# The Need, The Getting and the Likeness of Wisdom
## Introduction -
### A. The Context: Verses 1-4
- Embracing the joy of the purpose of the trial.
- A Consolation: The diverse trials are helping to make us more like Jesus.
- Yes. I will "count it all joy" BUT HOW? (Wisdom knowing the HOW.)
- ACCUMULATION OF KNOWLEDGE - More info vs wisdom - Reading the book of PROVERBS - Illustration
## I. 1. What We Need -
### A. "IF"
- Are You Wise Enough?
- How much Wisdom is enough?
- Why The Lack? IF any of you lack wisdom (Is there a question? Do we have enough)
IT IS SELF EVIDENT but only if we PAY ATTENTION. – But wisdom is justified of all her children. LUKE 7:35 — You know
Why do we need wisdom? Knowledge and education is not enough (ALL THESE BOOKS)
It is WISE to ask for wisdom. Know you need some. (humility) — JEREMIAH was locked out and we are problem solving.
Human tendency toward Lacking wisdon versus lacking power.
CONCLUSION: “If any of you lack wisdom”
### C. **Lack**
- Lack? Who in bible has had it?
- **Wisdom examples**:
- Genesis 2:16,17 & 3:6 - adam & eve (knowledge of good and evil, behavior)
- Genesis 37 dreams (responsible for content of his dreams, compare with eli to samuel) vs 41:38,39 "discreet" understanding - joseph was a man that could hear from God
- Young Mary - luke 1:38,45 (for believing)
- Jospeh. Marys fiance - 1. Matt 1:20 Mary with child and 2. Matt 2:13 "a lot of things he could have done" "ih i woukd listen to the Lord!" Really?
- 1 cor 1:20-31 christ is made our wisdom
## II. How We Get it - Asking for Wisdom
It is wise to receive wisdom. If you are a fool how do you know, what you don’t know?
### A. Wisdom is an attribute of God
- Who has it? Book of proverns and amenhotep egyptoan orivernial writings 2 chapters. Wisdom psalms
> Psalm 14:1 — The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good.
### B. How to ask? Simply and properly (vs 5-11)
> **James 1:5** — 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. 6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. 7 For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. 8 A double minded man is unstable in all his ways. 9 Let the brother of low degree rejoice in that he is exalted: 10 But the rich, in that he is made low: because as the flower of the grass he shall pass away. 11 For the sun is no sooner risen with a burning heat, but it withereth the grass, and the flower thereof falleth, and the grace of the fashion of it perisheth: so also shall the rich man fade away in his ways. 12 Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.
#### 1. **Let him ask of God** (v.5)
- Godly wisdom comes down.
> Proverbs 3:19 — The LORD by wisdom hath founded the earth; by understanding hath he established the heavens.
- **Have I started from the beginning?**
> Proverbs 9:10 — The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.
- Solomon asked of the Lord, give me wisdom 1 Kings 3 and 2 Chronicles 1;
> 2 Chronicles 1:10 — **Give me now wisdom and knowledge**, that I may go out and come in before this people: for who can judge this thy people, that is so great?
> Have we trials and temptations? Is there trouble anywhere? We should never be discouraged — **Take it to the Lord in prayer**. Can we find a friend so faithful, Who will all our sorrows share? Jesus knows our every weakness; Take it to the Lord in prayer.
#### 2. **But let him ask in faith &hellp; (v.6a)
- IN FAITH: "But I've prayed about this!" What does that mean? Am I in biblical order? Fellowship of the saints? Am I walking in the light?
- FAITH: persuasion, moral conviction (of religious truth, or the truthfulness of God), especially reliance upon Christ for salvation; constancy in such profession; by extension, the system of Gospel truth itself - fidelity, loyalty
- We get consistent advice from God because He is consistent.
