If Any of You Lacks Wisdom

“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” (James 1:5) How many of us have read James 1:5 and thought, yes! That describes me. But, on the other hand, how many of us have recognized our need of wisdom and not really been sure where to start in our quest. Even if we ask God, how do we know what He’s saying to us? 

Here’s a quote from Chuck Swindoll that might just help. He says,

Wisdom comes privately from God as a by-product of right decisions, godly reactions, and the application of spiritual principles to daily circumstances. Wisdom comes . . . not from trying to do great things for God . . . but more from being faithful to the small, obscure tasks few people ever see. [God’s Treasury of Virtues, ed. Honor Books staff (Tulsa; Honor Books, 1996), p. 323, emphasis added.]

Maybe all this time we’ve had a wrong idea of what wisdom really is. 

Maybe all this time we’ve been chasing the wrong rainbow, so to speak.

Maybe we need to quit trying to outthink God and work on doing what we already know He wants from us.

Maybe we really just need to spend time in God’s Word and in prayer, opening our hearts to what He has already told us.

Maybe we need to just slow down, and faithfully do what God tells us to do today.

Maybe, if we’re faithful in the little things, God will open up greater stores of wisdom for what we face in the future.

No, I’m guessing it’s not always as “simple” as that. But it’s not a bad place to start.

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