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. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways (Jas. 1:5-8).
There is an Internet prayer going around about patience: “Lord, please bless me with patience, not opportunities to be patient. I have had plenty of those. Could I just have the actual patience?” The prayer is funny because, for those of us who have experienced “opportunities to be patient,” we have all failed at one point or another and would just rather skip that part. The truth is that failure at being patient teaches patience because impatience does not produce the same results. Obtaining wisdom can be like this, but it does not necessarily need to be that way.
The very act of praying for wisdom produces instant wisdom because it is wise to open oneself up to the possibility of receiving wisdom. The act of doubting that God will give wisdom is itself unwise because one closes oneself off to the possibility of receiving wisdom, which, in and of itself, is not wise. It is wise to desire wisdom.
Too, praying for wisdom is wise because it recognizes that one lacks wisdom and needs more. It is wise to acknowledge one’s deficiencies. It shows a level of understanding of reality that many do not have. Many assume that all their thoughts are true and wise at the outset; they would not question them. The one who questions himself and prays is a step above those who would not even consider otherwise.
Putting confidence in God is also wise. It is a shift away from confidence in self. The tension between God and self is the ultimate test of faith because each person is always there with himself to challenge whether he will trust in God. Proverbs 3:5-7 make this clear.
Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths. Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the LORD and depart from evil.
By contrast, doubting God elevates self. Doubts come from rationalizations and self-justifications. The Greek word for “doubt” here is διακρίνω (diakrínō). It means to separate something thoroughly. Analogically, it means to discriminate or oppose. In James 1:6, it means to oppose oneself, hence, doubt, waver, hesitate. James is painting this scene: At one moment, a person kneels in prayer, asking God to give him wisdom. The next moment, he says to himself, “it will never happen.” His thoughts are contradictory. They have no stability. This man is like the wave of the sea that is up one moment and down the next.
What does a person get who undoes everything he has done? (One minus one equals zero.) How could he receive anything from God? His own behavior prevents God from giving him anything, even under the perfect conditions, and God is the perfect giver. He gives liberally and without reproach. That is, He gives and doesn’t take back, but one who doubts gives up what God gives him by doubting the gift.
James does not say HOW God gives wisdom. He just states the fact of it. Perhaps some expect God to just miraculously insert wisdom into their psyche like King Solomon. (Where are these geniuses?) That’s not going to happen. Even Jesus grew in wisdom (Luke 2:52). It’s a process, like our prayers for patience. Wisdom comes from thoughts; thoughts come from words; words come from experience; experience comes from practice. God will create the circumstances where our practices, experience, words, and thoughts can be forged into wisdom, but we must be open to it at every moment. So, we pray.
One sure-fire way to get wisdom from God is to listen to what God has written in His word. The book of Proverbs was inspired for exactly this intent: “to know wisdom and instruction” (Pro. 1:2a). It would be at least consistent with one’s prayer for wisdom to turn to the word of God and listen to God’s words of wisdom. We do not need to repeat the mistakes of others when we can gain wisdom from God’s word.