James 1:6, commentary and pictures

The one who lacks wisdom is commanded to ask God for it in faith, nothing wavering. To waver is to believe one moment and doubt the next, to take hold and then yield to discouragement, and such a one is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed, restless and unstable, shifting with feeling and outside influence instead of standing by principle. The double-minded are unstable in all their ways and are not to expect to receive anything, yet God gives wisdom to all liberally without reproach or change, being too wise to err and too good to do harm. Unwavering faith takes His word as fact, trusts He hears and will do as He said as if the blessing were already received, stays anchored without fluctuating between hope and despair, and if the answer delays keeps waiting without weariness until it comes. Such asking seeks God Himself directly on bended knee rather than leaning on human wisdom, comes from felt need with full surrender to His will, and acts in keeping with prayer by working while praying and using every means He provides.

Verse Wording and Setting

The lack of wisdom is to be met by asking God for it, and the asking must be in faith, nothing wavering. The gift is promised to the one who asks in faith, because God gives to all liberally without reproach, yet the one who wavers will receive nothing from the Lord. Steady faith without wavering is the condition of receiving, and wavering forfeits receiving anything.

Wavering is professing faith at one moment and acting in unbelief the next. It is sometimes believing and then doubting, taking hold by faith and then yielding to discouragement, and going away from prayer saying in effect that one wishes one knew whether the blessing was received, which treats God's word as spoken but not believed. In that state faith runs out like water out of a leaky vessel, and doubtful hesitation dishonors the promise by questioning it instead of trusting that God has heard and will fulfill it even when the answer is not immediate. Such vacillation, irresolution, and susceptibility to outside influences reveal instability, and steadfastness comes only by surrendering to God and holding fast to Him.

He who wavers is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. He is restless and unstable like water blown about by wind, tossed back and forth, driven with the wind, sinking when a hellish shadow settles and letting feeling become the criterion instead of the Word of the living God. He bends like a willow in a blast, shifting with emotion, impulse, and outside influences instead of standing by principle, unsettled by doubt and by resting on human judgment about duty rather than seeking direction from God. To ask God and then forget His promise and turn to human help is itself this wavering unbelief, an unwillingness to trust oneself in God's hands.

The wavering person is double-minded and unstable in all his ways. That double-minded instability touches every part of life, leaving no settled trust after prayer but a return to doubt instead of watchful dependence on Christ and expectation of His help and blessing. Therefore such a person must not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Counting trials as joy belongs with this unwavering asking, letting the trying of faith work patience toward being perfect and entire, wanting nothing, as an individual work of taking the Word of life as one's own, bringing the promises to the Lord and claiming them in reliance not on human power but on the strength of the Lord.

God Gives Wisdom Generously

Heavenly wisdom is promised to everyone who lacks it, and it must be asked of God who gives to all freely and liberally without reproach. He does not upbraid ignorance and darkness, and there is in Him no variableness or shadow of turning, for He is too wise to err and too good to do harm, with unlimited blessings at His command. The wisdom to be sought is clear spiritual discernment to distinguish the truths of God's Word from new strange things, fables, suppositions and theories of human production, sought with Bible in hand and on bended knee for the presence of the Holy Spirit and for wisdom and understanding. It is the right of every soul to ask much of God rather than making the words of men the standard, and precious experience is gained by learning of Christ and obtaining knowledge according to faith in Jesus Christ. The request must be made directly to the Lord Himself as the Source of strength, the sure Helper, Sufficiency and exceeding great Reward, ceasing from man and not sending across the continent to knock at the door of human finite wisdom or pouring complaints into human ears. No person can help unless he first receives wisdom from above, and weakness comes from seeking wisdom from pastors, neighbors, overburdened brothers or other finite, weak, erring men instead of bowing before God who is near, with Christ nearer than is thought, believing He is behind every promise and hears and knows all burdens.

