TruthPoints
04.23.08
Making Wise Decisions
Abraham Lincoln said on one occasion, “I don’t think much of a man who is not wiser today than he was yesterday”.
One of the greatest needs of modern man is wisdom. Think about this for a moment. In many ways, this generation is the most prolific of all generations. We have more college graduates. Knowledge is exploding. We travel farther and fly higher than any previous generation in history. We accumulate data as never before. The computer age is advancing in such a way that information becomes outdated with virtually every passing minute.
However, while such knowledge is increasing, wisdom is often lacking. Many lives are in shambles. Suicide rates are higher than ever. Morals are at a record low. Divorce is ever on the increase. In many ways, the world is on the brink of chaos. Yet, to such a generation James says, “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him”. (James 1:5)
Note the wonderful promises made to us when we ask God for wisdom. (James 1:5)
-God will give us wisdom.
-God will give us a liberal amount.
-God will not rebuke us for not knowing what to do in a given situation.
God loves us. We are His sons and daughters. He is our Father and He wants to meet our every need. Therefore, God will hear our request. He will give us supernatural wisdom to conquer the trials of life.
1. God promises to answer Spontaneously. (1:5) “God, who gives…”
The Amplified Bible puts it like this, “If any of you is deficient in wisdom, let him ask of the Giving God”.
Is that not beautiful? God is known among men and down through the ages as the Giving God. It is characteristic of God’s nature to give. He gives spontaneously and instinctively.
The psalmist said…
- “The Lord will give strength to His people” (29:11)
- “The Lord shall give you the desires of your heart” (37:4)
- “The Lord will give grace and glory” (84:11)
Our God is a Giving God, One who gives wisdom spontaneously.
2. God promises to answer Impartially. (1:5) “God, who gives to all...”
You see, God is not exclusive but inclusive in relation to this gift of wisdom. It does not matter about your intellectual, physical, social, material, or financial standing. The only condition you must meet is to admit your need and ask for God’s help.
3. God promises to answer Liberally. (1:5) “God, who gives to all liberally…”
The word “liberally,” (1:5) denotes “generosity, open-handedness”. It is characteristic of the unbeliever to see God with a clenched fist, but it is characteristic of the believer to see Him with an open hand. You see, there is no limit to the wisdom that God can give. The reservoir of God’s wisdom is never in short supply.
4. God promises to answer Graciously. (1:5) “God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach…”
That is, God gives this wisdom ungrudgingly, without reproaching, or faultfinding. Some people give gifts with all sorts of strings attached, and often use the giving of those gifts as opportunities to belittle, insult, or rebuke the recipients. But not God.
Now on the one hand, you and I need wisdom. On the other hand, the Lord is willing to bestow wisdom. Here we have the Need. Here we have the Source, but how do we get the Source to meet the Need.
James says all we need to do is ask. You see, prayer is the channel that brings wisdom from its source to where it is needed. James did not say if we lack wisdom, we need to learn more theology. He did not say we have to search for a friend, or wait for a more mature believer to cross our path, or depend on an e-mail. No, he said we should turn to the ever-present God, approaching Him, through the ever-open door of intercession.
Someone once said, “The real secret of prayer is secret prayer.” Pastor Denis Lyle said, “There is probably no other subject about which we profess so vastly and practice so vaguely”. It is so easy to talk about prayer, to say how much we believe in it, to say how important it is, but the important question is this, “Do we pray?”
Robert Murray McCheyne said on one occasion, “What a man is on his knees before God alone, that he is and nothing else.”
I do not know about you but without the wisdom and guidance of God, I would be afraid to get out of bed each morning. However, because He promised us that His wisdom is available anytime we need it, I am encouraged to not only get out of bed but also go directly and immediately to Him in prayer – asking for his Divine Wisdom and Divine Guidance for each day.
It is my prayer that the same is true of you.
Have a blessed day,
Pastor David