Turn back to James 1. I've entitled the message for
this evening, Asking for Wisdom. Asking for Wisdom. James says,
if any of you lack wisdom, I wonder if there's anyone here
who thinks I already have a surplus of that. I don't think so. I don't think so. I think when
we hear that, we think I lack wisdom, and I desire to have
it. If any of you lack wisdom, let
him ask of God that giveth to all men liberally. and upbraideth not, and it shall
be given him." If any of you lack, fall short,
come up wanting, or even are destitute of wisdom. Solomon said in Proverbs chapter
4 verse 7, wisdom is the principal thing. It's the thing of greatest
importance. You'll remember when God told
Solomon in 1 Kings chapter 3, ask me what you will and I'll
give it to you. And what was it he asked for?
He asked for wisdom. Now what is wisdom? Best definition
I've ever heard or read is wisdom is the right use of knowledge. Wisdom is the right use of knowledge. Knowledge is the car. Wisdom
is the driver. Think about that. Knowledge is
the car. A car can be of great benefit. It was a car that got you here
to hear the gospel tonight. A car can be a great blessing.
A car can also be an instrument of destruction. Somebody just
this week was run over, a bicyclist was run over here in Lexington
and that's the second time that's happened very recently. A car
can be an instrument of great blessing or a car can be an instrument
of destruction and death depending on the driver. Knowledge. can be a great source
of blessing. Knowledge can be a source of
curse. It depends on whether or not
you have wisdom to use that knowledge. Wisdom is the right use of knowledge. Now the wisdom that James is
speaking of is what he calls in James chapter 3 verse 18,
the wisdom that is from above. This is no earthly wisdom. This
is wisdom from above, from God himself. Now, there are other
types of wisdom, and they're good in their place, but you
can't know God with these different types of worldly wisdom, and
I'm thankful for worldly wisdom. We need worldly wisdom in order
to raise our families sometimes, or be successful in our jobs,
or whatever it might be. benefits to worldly wisdom, but
nobody ever knew God from worldly wisdom. Turn with me to 1 Corinthians
chapter 1. See what the Bible has to say
about human wisdom. Verse 17, For Christ sent me
not to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not with wisdom of
words. lest the cross of Christ should
be made of none effect. Look in verse 19. For it's written,
I will destroy the wisdom of the wise and will bring to nothing
the understanding of the prudent. Where is the wise? Where is the
scribe? Where is the disputer of this
world? Hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? For
after that, in the wisdom of God, the world by wisdom knew
not God. It pleased God by the foolishness
of preaching to save them that believe. For the Jews require
sign, the Greeks seek after wisdom. Look in chapter 2. And I, brethren,
verse 1, when I came to you, I came not with excellency of
speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God.
I didn't use human wisdom for this. Look in verse 4. And my
speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's
wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power. Look
in chapter 3, verse 19. For the wisdom of this world
is foolishness with God. For it is written, he taketh
the wise in their own craftiness. And again, the Lord knoweth the
thoughts of the wise, that they are vain. Now that's what the
Bible has to say with regard to human wisdom in reference
to knowing God. contributes nothing. Now look in 1 Corinthians chapter
1 verse 22. I've already read this but I
want to read a little bit further so we'll kind of know what the
wisdom James is talking about is. 1 Corinthians 1 verse 22,
for the Jews require a sign and And the Greeks seek after wisdom,
but we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumbling block,
and unto the Greeks foolishness, but unto them which are called,
both Jews and Greeks, Christ, the power of God. And Christ,
the wisdom of God. Now, this is the wisdom that
James is speaking of. First, Christ, the power of God. Now, I think of the power of
Christ that enables him to cause me to be without guilt before
God. Now, that's power, isn't it?
