James 1:5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that gives to all men liberally, and upbraides not; and it shall be given him. The writer seems to hear some of his readers say, "But it requires much wisdom to live thus in the midst of trials." Very true I But the supply is at hand, "Ask of God." "If any of you come short of wisdom, let him ask of the giving God." What an encouraging epithet, "the giving God" — the God who is accustomed to give, who is known amongst men and ages as "The Giver"! And that there may be the utmost encouragement, James gives three characteristics of His giving: It is universal, abundant, unselfish. One may say, "I am so insignificant"; another, "I am so sinful"; another, "I have so little faith"; another, "I am so hard." But you are a human being, and He gives to all. "But I am so fearfully lacking, my need of wisdom is so great. If I had any sense whatever, I might apply to Him." But He "giveth liberally." He longs to have great things asked of Him. Go to little men for little things. It is as easy for a great man to do a great thing, as for a small man to do a small thing. God, the Father, King of the world, may be asked for the largest gifts, since no giving can possibly render Him poorer. A humane monarch once said, "The greatest advantage of being a king is, that the king has the power to make so many happy." The advantage which God has over all His children — even earthly monarchs — is that He has more power to make mere people happy. The unselfishness of the Divine Giver is seen in that He never "upbraids." Human givers are so interested in their part of any giving transaction that a much-solicited person is apt to do or say something which shall remind the receiver of his obligation, and to make former gifts a reason for withholding that which is now sought; and, more especially, if good use has not been made of former benefactions, to upbraid the ungrateful or thriftless receivers. Even human parents sometimes do this. It requires the greatest nobility to rise above such inclinations. Our Father never upbraids. He never prints to the misuse we have made of any former gifts. He never tires of giving. He is so delighted to have us ask, that He Would have us more ashamed of not coming to Him for needed wisdom than for any other fault or sin. (C. F. Deems, D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: 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. |
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