JesusWalk Bible Study Forum: Q4. The Promise of Wisdom - JesusWalk Bible Study Forum

Q4. (1:5-8) What is the promise to claim in verse 5? What is the condition attached to this promise in verse 6? How do trials help us receive this wisdom?

The promise is that we will be given wisdom simply by asking for it, BUT we should not ask if we aren't prepared to hear God's answer. Trials give us the opportunity to grow in endurance which is the key to being strong in character and being ready to face anything.

I think trials help us get rid of the unnecessary 'stuff' and help us focus on what's important - God. When we can clear away all the junk that we're worried about, it's much easier to hear God's wisdom and act on it.

Q4. (1:5-8) What is the promise to claim in verse 5? What is the condition attached to this promise in verse 6? How do trials help us receive this wisdom?

Wisdom is the promise but we have to be sure that we really want it. I think that's one of the reasons James says not to doubt. If we do the right thing during these trials we will be leaning on Him and listening to Him.

But, why would we not want wisdom from God?

To the question: Wisdom....Be Prepared.....Reap the rewards!
Thank you,
Debora

God will give us the wisdom we ask for if we have faith and are commited to what we ask.

Q4. (1:5-8) What is the promise to claim in verse 5? What is the condition attached to this promise in verse 6? How do trials help us receive this wisdom?


God promises us that we can ask for wisdom from him and he will give it to us unfailingly and without criticism ! What an awesome promise. No mater what the situation, we can ask for God's wisdom on it. The condition is that we don't ask wavering but ask in faith. We need to believe that he will give us his wisdom AND trust that it is His wisdom. I'm working on this one myself. Sometimes I doubt that the answers I receive are God's because they don't make sense to me...I'm not sure that I'm hearing from God. I'm determined to get better at this though!!!

The promise is that He will give wisdom to those who ask for it. The condition is not to doubt or hesitate. (will He really do it? I'm not worthy, why would He give ME wisdom?) Trials enable us to rely on Him. When we rely on Him and He comes through, we have now gained experience and knowledge that He is faithful. With each trial we rely more and more on Him and He continuously remains faithful so we come to know we can trust in Him to always help us. This knowledge eliminates doubt because it is backed by experience.

God wisdom. God has always given us this, but we must be able to take what he gives us and use it wisely. That is the key. It is just like our parents when we are growing up, while we are growing up they are teaching us right from wrong and as life goes on, our parents slowly allow us to handle our own lives. They are passing along their wisdom along the way, but how we choose to use that wisdom is another story. The same is true of God, he is alway teaching us about himself and his wisdom. But not everyone has the trust in God to use that wisdom in the proper manner. Also we must never judge our fellow man, God never judges us, so we should never judge others. This is very difficult for most of us to do, not judge our fellow man. It is so easy to do that. But being born with a severe hearing defect myself, I found out very quickly how people are so willing to label us and I swore I would never to that to anyone else.

Q4. (1:5-8) What is the promise to claim in verse 5? What is the condition attached to this promise in verse 6? How do trials help us receive this wisdom?

The promise is wisdom-given generously by God without finding fault. How awesome! The condition is that we believe and not doubt. Trials help us recieve wisdom by pointing us to God and asking Him for the answer. He will give us the solution but we must believe He will give it to us and not doubt. And He will generously bless us with the wisdom we need. And with each trial and each answer from the Lord, our faith will increase and thus the wisdom from Him will also increase.

Q4. (1:5-8) What is the promise to claim in verse 5?


That if we ask God for wisdom, He will be sure to give us wisdom. Wisdom attained is up to us as individuals.



What is the condition attached to this promise in verse 6?

That we must ask in faith. Never doubting, if we want to attain wisdom.


How do trials help us receive this wisdom?

Trials give us a different view of ourselves. They bring out the best and/or the worst in us. We must get wise or we get defeated by the trial.

Q4. (1:5-8) What is the promise to claim in verse 5? What is the condition attached to this promise in verse 6? How do trials help us receive this wisdom?


The promise is verse 5 is that everyone who asks in faith will receive generously the wisdom of God. God knows that our standards do no match His standards. Even by getting His wisdom we cannot attain those levels. But the opportunity is given to everyone that they may acquire the wisdom of God by asking for it in faith and not doubting it. Promises are meant to be claimed for our use. God has made that provision. We should seek wisdom to enumerate those promises and use them as and when necessary. He is a faithful God whose promises are always true.

Trials push us to a corner, helpless and frustrated. When we throw up our hands and accept the fact the we cannot fight the battle alone, God extends His helping hand and shows a way out. In such circumstances, the wisdom of God is at play in our lives. How thankful I am for this wonderful provision that God made for me!!

James encourages us to pray for wisdom by assuring us not only that God will answer our prayer for wisdom, but that He will do so without shaming or humiliating us. This is because He is glorified when we confess our dependency and His sufficiency. God delights in the fact that we express our dependence on Him.