He is able to make me guiltless before God. He is able to make
me perfectly conformed to the image of His Son. Now that's
power. Christ is the power of God into
salvation. I think of the power it took
to put away my sin. He actually made it. Such is
the power of His sacrifice that He made it to where my sin is
no more. Such is the power and the saving efficacy of his sacrifice
that he makes me without guilt before God. Christ is the power
of God into salvation. Amen? Christ is the wisdom of
God. Now, God is so wise that he's
made a way in his wisdom to take somebody like me, unjust, sinful,
guilty, weak, he's found a way to be just and to justify in
a way that honors his justice and honors his law and honors
his character. He's so wise he's found a way
to be just and yet justify the ungodly through the power of
the Lord Jesus Christ. Christ is the power of God. Christ
is the wisdom of God. God is so wise that He made a
way to be just and justifier, and He has the power to execute
that. Christ is the wisdom, and Christ
is the power of God. Look in the 30th verse of 1 Corinthians
chapter 1. This is a scripture that ought
to be committed to memory by all of us. 1 Corinthians chapter
1, verse 30. But of Him are you in Christ
Jesus. who of God is made unto us wisdom. Now Christ is my wisdom. Now God is all wise. God is wise
and could you have fellowship with a dog? No. I mean, you might love your dog
and have affection toward your dog, but you can't talk to it.
I mean, in the sense that you couldn't have communion with
it. You couldn't unburden your heart to it. It's a dog. And
God could not have fellowship with a sinner. It would be beneath
Him. He's altogether glorious and
He could not have fellowship with the sinner. But Christ is
made unto us wisdom so that I'm fit for fellowship with God because
Christ Himself is my wisdom. And the way this reads, He's
made unto us wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption,
it could just as easily read, He's made unto us wisdom, which
results in righteousness, holiness, and full deliverance. Christ is my wisdom. He's made in me wisdom. Now how
wise is Christ? That's how wise every believer
is. And God can have fellowship with
that believer. You know, every believer is a
wise man. The wise man that built his house upon the rock. Christ
is my wisdom before God. Now, that's the wisdom James
is speaking of. And what does this wisdom look
like if someone possesses it? Well, turn with me to James chapter
3. James chapter 3, verse 13. And this is not what
that wisdom looks like when one possesses this wisdom. Who is
a wise man among you, James chapter 3 verse 13, and endued with knowledge
among you? Let him show out of a good conversation
his works with meekness of wisdom. But if you have bitter envying
and strife in your hearts, And that word, strife, actually means
electioneering, self-promotion, envying and seeking to promote
and sell yourself. That's what the word there means,
electioneering, trying to get votes. If you have bitter envying
and strife in your heart, glory not, lie not against the truth. This wisdom descendeth not from
above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. For where envying and
strife is, there is confusion and every evil work, but the
wisdom that is from above." Now look at this first as a description
of Christ, the wisdom of God. This is a beautiful portrait
of the Lord Jesus Christ. He is the wisdom that's from
above. The wisdom that's from above is first pure, immaculate,
holy. Perfect. Then, peaceable. Peaceable. Gentle. And the word gentle means
fair, mild. Doesn't hold your feet to the
fire. That's the way the Lord is. Moderate is sometimes That's
not talking about moderate as in eating and drinking, but a
gentle, peaceable way. Easy to be entreated. That means
approachable. Approachable. Is the Lord Jesus
Christ approachable? Full of mercy. What a description of our Redeemer.
And of good fruits. Love. Think of the Lord in light
of the fruit of the Spirit. Love, joy, peace, long-suffering,
gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance. What
a portrait of the Lord Jesus, this wisdom that's from above,
without partiality, plain and clear, non-ambiguous, not uncertain,
plain and simple, and without hypocrisy. The Lord never acts. Now, that's what the wisdom that's
from above looks like. Isn't it beautiful? Now, this wisdom from above,
we're to ask for Christ. the wisdom of God, Christ being
made unto us wisdom. That wisdom that's from above,
that's first pure and after that peaceable, gentle, easy to be
entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality
and without hypocrisy. Now, that's what this wisdom
looks like. And what a precious thing wisdom
is. If any man lack wisdom, he says. We see the beauty of it. If any
man lack wisdom. Even if you have it, and every
believer does, you feel like you lack. And you want more of
it. What little you have, you want
much more of it. If any man lack wisdom, Paul
said, I've learned both how to abound and to suffer need. Feel a want, feel a lack. I feel
a need of wisdom. Now, I certainly feel a need
for that wisdom that's from above. Now, what is that person supposed
to do? Turn back to James 1. I love
the simplicity of this. If any of you lack wisdom, let
him ask God. Don't ask the preacher. Don't
ask the priest. Don't ask your mom. Don't ask
your dad. Don't ask your best friend. Don't ask your husband.