Wisdom and help come through Christ made the Counsellor, to whom every trouble, burden and uncertainty is to be brought to the Burden-bearer in communion with God and the Holy Spirit for the complete and perfect understanding which the Lord alone can give. A straight path to the Redeemer is marked out that every soul, experienced and inexperienced, may take for himself, because Christ tasted death that every man might partake of the blessings of the gospel and has promised to be wisdom, righteousness, sanctification and redemption to those who ask Him in unwavering faith. Fellow workers in need of wisdom are to look to the Lord Jesus, the Lamb of God who takes away sin, for guidance and power to become sons of God, rather than leaning on human wisdom and human guidance as a broken reed or supplying the soul's need from human wisdom. Seeking wisdom in faith involves keeping connection with the Saviour, who joins His wisdom to the weakness of those who yearn for His companionship, and relying on Christ the Mediator of the new covenant while asking for the wisdom and grace needed to build a Christlike character. Trust that God hears and answers every sincere seeker gives confidence that He will give what is asked and will not upbraid or refuse prayer.

Receiving is according to appropriating faith that takes hold of the promise, and the asking God accepts is heart service with obedience and pure love, for to obey is better than sacrifice and without obedience and pure love even the richest offering is too poor to present to the Owner of all things. The promise is to be taken just as it reads and believed without questioning, holding that having asked, the things asked for will be received. God has promised wisdom on condition that a person accepts Him as Guide and Counselor and asks Him with unwavering faith, bringing plans to Him and laying them all before Him. Faith is the condition for receiving what God gives freely and without reproach, through whom the Holy Spirit can give wisdom and enable believers, even repentant sinners, to do the works of Christ. Divided trust makes a person unstable and leaves no basis for expecting to receive, so troubles and perplexities are to be taken to God rather than to people, trusting Him wholly and obeying the light already received, and as a person walks in that light greater clarity and confidence follow.

Nature of Unwavering Faith

Unwavering faith takes God's promise as fact and believes that He hears prayer and will do just as He said, coming in full and broad assurance and taking the Word just as it reads. It trusts as if the blessing were already received even when the answer is not immediate, exercising faith as God's gift without fluctuating between hope, fear and despair. Feeling is not the criterion but the Word of the living God is, so no ifs or ands are allowed and not one suggestion of the tempter is let in, even when a dark shadow settles across the pathway right after prayer and nothing can be seen beyond. Faith then stays put in the channel of light, expecting help and strength and knowing He is there just the same when the cloud settles, while doubtful hesitation dishonors Him by questioning His promise and the one who asks and then disbelieves is unstable and must not expect to receive anything.

Steady faith does not go from ecstasy to despondency when trial and temptation come, but keeps the mind stayed upon God as an anchor sure and steadfast to the soul. It does not talk doubt and gloom to others or say I do not know, I do not feel happy, or I am not sure of the truth, and it does not turn small difficulties into discouragement or give temptation room by gloomy talk. Delay in answer reveals whether faith is sincere or changeable like waves driven by the wind, giving patience opportunity for continued exercise by which faith is strengthened. Waiting in such steadfast trust does not mean doing nothing, but making the best use of the practical means God provides.

True asking springs from felt need, earnest desire, hunger and sincerity, as the longing of the soul breathed forth from sincere lips, and Jesus waits to supply the deficiency of those who feel their need and draw nigh to Him. It surrenders fully with no reserve held back, carrying all burdens to the Saviour and letting Him work as He chooses, yielding personal wishes and leaning not to one's own understanding. It consults God's will in every action and perplexity, inquiring constantly at the throne of grace, Is this Thy will and way, living in close fellowship with Christ and familiar intercourse with Him as divine Leader and Friend. Such faith proves itself by doing His will as far as possible while believing He is answering, and its character bears witness that the Saviour has entered the life to direct all and pervade all, which is its strength.

Living faith acts in keeping with prayer and works while praying, depending on God in the work He gives and letting Him take supervision while wisely using every God-given faculty and every part of the human machinery under His counsel and not under Satan's dictation. It does not pray little, rely on its own efforts, or fail to persevere from a passing impulse or from failing to recognize need and God's willingness to give, and those who do His will receive blessings from above to share with those in need. In seeking health it is made complete by works, doing one's part and respecting the laws of life and health and asking God to bless the effort, trusting Him to answer when it can glorify His name. God will not be expected to miraculously preserve health while those laws are carelessly violated and sickness is thus brought on oneself.

