“GOD GIVES WISDOM”

Season: The Book of James
Episode 3: “God Gives Wisdom”
Today’s Bible Bite: James 1:5-8

Video Story:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4BotClS_6bI (Douglas Talks – Godly Wisdom)

“If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and He will give it to you.” (James 1:5a, NLT)

James wanted people to know that anyone who needed to know what to do could just ask God…and God would provide that person with wisdom. There was nothing to be ashamed of for asking and God is pleased to help everyone in this way. But James also had a warning. If, after asking God for wisdom, you go looking for a second opinion, then you shouldn’t expect God’s help at all. God is more than capable of helping us. Asking only Him demonstrates our trust in Him. Using Him as just one possible source, shows a lack of loyalty to God…and God will not reward disloyalty. It shows that we are keeping our options open—willing to trade in God’s wisdom for the advice we might receive from another source. God refuses to play those types of games—if we truly want His wisdom, He will provide it; if we’re just wanting to hedge our bet, we shouldn’t expect His help at all.

Think about it...
• James tells us that if we need wisdom, we shouldn’t hesitate to ask God for His help. What ways can God’s wisdom help us?
• We should not treat God’s advice as one option amongst a number of possibilities. Why doesn’t God want us looking for other sources of wisdom?
• God loves to help us, but He refuses to be misused by us. How can we misuse our relationship with God?
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Prayer: Thank you, God, that you will provide us with wisdom—knowing what we should do—if we ask. Help us to trust you and not doubt that you will help when we do. Help us also not to fall into the temptation of looking for a different answer, if we don’t get the answer from you that we want.