Don't ask your wife. There's only one who can give this to
you, and that's God himself. Let him ask God. Now, if I need gasoline for my
car, I don't go to Fayette Mall and go to one of the clothing
stores there, I go to a gas station, don't I? I go to the right place.
If I need clothing, I'm not going to a gas station. They don't
have anything like that there. I'm going to where you can get clothes.
And if I need wisdom, I'm going to the only place where it can
be had. God Himself. If any of you lack
wisdom, let Him ask God. Ask and you shall receive. Seek and you shall find. Knock
and it shall be given to you. Now, there's two reasons why
we ask God for wisdom. Number one, he's the only one
who has it. And number two, he's the only
one who gives it. Don't you love the simplicity
of James? If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God. Now, the word ask sometimes is translated desire. It's sometimes translated crave. It's sometimes translated beg. And it always has to do with
an inferior asking a superior. If any man lack wisdom, let him
ask of God. And there's several things implied
in us asking God for wisdom. First, I'm saying I believe myself
to be ignorant and need his wisdom. Secondly, I'm saying by asking
Him that I believe that He is. He that cometh to God must believe
that He is and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek
Him. When I ask him for wisdom, I
believe that he is and he is as he says he is in his word. I believe in the isness of God. I believe he is exactly as he's
revealed in his word. And when I ask him for wisdom,
I'm demonstrating my belief in salvation by grace. I'm not offering
to buy it from him. I'm not seeking to earn it from
him or demand it from him. The only thing you can ask for
is grace. Grace. Would you graciously bestow
upon me this wisdom? Would you be pleased to give
me this wisdom? I will not have it unless you
graciously give it to me. Now this implies dependence. I will not have any wisdom unless
you give it to me. Now, if any man ask, lack wisdom,
if any man is wanting in wisdom, let him ask of God. And the God we're asking is the
God who, as our text says, if any of you lack wisdom, let him
ask of God that giveth to all men liberally. What an encouragement. If you
lack wisdom, here's a promise. He gives to all men liberally,
all men who ask him. There's never been anyone who
truly asked him for wisdom that he turned away. He gives to all
men liberally, not just a select few. He gives his wisdom to all
men liberally. And that word carries with it
two meanings. generously. He gives to all men
simply, simple as opposed to double. He has only one reason
to give it. He doesn't give it because you
asked. He doesn't give it because you want it. He doesn't give
it because you deserve it. He has one reason for giving
His wisdom, Christ Himself. That's all the reason He needs. He's simple in His reason for
giving His glorious wisdom. In 2 Corinthians 11, verse 3,
we read of the simplicity, and that's the same word. The simplicity
that is in Christ. I love that scripture. The simplicity
that's in Christ. Look, God has one motive for
all he does, the glory of his son. He has one way of salvation,
Christ. He has one reason for the forgiveness
of sins, for Christ's sake. He gives to all men in simplicity. There's one righteousness. Christ's
righteousness. Don't you love the simplicity
of Christ? Not the duplicity of false religion. Yes and no
to the same thing, but the simplicity that's in Christ Jesus. That's
what that word means. It's actually translated that.
And it also means generously. Generously. When Solomon asked
for wisdom, how much more did he get? He got riches and wealth
and all kinds of other things, but the one thing he asked for
is wisdom and how God lavished his wisdom on this man. You see, he gives to all men
generously. God's rich and there is no diminishing of his riches. You ask for wisdom. He's going
to give it to you with simplicity. His only reason for giving it
is for Christ's sake, and He's going to give it to you generously. Now that's a promise from God.
If any lack wisdom, let him ask of God, who giveth to all men
liberty. And I love this last statement
about it. He upbraideth not. He upbraideth
not. Now what's that mean? How is
it that God doesn't upbraid? If I get in financial trouble
and I come to you and say, man, I've blown it. I've acted foolishly. I've got myself in trouble. Could
you help me out? Could you bail me out? I bet,
for the most part, about anybody in here would do it. I think
you would. I think you would. I hope you
would. I'm not going to be asking you, don't worry about it. This
is an illustration. OK, you bail me out. And I come
back to you a couple of months later and say, man, I've done
the same thing. I've run up my credit cards.
