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“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 a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.” (James 1:5-8, ESV)

Pastor Abel’s sermon on this passage is titled, “God, Change This, Not Me”.

In this passage James introduces the concept of wisdom, and it is this word that carries the main topic for the whole book. Written early in the history of the church, most likely around AD 50 or earlier, it is very practical and covers the basics on how Christians should live in their daily lives. This skill of living life well is also known in the Bible as wisdom.

For further study this week, take some time to watch this short video on the book of James from the BibleProject. It describes the overall structure and purpose of the book and shows how wisdom is at the heart of the various sections.

As an exercise this week, if you have time, read the whole book of James and circle every time the word wisdom (or similar words) appears. Do you notice any patterns about these verses?

 

Small Group Questions

  • Describe a time in your life when someone shared some wisdom with you that helped you in a difficult circumstance.
  • Was there ever a time when you were not wise and had to learn wisdom the hard way?
  • What is wisdom and why is it so important to our lives?
  • What does it mean to be double-minded according to James, and why does it lead to instability in life?
  • How can we put this passage into practice this week?