#### 3. NOTHING/Without WAVERING (vs.6b)
> James 1:6c-12 — For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. 7 For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. 8 A double minded man is unstable in all his ways. 9 Let the brother of low degree rejoice in that he is exalted: 10 But the rich, in that he is made low: because as the flower of the grass he shall pass away. 11 For the sun is no sooner risen with a burning heat, but it withereth the grass, and the flower thereof falleth, and the grace of the fashion of it perisheth: so also shall the rich man fade away in his ways.
- WAVERETH — to separate thoroughly; to withdraw from; hesitate; doubt; stagger
##### a. "THAT WOULD BE NICE." (Can I really help it? 1 Timothy 2:8 ...without doubting... internal or external debate)
- DOUBTED: **Adam** doubted the wisdom of God. - **Jonah** doubted God's wisdom in saving Ninevah. - **Elijah** was afraid (1 Kings 19:3) and ran for his life from Jezebel after he had defeated their false gods on Mount Carmel and slew their priests. **John the Baptist** appeared to stumble (Luke 7:19-23) Asked of Jesus, "Art thou he?"
> Luke 7:22-23 Then Jesus answering said unto them, Go your way, and tell John what things ye have seen and heard; how that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, to the poor the gospel is preached. 23 And **blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me**. [tripped up]
Not accurately a penalty for doubting, but a reward for standing fast.
##### b. Do I **really** want God's wisdom to be realized? God's help does not always come as we expect it. Naaman in 2 Kings 5:1-27.
> 2 Kings 5:9 — So Naaman came **with his horses and with his chariot**, and stood at the door of the house of Elisha. 5:10 And Elisha sent a messenger …
> … Go and wash in Jordan seven times, and thy flesh shall come again to thee, and thou shalt be clean. 11 **But Naaman was wroth**, and went away, and said, Behold, **I thought**, He will surely come out to me, and stand, and call on the name of the LORD his God, and strike his hand over the place, and recover the leper.
##### c. After **PRAYing**, **PLAYing** === unwise
> John 8:11 — She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: **go, and sin no more**.
Instead of standing on the promises, we can be tempted to lukewarmly play with them.
> Please God, make me good, but not just yet — Augustine (354–430)
##### d. DON'T WAVER for the Delay. You can ask again. He won't tire. James was Jesus' half-brother; you can talk to Jesus every day.
## III. Whats it look like
> James 1:12 — Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.
### A. What Wisdom IS.
1. Wisdom is: **Desireable**
> Proverbs 16:16 — How much better is it to get wisdom than gold! and to get understanding rather to be chosen than silver!
2. Wisdom is: **Paying attention**. Pause and reflect on the nuggets of God's revelation. “JUST 1 THING”
3. Wisdom: **Living in the light of who God is**
4. Wisdom is: **Not Wit** or cleverness
To Desire wisdom is not to desire "smartness", but to make "God-honoring choices".
5. Wisdom is: a **Discerning** heart - right and wrong - good **judgment** -that was not very wise! - good sense
6. Wisdom is: **SKILL** - Knowledge rightly applied; artisan
7. Wisdom is: **Behavior** - The wise know how to put into practice.
The wise puts into practice ... house on sand. Godly insight appkied to the living of life
> Matthew 7:4 — Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:
7. Wisdom is: a companion of **Humility** - A wiseman is never proud.
### B. What Wisdom Looks Like
- Bunyans worldly wiseman - wisdom of this world. - Worlsy vs fodky - Devilish, genesis 3 becone wise (knowledge & exp of sin of sin) vs fodly knowledge
> Proverbs 10:1 — The proverbs of Solomon. A wise son maketh a glad father: but a foolish son is the heaviness of his mother.
> Pr 10:5 ¶ He that gathereth in summer is a wise son: but he that sleepeth in harvest is a son that causeth shame.
Proverb (“The parents have eaten sour grapes, and the children’s teeth are set on edge.” — Jeremiah 31:29, BLAMING SOMEONE ELSE; They had a witty saying, but it was unwise.) -- Can u harmonize all proverbs and wisdom?
> 10:5 works when time to work
Wisdom is justified by her choldren? ( what follows wisdom)
> Luke 7:35 — But wisdom is justified of all her children.
The Spirit of Wisdom