a blessing for the sake of the Kingdom to those around us.