In the first four verses, James encourages his readers to count their trials as joy. Written in the style of proverbs, James quickly jumps to his next lesson. His focus is now on wisdom and praying faithfully.
James 1:5
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 ESV
James tells us of a profound promise. God will give wisdom, generously, to all who ask. However, before we ask God to make good on his promise we should first consider what it means to 'lack wisdom' in order to better understand what God is offering.
In the context of James, to be wise is to receive the word of God, consider it intently, and conforms you to be like Christ. God knows everything that can be known, he is omniscient, but this promise is not that he will disclose a special revelation or competitive advantage.
Let's say that you ask for wisdom to choose the best car insurance. I'm not convinced that you would qualify as 'lacking wisdom'. Albeit somewhat difficult to choose, particularly if you have lots of choice, God is not offering a shortcut to reading small print. You are very capable of making that choice and don't lack wisdom to do so.
God, speaking through James, is more likely offering wisdom on a righteous and godly way of life. It is salvation, justification, sanctification, and glorification that we ought to seek wisdom in.
With that said, there is no reason to restrict what wisdom you ask, only to first consider your greater need and then the lesser.
James 1:6
But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind.
James 1:5-6 ESV
Having discerned what we ought to ask, we move forward to the manner of how we should ask. We are to ask in faith. Pistis means faith, trust, or confidence. Some are tempted to believe that if they avoid doubtful thoughts they can ask anything, but they deceive themselves. For God sees our heart, he knows our lack of faith.
We must endeavour to rely on God's promises and not our own confidence. For faith is a gift from God (Ephesians 2:8), no believer produces a trust and confidence in the Lord by their own accord, they receive it by promise through the gospel (Genesis 12:3, Galatians 3:8, Romans 10:17).
Some have been deceived to believe that faith is a reasoned belief, a judgement executed by free will. They have reasoned that faith is not a gift, but a response. How quickly they forget that it is by God's patience that we live (2 Peter 3:9), by Christ's sacrifice and mediation we are ransomed (Hebrews 2:12, 1 Timothy 2:5-6), by God's Spirit we are convicted of sin (John 16:8) and without whom nobody says "Jesus is Lord" (1 Corinthians 12:3). How then can we take credit at the final hurdle?
Therefore, trust not in your own strength, but trust in the promises of God when you pray.
James 1:7-8
For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.
James 1:7-8 ESV
In these final two verses, James expounds upon his metaphor in the previous verse. A wave that is blown around like wind is never settled, never grounded in truth. It crashes and swells, and such is the turmoil of a person who lacks confidence.
Such a person should instead rely upon God. Here are a few of His promises that you might wish to pray for wisdom:
For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you.
Jeremiah 29:11-12ESV
Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live."
John 11:25 ESV
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
1 John 1:9 ESV
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