Recognizing Our Ignorance
“If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.” -James 1:5
Here’s the key and solution to foolishness: simply ask God for wisdom, and He will freely give to anyone that asks, if he asks in faith. But perhaps the biggest obstacle to obtaining wisdom is not in mustering up enough faith to ask of God, but rather, in seeing our need.
Notice one crucial word in the above verse: lack. “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God. . .” More often than not, we simply don’t see our own need, and we don’t see our ignorance.
James did not write, “if any of you would like wisdom. . .” And we usually think, “well, I have a fair degree of wisdom on my own, but it would be nice to have this supplemented with some of God’s wisdom as well. I can do very well enough in most endeavors on my own, but in certain circumstances, I find myself in need of just a bit more wisdom.”
I believe such prideful thoughts and requests will go unanswered by God.
We do not truly believe that we lack wisdom. We do not see our own folly clearly enough to make a heartfelt petition before God.
The example of Solomon
In examining this subject of wisdom, it would be helpful to look at the one who is most often thought to be the wisest man who ever lived: king Solomon.
Perhaps we think that he had natural ability and wisdom, and that God merely allowed it to flourish more fully, yet such notions couldn’t be further from the truth: Solomon was helpless, and though excellent in spirit, he was admittedly ignorant and unable to lead a nation—Solomon said as much in his very own words. And yet, it was this very humility, this very “lacking” of widsom, that made him so great.
Right along with James 1:5, Solomon gives us a by-the-book example of how to obtain wisdom: 1) acknowledge your dire need, and 2) ask in faith.
“And now, O LORD my God, thou hast made thy servant king instead of David my father: and I am but a little child: I know not how to go out or come in. And thy servant is in the midst of thy people which thou hast chosen, a great people, that cannot be numbered nor counted for multitude. Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people?” -1 Kings 3:7-9
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