April 29
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WHAT DOUBTING DOES
5 But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him. 6 But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For that person ought not to expect that he will receive anything from the Lord, 8 being a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. – James 1:5-8
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In this letter, James explains to the Jewish Christians who were living in Palestine the generosity of God in verse 5. He reminds them that if they lack wisdom in anything, they should ask God and He will give them lavishly without disapproval or disappointment. In our current times, this will be very hard to do with those who do not know God, that is why this message is addressed to Christians. The difference between an unbeliever and a believer is that the believer will run to God and rely on Him for every little or big thing.
In 1 Kings 3:7-13, King Solomon’s request to God was to have a discerning heart to govern the people he will rule because he knows it was a privilege to govern God’s special people.
He asked it with such humility when he said in verse 7 that he was just a little child and don’t know how to carry his duties. In verse 9 he asked him to give him wisdom to rule so that he knows what is right and wrong. God was pleased with the posture of his heart and the priority he placed on wisdom instead of riches. So, God lavishly gave him wisdom, wealth and honor as well. James reminds them how generous our God is.
However, there is a condition or pre-requisite for the believers to be granted such requests. In verse 6, he says that one must ask in faith without doubting. As we all know, faith in Hebrews 11:1 means the assurance of things hoped for and the conviction of things not seen. Therefore, if we doubt, we do not have assurance and hope. This is why James further gives us a picture of what doubting does for a person who asks something from God. In verse 6, he likens the doubter to the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind. In other words, that doubter is bordering in unbelief, which is the opposite of faith. In verse 7-8, he spells out the consequence of a person asking without faith: that person will receive nothing from the Lord because he is a double-minded person and very unstable in all his ways. James is almost saying that if you are asking God without believing that he will give it to you, what’s the point of asking? You probably shouldn’t bother to ask if you are faithless. You won’t get your request anyway because of the unbelief.
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REFLECTION
• Why is it easy to ask something from God and not have expectancy?