Seeking Wisdom

There is a very good question presented to us, because of what the apostle James wrote in his epistle. In chapter 1:5 he wrote, "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God that giveth to all liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him."

The question is, then, whether we lack wisdom, and whether we believe what James wrote in this verse and in the preceding verses. If temptations do not seem necessary to us, if we think that it is better for us not to be tempted, we plainly do lack wisdom. In the measure that we question the need of temptations, we reveal a lack of wisdom.

Did not God send Christ into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil? Christ went there lacking no wisdom. He went there, and was sent there, to teach us what we must do in temptations. We must take hold of what is written in God's Word. Christ quoted that to Satan; and so must we to our own souls.

By all means, when tempted, ask God for help so that you may remain faithful. Ask Him for strength so that you will be able to walk where He wants you to walk. Ask for help to walk in Christ's footsteps. Pray for help so that you may do what pleases Him, not what appeals to your flesh.

We need temptations so that we can exercise our spiritual muscles, those of our souls. And we need to pray for more and more wisdom, so that we understand why God does not keep these temptations from us.

Our God will give that wisdom to us. Of that we can be sure. And that wisdom is precious, while the things we can get by falling in the temptation are evil, and call for our everlasting punishment.

If you lack wisdom, and think the sinful acts which you are tempted to do are for your good, you have great need of asking God to give you wisdom. That wisdom will show you the folly and enable you to walk in love to God.

Read: Luke 11:1-10

Meditations on the Heidelberg Catechism

Through the Bible in One Year
Read today:

1 Kings 19:1-21 
Acts 12:1-23 
Psalm 136:1-26 
Proverbs 17:14-15

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Quote for Reflection:
William Hendrikson on Colossians 1:20: "Harmony, accordingly, has been restored. Peace was made. Through Christ and his cross the universe is brought back or restored to its proper relationship to God in the sense that as a just reward for his obedience Christ was exalted to the Father’s right hand, from which position of authority and power He rules the entire universe in the interest of the church and to the glory of God."