James explains how to ask for wisdom after describing how to have joy in difficulties. James 1:5 If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. 6 But when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind. 7 Such people should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. 8 Their loyalty is divided between God and the world, and they are unstable in everything they do.[1]
It becomes apparent that we can’t find joy in trials on our own but need the wisdom of God to help us. We may despair at our lack of wisdom until we know God is generous and willingly gives us what we need. God sent Jesus to pay the price for our sin, and He will not begrudge our pleas for help.
Unwavering Faith
James tells us we can freely ask for wisdom and explains how we should ask. The Greek word that is translated “waver” in NLT, means “to be at variance with one’s self, hesitate, doubt.”[2] It is possible to doubt whether God will come through. But it is also possible to waver between being God-centered and self-centered. Verse eight describes how loyalty is divided between God and the world, so I believe this is the wavering James addresses. Doubt involves trusting ourselves more than we trust God.
The phrase “without doubting” is not connected with new faith, weak faith, or faltering faith. It is a faith that doubts that God cares and that He is good. When a person asks in doubt, they cannot expect anything because their request is not authentic.
Single-Minded Trust
A double-minded person may claim to be a believer but keeps other options open in case God doesn’t come through. It is like trying to play both sides of the fence. “Augustine confessed to this kind of thinking when he remembered one of his earliest prayers, “O Lord, grant me purity, but not yet!”[3]
Becoming a single-minded person is another step in the maturing of our faith. Doubts may be some of the trials we may need to overcome. We can wisely confess with the man before Jesus. Mark 9: 24 The father instantly cried out, “I do believe, but help me overcome my unbelief!”[4] Being of single-minded faith doesn’t mean we will never doubt, but we wholeheartedly commit to God. This takes the wisdom of God, which He promises to give when asked in faith. To learn how to ask for wisdom, listen here:
https://podpoint.com/light-of-christ-church-podcast/jesus-faith-in-action
[1,4] Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188
[2] Strong, J. (1995). G1252, In Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon. Woodside Bible Fellowship.
[3] Barton, B. B., Veerman, D., & Wilson, N. S. (1992). James (p. 14). Tyndale House Publishers.