Seek God Directly Alone

Wisdom is to be asked of God Himself directly, on bended knee, and not of an overburdened brother, pastor, neighbor, leader, distant board or any other finite, weak, erring human authority across the continent, and difficulties and perplexities are not to be poured into human ears to make fellow men burden-bearers or to get wisdom from human channels. There is no need to knock at the door of human finite wisdom, for God gives to all freely and without reproach for ignorance and darkness, hears and knows every burden, is behind every promise He has made, is near with Christ nearer than is thought, and is the only source of certain light and help with no variableness or shadow of turning. Everything is to be taken to the Lord in prayer, ceasing from man, believing that what is asked will be given, with no looking to fellow men who are themselves weighed down on every hand as the source of knowledge, and with no looking at difficulties and talking about them until they magnify. The one who so asks must ask in steady faith without doubt or wavering, for he that wavers is restless and unstable like water or a sea wave driven with the wind and tossed, double-minded and unstable in all his ways, and must not expect to receive anything from the Lord. In trials help is to be sought from God in faith rather than depending on human aid or human judgment, since relying on human counsel instead of seeking God leaves souls weakened and dependent.

Love, respect and esteem for brethren and leaders remain, but each soul must ask for himself as a free, individually accountable agent, using his own mind and conscience and acting as God moves upon him rather than as moved by the mind of another. Each one given a commission by the Lord, even when laborers of different capabilities labor together in different ways as in the cities, is to look to Jesus for direction, keep his God-given identity and commission without submerging it in any human being lest he be led astray, and not become only an echo of another's thoughts and plans. So directed and impressed by the Spirit of God, with freedom of action and choice under Christ as righteousness the foundation, souls find rest in Christ. The Lord's way is always the right and prudent way and always brings honor to His name, while man's wisdom apart from God is fickle, untrustworthy, filled with self-esteem, pride and selfishness, and as useless to lean upon as a broken reed. Trusting wholly in the Lord with the heart kept in harmony with Jesus Christ is man's only security against rash, ambitious movements, perplexity, embarrassment, distress and mistakes, and those who so ask reveal willingness to be led by the wisdom of the Lord rather than by human wisdom.

Receiving is according to faith in God as the sure Helper, Sufficiency and exceeding great Reward, and wavering forfeits the gift. No person can help unless he first receives wisdom from above, so reluctance to take the help God offers and leaning on human beings for aid instead are forbidden, and weakness comes from seeking wisdom from human sources rather than going directly to God and to Christ the Source of strength for wisdom about family and self. Seeking human help in that way dishonors the Master, cherishes the sin of unbelief, and brings weakness where there should be strength, with disappointment and misleading, like seeking to quench thirst from cisterns in the lowlands instead of drinking the pure water of life. Casting away the weight of unbelief and believing brings pity and compassion from the One who knows the frame, who so loved that He gave His own life and bore in His own body the strokes due to transgression of the law, that those who ask may become prisoners of hope. It is the right of every soul to ask much of God in faith, nothing wavering, and not to make the words of men the standard.

To ask God for help and then, forgetting the Lord's promise, turn to human help puts a slight on the Saviour, shows unbelief that God will do as He has promised and unwillingness to trust oneself in God's hands, and makes the asker like the restless waves of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. Difficulties are to be brought humbly to God and counsel sought from Him because He does not mislead, and holding to His promise and trusting oneself in His hands is what asking in faith means. Depending chiefly on human help or guidance allows unbelief to enter and faith to die. The wisdom to be sought is clear spiritual discernment to distinguish the truths of God's Word from new and strange things framed by human wisdom, fables, suppositions and theories of human production, with Bible in hand and on bended knee asking for the presence of the Holy Spirit and for wisdom and understanding. Precious experience is gained by so learning of Christ and obtaining knowledge according to faith in Jesus Christ, and God gives wisdom to His children so they can discern good from evil, judge whether proposed plans honor God and benefit the institutions involved, and faithfully carry out their responsibilities for His glory.

