Saturday, March 18, 2017

Request from the One giving! (James)

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. James 1:5
(For the first part of the verse visit this link:

Let him ask: request for oneself
Giveth: to grant, give to one asking, let have
All: means "all" in the sense of each (every) part that applies
Liberally: simply, openly, frankly, sincerely, led solely by his desire to bless
Upbraideth: finding fault, to disgrace (insult), reproach; mock (curse); insult, cast blame (create shame) 
Not: negates the underlying idea (concept) of a statement, ruling out its possibilities, 
And: moreover, even, indeed
Given: to grant, give to one asking, let have

Literal translation: Let him request from the One giving. 

The art of USING wisdom. What good is it to know something, and not put it to use? 
And if you are absent of wisdom, you are to go to the source — God Himself, the One who can supply wisdom! 

If you need the plumbing fixed at your home, you don't ask the grocery clerk to fix it. You call a plumber. When you need wisdom, looking for it in the wrong place will get you nowhere. 
Yet, in our lives, when we need wisdom, we turn to whomever is on TV, or the latest self-help book. While those things may have some good ideas, it is not true wisdom! 

The art of using wisdom is vital to life. And when wisdom is absent, then trouble begins. 

If I am not practicing the art of USING wisdom, then I need to go directly to the SOURCE and request wisdom. God is waiting to give it to me. He will not scold me for not asking sooner. He will not tell me that this is the UMPTEENTH time, I've asked for the same wisdom. He will not shame me or find fault that I don't know something. 
God is waiting to abundantly supply all that I need to know so that I can practice the art of using wisdom! 

I only need to REQUEST from the One giving!

Thursday, March 16, 2017

The art of USING wisdom (James)

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. James 1:5

If: a condition, thought of as real, i.e. viewed as factual
Any: a certain one, someone, anyone
Of you: where the person is to be emphasized
Lack: to be destitute of, be absent of
Wisdom: literally "the art of using wisdom";  the knowledge and practice of the requisites for godly and upright living

As I was studying this verse, I had to stop at that word, "wisdom". It literally means the "art of USING wisdom". How many times do I KNOW the right thing, but sadly, I refuse to DO the right thing. 

The art of USING wisdom. What good is it to know something, and not put it to use? 

It's sad to be in the destitute state of not using wisdom. But thankfully, there is ONE who can supply us with wisdom and the knowledge of how to put into action. 

The art of USING wisdom. 

I'll finish the study of this verse on another day. For right now, I want to mediate on the art of USING wisdom. 

Sunday, March 12, 2017

Full effect being complete and inferior to none. (James)

But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. James 1:4

Let:  comprise, involve, possessed with
Patience: steadfastness, constancy, endurance (the characteristic of a man who is unswerved from his deliberate purpose and his loyalty to faith and piety by even the greatest trials and sufferings)
Perfect: brought to its end, finished; lacking nothing necessary to completeness
Work: an act, deed, thing done: the idea of working is emphasized in opposed to that which is less than work
Entire: complete in all its parts, in no part lacking or unsound
Wanting: to lag, be inferior
Nothing: none, not

Be possessed with steadfastness, constancy, and endurance so that I'll know the full effect being complete and inferior to none. 

My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. James 1:2-4

There is a progression in these verses, with a purpose! But it's not a "once and I'm done", idea. It's a constant and ongoing process. It ALL begins with choosing the MAXIMUM Calm Delight!