James 1:5-8
Have you ever pondered the fact that Christians should be
the wisest people on earth, and if they are not, and I believe we have evidence
to support they are not, then we must contemplate on why not? Shall we begin by asking questions; do
Christians believe that the Bible is without fault, without error, and that God
is speaking to each of us from His written word? As a whole, most would tell you they believe
that is a true statement and those who believe that it has errors may have the
answer to why those who go by the name Christian are not any wiser than those
who are non-Christian.
It may be important to share that one out of ten people in
the local church believe that the Bible is full of errors, and I am not in that
camp; I’m foolish enough to believe in a God who can keep what He has entrusted
to mankind as the manufacturers handbook.
From that perspective shall we look at James 1:5-8, “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God,
who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. 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. For that person must not
suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is double-minded man,
unstable in all his ways.”
After reading verse five only a foolish follower of Christ
would not ask for wisdom, and we have this promise that our Father in heaven
will give us wisdom in generous proportions.
So what is our problem? Could it
be that we have a faith problem? That we
who claim to believe that our Creator sent His only Son to buy us out of the
penalty of sin, are trusting by faith to give us eternal life, cannot trust Him
to supply a simple thing like wisdom to live life on planet earth? My wise friend, Carroll Ray Jr. who is
experiencing the fullness of that grace with the Father often said; “Faith is
acting like Jesus tells the truth.” So
as I ponder this word from God, I ask more questions, are we just doubters and
if so God has spoken clearly in James 1:6-8, that a doubter will not receive
anything from the Lord; that they are double-minded and unstable in all their
ways.
Not liking that conclusion, it requires more consideration
if we are not doubters, then we should be the wisest of all who live on this
earth? Now before you say something stupid
like Christians are wise, talk with your pastor about the people who claim the
name of Christian who come to his office for council. Ninety-nine percent of them have made choices
that conflict with the basic teaching of the Bible. They may do it out of ignorance, or they may
just be so full of self that they believe that God helps those who help
themselves, or they may just be like me, and have a problem submitting and
abiding in the truth. And that leads us
back to doubting, and a doubter has a belief problem. If you are not wise and ask God to give you
wisdom, why do you not have wisdom? And
if you are not wise and are making wrong choices, why not act like Jesus tells
the truth, and ask God today to draw a ring around you and change everything
inside that circle that He desires to change to make you like His only Son, the
Lord Jesus Christ.
Form the Back Porch,
Bob Rice
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