James 1:5 | God’s Generosity
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 ESV
Do you remember the story of King Solomon? He was King David’s son and the appointed king of Israel. When it came time to take the throne, Solomon received a vision from the Lord. God asked Solomon what he wanted, anything in the world, and Solomon asked for wisdom. God honored Solomon’s understanding and humility to seek wisdom over riches and fame, giving them both generously!
2 Chronicles 1:15 (ESV tells us that in Solomon’s reign, “the king made silver and gold as common in Jerusalem as stone.” There was such favor and abundance over the house of wisdom that the rarest commodities were like skipping stones.
We might desire the wrong things if we see God as a stingy ruler. The aim of the Christian walk is not wealth or fame, but God is not afraid to bless his people. Why else would Jesus say in Luke 6:38 ESV, “Give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.”
It matters what we seek in the kingdom of God. Jesus said that when we seek, we will find. Our perspective of God greatly determines what we desire and ask for.
Have you ever been shopping for a big purchase like an instrument, a computer, a car, or even a house? Everyone has to work within a budget, but that range of what you are willing to spend fluctuates with the appeal of the luxury options and the barrier of the price tag. Perhaps later in life, you will have more income and purchase nicer things. At some point, the parameters expand from“how much can I afford” to “what is the right thing for me?”
Imagine you won the Lottery for one billion dollars. Now, shopping for a laptop would seem odd. Just because you can buy the fastest and newest model doesn’t mean you should! Just because you can buy a multi-million dollar mansion doesn’t mean that you actually need that.
Our faith journey is like this. There is no spiritual “budget” when it comes to what our Father provides. Do we come to God only asking for what we think we can afford?
It seems to me that the things we ask for on a budget differ from those we ask for in the eternal kingdom of God. That’s why James encourages us to ask for wisdom. God could give us anything we desire, but on a limitless budget, material possessions are nothing compared to the worth of wisdom.
I love how a simple verse can confront our view of God. How have you allowed scarcity to creep into your view of the economics of the kingdom of God? How big is the God you pray to? How good and generous is he in your eyes? The response is simple, if you lack wisdom, ask our generous God.
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