Daily Bible Readings-Week 2
September 13
James 1:5-8, If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.
I do not know about you, but I am in constant need of all the wisdom I can get. Wisdom is needed for Godly insight into an issue or a problem so that we can have right and clear thinking, make appropriate decisions, and take necessary actions.
In light of having the right attitude about trials and testing, wisdom is needed to consider such afflictions from a higher point of view that can work for our benefit in the long run.
This does not come naturally but is a perspective only God can give.
The Bible does not give specific answers to the infinite number of problems found in life, but it does give us general principles. We must apply these principles to problems as they arise. That is where wisdom is needed. Spiritual wisdom is the practical application of our Lord’s teachings to everyday situations.
James tells us that God gives this gift generously. It is not dependent upon our IQ. God is glad to give it without judgment because He knows we need it! The good news is that spiritual wisdom is supernaturally imparted in abundant fashion as we maintain a growing relationship with Him.
This reminds that God’s nature is one of generosity. He pours out his gifts in overflowing ways so that we have more than enough to live the Christ-filled life.
Question to Consider:
Where are you experiencing God’s generosity in your life today?
Weekly Memory Verse:
James 1:5, If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.
September 14
James 1:5-8, If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.
We play a part in receiving God’s wonderful gift of wisdom. We must believe God loves and cares for us, and that nothing is impossible with Him. We must learn God’s Word, take God at His Word, and, then, ask for wisdom in faith. All of God’s great gifts come through faith. Here are a few other examples:
Ephesians 2:8, It is by grace you are saved through faith…
Ephesians 3:12, In Christ and through faith in Him we may approach God with freedom and confidence.
Hebrews 11:6, And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.
John 6:35, Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.
John 11:25, Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die;”
This is a short list of a long litany of promises found in Scripture of what belief or faith in God can accomplish. James adds to the list by telling us when we have undoubting faith when we ask for wisdom, God generously gives it to us to meet the specific needs of our lives.
Question to Consider:
What situation in your life is requiring you to ask God for wisdom? How can others pray for you?
Weekly Memory Verse:
James 1:5, If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.
September 15
James 1:5-8, If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.
We must approach God in absolute faith. If we doubt whether God will give wisdom or not, we are really doubting God’s character, His goodness and His power. Then, we have no stability in time of trouble.
James gives us the visual of the surge of the sea, rising to great heights, then falling back into valleys, tossed and troubled. The tossing of the unpredictable and erratic sea waves is a picture of the one who rests on God’s promises one moment but the next thinks God has forgotten to be kind. Such a double-minded faith that quickly shifts between hope and despair does not honor God. It reveals a person who is not able to receive the gift of wisdom because the required faith is not there to accept it.
The faith that is required believes that God is all-good, all-loving, and all-powerful, and is eager to give us wisdom to live pleasingly unto Christ Jesus. However, if we have lingering fears and doubts, rather than give up, let us be honest with God.
When a demon-possessed boy was brought by his father, he, then, said to Jesus, “if you can do anything to help us…” Jesus replied, “If you can? Everything is possible for one who believes.” The boy’s father said, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!”
Jesus honored such honesty and heartfelt plea to believe. God will do the same for us as we show a willing heart and deep desire to be full of faith in the midst of a crisis.
Questions to Consider:
Are there circumstances in your life where you have difficulty having single-minded unwavering faith? How can others pray for you?
Weekly Memory Verse:
James 1:5, If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.
September 16
James 3:13-18, Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their 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, demonic. For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice. But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.
In good James’ fashion, he states that wisdom should show itself in practical ways in our daily life. He offers us two kinds of wisdom. The first is an earthly or ungodly kind of wisdom that comes from the home of evil itself.
Ungodly wisdom leads to unwise living. James identified bitter envy and selfish ambition as the two devilish sources that lead to disunity and division, as well as, many other ungodly actions.
It is interesting to note that the term “selfish ambition” translates a word that Aristotle used to describe the political factions that were creating havoc in Athens in his day. So, we do not have to look far to gain a good understanding of how this might present itself today.
The unwise have one passion: to advance their own interests. They are proud of what their so-called wisdom has brought them, and they’re jealous of others who compete against them and will ruthlessly mistreat them.
Wherever there is such self-centered striving and boasting, we will not find the wisdom of God. In fact, such arrogance diminishes and denies the very truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Such a selfish orientation has no part in the kingdom of God.
We will look at godly wisdom tomorrow.
Questions to Consider:
Have you ever found ungodly wisdom at work in your life? If so, when or where?
Weekly Memory Verse:
James 1:5, If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.
September 17
James 3:13-18, Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their 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, demonic. For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice. But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.
In contrast to pride and selfish ambition that characterizes ungodly wisdom is the wisdom that comes from above that is characterized by humility.
Proverbs 9:10 says, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.”
There can be no real wisdom without a holy reverence for the one true God as revealed in Jesus Christ and proclaimed in the Word of God. For followers of Jesus, this wisdom accompanies the Holy Spirit dwelling within us and is manifested in particular situations as we ask God to make it clear.
So, we have the ability to enjoy the wisdom from heaven as we allow the Holy Spirit to increasingly take control of our lives.
Godly wisdom shows up practically in many wonderful attributes that reflect the holiness, mercy, love, kindness, impartiality, and peace of God. Wise people strive for Godly unity with others and, as a result, will see a harvest of Christ-like behavior in their own lives.
The fruit that wise humble, peacemakers produce creates a sense of loving community among believers that pleases God. It is characterized by humility instead of arrogance, unity instead of disunity, concern for others instead of selfishness. It looks like Jesus.
Question to Consider:
How is God using you to be a wise, humble, peacemaker bringing kindness, unity, and loving care to those around you?
Weekly Memory Verse:
James 1:5, If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.