I'm in trouble. I'm in debt. Could you help me out again? You may do it. You may. You may
not. But you know what you'd do? You'd
upgrade me, wouldn't you? You'd be an irresponsible. You
shouldn't have let this happen again. I got you out, and you
let this happen again. You did the same thing over.
You'd upbraid me. If you didn't do it vocally,
you'd be thinking it. What's wrong with him? What's
wrong with him? He's doing the same stupid thing
over and over again, and he expects me to bail him out. Now, when
you come into God's presence, he's not going to upbraid you
like that. He's not going to say, you commit the same sin
over and over. Why should I do this for you? Look at you. Look at what you've
done. No. He upbraids not. Isn't that wonderful? You know
why? Here's why. In Christ, there's
nothing to upbraid you for. And that's how God sees you. If you're in Christ, there's
nothing to upbraid you for, and it's always come and welcome.
Come and welcome. You can come asking for wisdom,
and he's going to give to all liberally, and he's not going
to ball you out. Not going to do it. And look
at the promise of James 1, 5, and it shall, and it shall be
given Him. Now, this is a promise.
This is a promise from God Himself, inspired by the Holy Spirit,
written through the pen of James. If anyone lacks wisdom, I feel
like a fool. What do I do? Let him ask God. Don't ask anybody else. They
can't do anything for you. I can't do anything for you. The God
of glory can, though. Let him ask God who gives, who
freely gives. Salvation is about his gift.
Salvation is about what he does for you. He freely gives. Let him ask of God who gives
to all men, not just a few, all men liberally, with simplicity,
with generosity, And He's not going to upgrade you for asking.
You come in and ask again. If you've asked 5,000 times before
and messed up 5,000 times, come again. And here's the promise. It shall
be given Him. Now let me tell you why it shall
be given Him. For Christ's sake. Now does somebody
say, well, I've asked for wisdom, I don't see where I haven't.
And for one thing, remember this, wisdom isn't more intelligence. Wisdom is being in Christ. Wisdom
is trusting Christ. Wisdom is being found in Christ.
Wisdom is having that wisdom that's from above that's first
pure, and after that it's peaceable and gentle and easy to be entreated,
full of good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. That's what that wisdom looked
like from above. Look what he says, I'm going
to go more into this next week, but look what he says in verse
6. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that
wavereth is like a wave of the sea, driven with the wind and
tossed. Let not that man think that he
shall receive anything of the Lord. Now what in the world does
that mean? Does that mean when you ask for something that if
you have a little bit of doubt that maybe you won't get it,
you won't get it. You just have to believe real hard that whatever
I ask for I'm going to get and that's the only way I'm going
to have it. And if I doubt at all, I won't have it. That's
not what that means at all. There's faith and there's works. You ask in faith. You ask looking to Christ as
the only reason you'll have this and believing that in Christ
you'll have it because God promised. Or you ask in works, give me
this because I fill in the blank. That's works. Now, let not that
man who wavers, staggers at the promise of God through unbelief
and doesn't believe grace, He's not going to receive anything
from the Lord. And you can just write that down.
The only way you receive something is by faith. Faith in the Lord
Jesus Christ. Now, does anybody lack wisdom? Right now, ask God, who gives
to all men liberally, and upbraids not, and he shall have it. Let's pray. Lord, we come into your presence
in the name of Him who is our wisdom, who is our righteousness,
who is our sanctification, and who is our redemption. Lord,
we see Him as the wisdom of God. and the power of God. And Lord, we can't help but feel
the lacking of wisdom. Lord, as long as we're in these
sinful bodies, we'll feel the lacking of wisdom. But Lord,
you said in your Word, if you lack wisdom, let him ask of God. And Lord, we're asking you to
give us this wisdom, this wisdom that's from above. Lord, you promised you'll give
it. And Lord, we look to you to keep
your promise. Lord, give us the grace to ask
in faith, nothing wavering. We thank you for Christ our wisdom,
in his blessed name we pray, amen.