Believers must be firmly established in God's Word and not be moved from the truth by deceptive arguments or false teachings. Wisdom received from God does not protect one who turns away from Him, as seen in Solomon, to whom God gave great wisdom when he asked but who later misused that gift to exalt himself and turned from God by relying on human alliances, showing that seeking counsel from those who do not love God can lead to corrupt choices and spiritual ruin.

Persevering Prayer Practice

When wisdom is asked for in faith without wavering, the asking does not end with a single prayer quickly forgotten but expresses earnest desire from felt lack and holds firmly to the promise. If the answer does not come at once, the petitioner keeps waiting without growing weary or changing purpose, persists in seeking the blessing, and watches unto prayer while working with the mind stayed on the request until the answer is received. Doubt after praying is instability like a wind-driven sea wave, going away saying I wish I knew whether blessing was received, letting faith run out like water from a leaky vessel, and such wavering is why many receive nothing and must not expect to receive anything. Remaining watchful and dependent with steady trust that claims the promises with confidence lets patience finish its work.

Delay in answering is for special benefit, giving faith a test and opportunity for patient exercise rather than ground for distrust that separates from God. It reveals whether faith is sincere or changeable like waves driven by the wind, and holding fast instead of giving way keeps confidence strong. The needed blessing may come later when most needed, even unexpectedly like a shower of rain and exceeding expectations, and no true prayer offered in faith from an honest heart is lost. Waiting in faith does not mean doing nothing but making best use of the means provided, including practical means for restoring health.

While waiting there is to be no room for a single suggestion of the devil, no sinking of faith when a hellish shadow seems cast across the pathway right after prayer and nothing can be seen beyond, for feeling is not the criterion but the Word is fact and the Lord is present just the same when the cloud settles. Faith stays put in the channel of light expecting help and strength, and wavering gives the enemy advantage and breaks the condition of the promise. Difficulties are not to be looked at and talked about until they magnify, nor are doubt and gloom to be talked to others with sayings of not knowing, not feeling happy, or not being sure of truth, for a mind stayed as an anchor sure and steadfast does not go from ecstasy to despondency. Carrying troubles to others or voicing discouragement and gloomy talk gives temptation room to gain a foothold.

Trust leaves God to answer with what is best even when He does not grant the precise thing requested, for He hears honest prayer and gives what is good and healthful when most needed. He may give light opposite to the plans considered, and faith yields personal wishes and accepts that answer with willing obedience because He understands the matter better, even when His leading seems like loss or disaster to human sight. Prayer is therefore joined with watchfulness afterward, guarding speech from frivolous, evil, fretful, or harsh words, which brings steady, earnest, hopeful peace of mind rather than prejudice, jealousy, or confidence in one's own judgment.

Effectual asking is earnest and fervent, heartfelt, short and right to the point, corresponding to soul-hunger and longing desire for strength obtainable only from the Source of all strength. It is offered in silent communion with study of the Word, in constant inquiry at the throne of grace in every perplexity asking Is this Thy will and way in reference to all actions, lifting holy hands without wrath and doubting and praying and singing with spirit and understanding also. Such close fellowship admits to familiar intercourse with the divine Leader, bears witness that the Saviour has entered the life directing all, sharpens weapons for sowing truth while time remains, cultivates faith and perfects character from an inexhaustible storehouse of love, and promotes to positions of trust those obedient to commands rather than pliant to be led away.

Applications to Life Work

In trials and temptations the lack of wisdom is to be met by asking God in faith, nothing wavering, for wavering is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed, double-minded and unstable in all ways, and such a one will receive nothing from the Lord. Counting trials as joy lets the trying of faith work patience toward being perfect and entire, wanting nothing, and this asking is an individual work to be done before labor for others can accomplish anything, by enduring temptation, taking the Word of life as one's own, bringing the promises to the Lord and claiming them, and relying not on human power but on the strength of the Lord. The same trust is needed to carry God's work forward with confidence in His help, to complete patience's work, to find peace and rest in taking Christ's yoke by enduring without yielding, and to support careful self-examination and resistance to temptation with prayer for God's help to overcome. Wavering from purpose is failure of faith and the reason nothing is received from the Lord who is the source of strength, while faith looks to God for ability to do right and to carry out daily duties faithfully, recognizes sinfulness, trusts in Jesus and relies on His sacrifice rather than excusing sin or giving in to discouragement, including temptations to speak or act wrong. God aids the endeavor, sends angels to guide and drive back evil, and works patience toward perfection.

