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. Let the lowly brother boast in his exaltation, and the rich in his humiliation, because like a flower of the grass he will pass away. For the sun rises with its scorching heat and withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beauty perishes. So also will the rich man fade away in the midst of his pursuits. Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him. —James 1:5–12

Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom. But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace. (ESV) —James 3:13–18

I. ASK FOR WISDOM

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. —James 1:5

“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!” —Matthew 7:7–11

For whoever finds me finds life and obtains favor from the LORD… —Proverbs 8:35

II. FAITH vs. DOUBT

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. —James 1:6

And Jesus answered them, “Truly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what has been done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ it will happen. And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith.” —Matthew 21:21–22

Hindered by unbelief…

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 1:7–8

The “doubter” is unstable in all his ways…

Why do we doubt?

III. BY WHAT STANDARD?

Let the lowly brother boast in his exaltation, and the rich in his humiliation, because like a flower of the grass he will pass away. For the sun rises with its scorching heat and withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beauty perishes. So also will the rich man fade away in the midst of his pursuits. —James 1:9–11

All flesh is grass,
     and all its beauty is like the flower of the field.
The grass withers, the flower fades
     when the breath of the LORD blows on it;
     surely the people are grass.
The grass withers, the flower fades,
     but the word of our God will stand forever. —Isaiah 40:6b–8

As for man, his days are like grass;
     he flourishes like a flower of the field;
for the wind passes over it, and it is gone,
     and its place knows it no more. —Psalm 103:15–16

Be not afraid when a man becomes rich,
     when the glory of his house increases.
For when he dies he will carry nothing away;
     his glory will not go down after him. —Psaml 49:16-17

Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him. —James 1:12

Thus says the LORD:
“Cursed is the man who trusts in man
     and makes flesh his strength,
     whose heart turns away from the LORD.
He is like a shrub in the desert,
     and shall not see any good come.
He shall dwell in the parched places of the wilderness,
     in an uninhabited salt land. —Jeremiah 17:5-6

“Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD,
     whose trust is the LORD.
He is like a tree planted by water,
     that sends out its roots by the stream,
and does not fear when heat comes,
     for its leaves remain green,
and is not anxious in the year of drought,
     for it does not cease to bear fruit.” —Jeremiah 17:7–8

IV. WORLDLY WISDOM vs. GODLY WISDOM

Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom. —James 3:13

But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. —James 3:14–15

For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. —James 3:16–17

And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace. —James 3:18

V. APPLICATION

Six-Step Wisdom Process
Step 1: Grasp the Issue
Step 2: Study the Scriptures
Step 3: Consult Other Sources
Step 4: Form a Response
Step 5: Discuss the Issue
Step 6: Take Action to Obey