James 1:5-6
What is written? (ESV)
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.
What does it say?
If any of you [believer] lack wisdom, ask God who will give it to you generously without condemnation. Ask Him with full confidence, not doubting as one that is tossed back and forth by the wind.
What is its immediate context?
James, probably the brother of Jesus, is writing a very practical letter to “the twelve tribes in the Dispersion” (vs 1) — an expression based on the rest of his letter that is a figurative representation of all saints at that time that had been dispersed abroad.
How James 1:5-6 is applied across Bible answers
Do we pray to Jesus or God?
James says that we "ask God" [the Father].
James will go on to further qualify "who" we pray to and "why" we pray to Him, saying, "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights." (vs 17) It is God the Father to whom we pray because He is the giver of "every good gift".
How does one receive wisdom from God (James 1:5)?
A Christian need only ask God for wisdom with full confidence in His granting it.
James is speaking about a very practical, "daily living" kind of wisdom, that which would help them through "various trials" (vs 2) that their faith would be "lacking in nothing" (vs 4).
