James 1:5 and the Wisdom from Above

Does James 1:5 teach that if we ask sincerely, God the Father and Jesus Christ will physically appear to impart wisdom to us? Here is what the verse says: “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” (KJV).

If we are supposed to ask God (and we are) when we lack wisdom (and everyone does), how are we supposed to expect God to answer this prayer He tells us to pray? And if He will give us that wisdom, as the end of the verse tells us, how will He do it? How will He give us his wisdom? Where should we look for the wisdom God promises to those who lack it and ask Him for it?

As we seek answers to these questions, the first place we must begin is in the book of James itself. To make sure we are not twisting the Scriptures to our own destruction (2 Pet. 3:16), it is necessary to let the Divine and human authors speak for themselves, and only then to see more broadly what the other Scriptures tell us. Let us look in the immediate context of 1:5, and see what else James has to say about wisdom and its source. In James 1:2-4, we are told to let trials have their intended effect of 1) testing our faith and 2) producing steadfastness in order that we might be “perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” God’s goal in the trials that we face is to ensure that we lack nothing (verse 4). But we are not perfect yet, and we still lack many things. One of those things is wisdom (verse 5). Because of that, we are to ask God, the source of wisdom, for the gift of wisdom. In what way are we to ask for wisdom? In the next three verses, we are told that we must “ask in faith, with no doubting,” being of one mind and stable in all we do (verses 6-8). We can see more clearly in verse 17 that God is indeed the source of wisdom, since “every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.” We are then told that it is “the word of truth” that brought us forth unto spiritual life, and in order to save our souls, we must “receive with meekness the implanted word” (verses 18, 21).

Here is an incredible insight James gives us: the source of spiritual life and the source of wisdom both find their source in God. But both spiritual life and wisdom are to be received by the word. James then proclaims that active wisdom consists in being “doers of the word, and not hearers only.” This is so simple, yet so difficult, and endless words could be spilled over its centrality within Christianity. But do not miss what we are to hear and to do. What is the source of our living and acting as followers of Christ? The source is the Word of God, the “perfect law, the law of liberty,” “the royal law,” “the Scripture,” (James 1:25; 2:8, 12, 23; 4:5). We are actually told explicitly what the “wisdom from above” is in 3:17! But what is James 3:17? It is the Word of God! James, inspired by the Holy Spirit (2 Pet. 1:19-21) wrote God’s words of wisdom. God gave these words to us, that we might hear them, and do them.

So where do we get the promised wisdom of James 1:5? Do we look outside of His Word, or in it? Is Scripture sufficient to give us the wisdom that God promises to those who ask Him for it? For the spiritual person (one indwelt by the Holy Spirit), the answer is yes (1 Cor. 2:12-14).

If we are truly seeking wisdom, we are seeking truth. If we are seeking truth, we will find it in God’s Word (John 17:17b). So true wisdom is imparted by the Spirit who indwells his people through words, namely, God’s words in his Holy Word, the Bible. David, inspired by that same Spirit, writes:

“Your commandment makes me wiser than my enemies, for it is ever with me.
I have more understanding than all my teachers, for your testimonies are my meditation.
I understand more than the aged, for I keep your precepts.
I hold back my feet from every evil way, in order to keep your word.
I do not turn aside from your rules, for you have taught me.
How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!
Through your precepts I get understanding; therefore I hate every false way.
Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”

— Psalm 119:98-105

Do we want to say that we can possibly reach a greater wisdom than what David marvels over in this passage? To follow God, we must listen to Him. If He has spoken, we must listen to what He has said and do it. We must not desire what He has chosen not to tell us (1 Cor. 4:6), or claim that He has said what He hasn’t, and earn unimaginably devastating consequences for those who listen to us (Deut. 12:32; Prov. 30:6; Rev. 22:18; John 4:25). If we take James 1:5 to mean what Joseph Smith took it to mean, we will be overwhelmed with as many different false gods as we are false prophets (e.g., Islam, Hinduism, etc.). Even more vitally important, all these consequences will likewise be ours.

So, God is good. He has spoken. He gives, and gives generously (Ps. 37:26, James 1:5). And when He gives, He gives truly and without deceit or any falsehood (Titus 1:2, Heb. 6:18). Let us listen to Him (Deut. 6:4) and obey Him. The foundation and beginning of all human wisdom is fearing the Lord (Ps. 111:10). In that light, let us trust in the Lord with all that we are, leaning not on our own understanding, but rather in everything that we do, acknowledging Him, and He will direct our paths.