For duty, business, new work, or whether to pursue separate interests or work with God's chosen workers, wisdom must be sought from God with faith and without wavering, for he that wavers is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed and must not think he shall receive anything of the Lord. When wisdom is needed to know whether to take up a new work, the seeker is to move guardedly under His guidance and be assured of orders from the right source, for God gives to all liberally without reproach and will guide and instruct all who yield themselves to His guidance and control. When in doubt or difficulty about any matter of duty or business, the need is to seek as a little child with settled determination to know the will of God and to do it once known, trusting Christ as personal Saviour to know the Lord's will and then following the guidance given without being pressured toward a particular choice or place. Wavering means sometimes believing then doubting, taking hold of faith then yielding to every discouragement, and it gives the enemy advantage and breaks the condition of the promise. Those serving God in distant countries should seek His wisdom through prayer and Scripture and consult together rather than depend on human authorities, whether the question is preaching, study of medicine or ministry, working on Sunday, laboring in foreign fields, delaying hurried decisions, or standing firmly until He directs elsewhere.

Workers and ministers must ask in faith, without divided doubt, for the Holy Spirit's unction, wisdom and power for service, for success is proportionate to faith and workers are to labor in faith and trust. They need time to seek the Lord and ask in faith for this gift instead of constant business, meetings and financial pressure, trusting wholly in the Lord rather than human strength, learning or eloquence. Human wisdom is fickle, filled with self-esteem, pride and selfishness, and as useless to lean on as a broken reed, while God's way is always right and prudent and brings honor to His name. Keeping the heart in harmony with Christ Jesus in steady faith is the only security against rash, ambitious movements, and the doubter who is unstable should not expect to receive from the Lord. Trusting in God rather than human strength brings encouragement to keep asking, deeper knowledge of God and companionship with Him, and this dependence is the secret of success, for God supplies wisdom and increases knowledge and ability to those who trust Him, and responsibility and status do not by themselves prove fitness for service.

Parents are to ask God in faith, without wavering, for wisdom in dealing with their children, and God will teach them how to guide each child according to that child's temperament, distinct mind and need. Christian parents who earnestly seek God can trust Him to hear their prayers and work powerfully for their children's conversion, being pleased when they trust His word. This wisdom helps parents recognize serious faults in their methods, turn from wrong practices, and guide their homes toward purity, peace, holiness and God. When parents have done what they can for a sick child, they should entrust the child to Jesus and believe He can do what they cannot, for He promises to hear those who ask.

Asking in faith brings wisdom and grace to build a Christlike character while relying on Christ, the Mediator of the new covenant, with attention fixed on Him rather than on self, claiming by faith God's promised grace and power for daily service and difficult duties. It brings sanctification embracing the whole man without one religion for business and another for church, pardon to the penitent, peace, eternal life, promotion to trust, and enlargement of power and usefulness proportionate to desire to do His will, with unlimited blessings and all heaven at command to those who realize lack of wisdom and come directly to the source of all wisdom with earnest hunger and intensity of purpose. Receiving requires asking in faith with nothing wavering, holding fast to the promise, feeling need and refusing to be turned aside, for God gives liberally and does not reproach, while wavering forfeits divine grace and blessing and doubt and unbelief make a person unstable and easily moved like a sea wave driven by wind. What is received from God must be received by faith, and the verse is God's promise of counsel to one greatly burdened, to be believed and claimed in sleepless need when asking for guidance, bringing light and encouragement when the first chapter of James is studied carefully and teaching walking carefully and prayerfully before the Lord with assurance He will direct all ways. The same faith holds firmly to foundational truths established after 1844, not to be shifted, withstanding coming trials as evidence of being grounded on Christ and in harmony with Him and His followers, while wavering support of truth, jealous suspicion and judging work entrusted to others marks unstable co-workers with evil angels.