#BIBLELESSON Expressions of Faith. James Ch 1. What to do if you lack wisdom
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. 6 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. 7 That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. 8 Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.
James 1:5-8
James assumes his readers know what wisdom is.
- He uses the Greek term “sophia.”
- Sophia is the ability to judge correctly and to follow the best course of action, based on knowledge and understanding
To many people, wisdom and knowledge are synonyms.
- There is a very clear difference between knowledge and wisdom. Knowledge is merely “knowing”, learning, or understanding facts as they pertain to certain situations. Wisdom, on the other hand, is the ability to apply that knowledge to given situations.
When combined with the Greek definition, it’s clear that wisdom and knowledge are not synonymous to James.
Chances are you know someone you consider wise.
- When you think about them, does what you see as wisdom fit definitions above?
- If it’s not a match, that’s okay, because Biblical wisdom is unique.
Wisdom - To understand whence and why temptations come, and how they are to be improved [overcome].
God wants you to be wise, to have the wisdom on He can provide.
- It’s not an automatic add-on to salvation.
- It takes the belief that God will provide wisdom without doubting that He will provide when you ask.
If temptations are difficult for you to overcome, even though you know you’re saved, ask God for wisdom.
Then “believe and not doubt.”
Express Your Faith this Week
Pray every day. Ask God for wisdom in faith and without doubting, believing God will give you His wisdom.
Think. Search for the word “wisdom” in your Bible. Read each verse in your search in context. Jot down similarities and differences in the meaning of each.
Do. Draw a cartoon about “how to get God's wisdom.” It can humorous or serious.
If you’re not an artist, imagine a scene that represents “how to get God's wisdom.” List five objects in the scene and describe or explain the purpose of each in the scene.
If you’re not an artist, imagine a scene that represents “how to get God's wisdom.” List five objects in the scene and describe or explain the purpose of each in the scene.
Cartoon
Scene Description and Explanations
Characteristics/Objects
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Description/Explanation
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