James sets down only one condition and that is that we pray in faith, without wavering. It is never wrong to pray for wisdom, and there is never a time when God will not grant us that wisdom – except when we ask with an inner wavering. It would appear that it was to waver between humility and pride. I understand that what James is saying is that we had better not ask for wisdom from God unless we are also willing to follow the wisdom He provides. God will not “cast His pearls before swine;” He will not reveal wisdom to those who are not committed to follow it.

How sad it is that some teach that God is obliged to deliver us from (or out of) our suffering, if we simply have enough faith. How tragic. Chapter 1 of James hits this error head-on. First, James does not portray suffering and trials as an evil, from which the Christian should seek to escape. James does not even encourage his readers to pray that God would deliver them from their trials. Quite differently, James urges his readers to joyfully embrace their trials, knowing they are from God and for a good purpose. We are told to pray when we fall into various trials, not for deliverance, but for wisdom. We are assured that our prayers requesting wisdom will assuredly be answered, and without any rebuke, if we but pray in faith. A lack of faith is what keeps us from wisdom, not from deliverance from our adversity.

The trials of life are often the instrument God uses to show us our desperate need for the forgiveness of our sins and the power to live a life that is pleasing to God. Now, as in our Lord’s day, adversity may point us to Christ as the One who can forgive our sins and gain us entrance into heaven. This is wisdom.

Teach me. O God, to use all the circumstances of my life today that they may bring forth in me the fruits of holiness rather than the fruits of sin.

Q4. (1:5-8) What is the promise to claim in verse 5? What is the condition attached to this promise in verse 6? How do trials help us receive this wisdom?


The promise that we can claim in verse 5 is that God will grant us wisdom and grant it abundantly if we ask Him in faith. BUT, and here is the condition, if you are going to ask God for wisdom, be prepared to accept it. We might ask for wisdom and then not like what that wisdom leads us to, but we are to accept this wisdom knowing that God has an ultimate purpose and desire for our lives and it is through His wisdom that He guides us along. How do trials help us receive this wisdom? Well, in my experience, it is only after I have wrestled with "it" (that being whatever problem or trial I am struggling with) and have it suffciently messed up beyond a human's capacity to unmess it that I will turn to God. Sad, isn't it? But when there is no other way but that way which has been revealed by God, we have to accept it. I do believe though that with each trial that comes along, I am quicker to seek God's wisdom rather than relying on my own feeble understanding and feel that this draws me closer to Him and gives me greater comfort knowing that I can rely on Him to bring me through.

The promise to claim in verse 5 is that if we lack wisdom, ask God and it will be given to you.
The condition is we must believe and not doubt.
We trust in God to give us wisdom in the trials that we go through. We are not to doubt anything.

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God-centered Wisdom will be given and not withheld from those who ask God for it.

What is the condition attached to this promise in verse 6?

We must ask in faith, a trust that is heartfelt confidence in God.

How do trials help us receive this wisdom?

Trials bring us to our knees and strips off the superficial we often surround ourselves with. Trials often have us asking for answers we do not have, so we seek God…begging to be given a discerning heart and mind that is able to see the hidden issues and purpose and causes. Trials often brings us to a place of total surrender, where we have not words but only groaning, giving up our will and wisdom to God’s, as the Spirit makes intercession.
In trials we better see our own weakness and our need to rely on God and the more we rely on God the more spiritually wise we become.

Q4. (1:5-8) What is the promise to claim in verse 5? What is the condition attached to this promise in verse 6? How do trials help us receive this wisdom?

If we lack wisdom, ask Him for it, and He will provide it. He will not deride us or find fault in us for our lack. He knows we are dust, not like Him, but He loves us and wants the best for us!
We must believe that He will do this! If we ask but do not really believe that He cares to answer us, we cannot receive! Our hearts are closed to Him.
Trials cause us to realize our need of Him and His wisdom! We can't see the "rocks beside the channel", and because we don't know where they are, we, in our conceit, can run into disaster and founder upon them. Because of this (possibly after many bad results in our past), we are forced to come to Him in humility, asking for His guidance--and then, obeying--for if we do not obey His guidance, we will fail, and our behavior shows our lack of belief! Surely, if we believe, we will obey. Won't we??? Hmmm. How many disasters does it take before we learn?

The answer is wisdom. Getting Wisdom will require that we go through a process of self examination.We will be required to confront our values and attitudes. [color="red"]We need to look at our relationship with other people, purity, peaceableness , gentleness, submissiveness, the level of mercy we exercise, the fruits we manifest, how impartial we are and our sincerety[/color] ([color="blue"]look at James 3:17[/color])

If we ASK! God will give us wisdom. We must ask in faith beveling, God will give us all we need.