If Anyone Lacks Wisdom

Have you ever faced difficulty and not known what to do next? Sometimes it takes more than just knowledge or information. It takes wisdom.

How can we get wisdom? James gives us instructions:

“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him” (James 1:5).

We often find that we need wisdom when we face the difficulties of life. Getting wisdom starts with admitting that we lack wisdom. This verse also tells us we need to ask God.

What is wisdom?

Wisdom is more than knowledge. Wisdom is more than understanding. Wisdom is knowing what to do, how to do it and when to do it. Wisdom is applying knowledge correctly.

For example:

• Knowledge is knowing that a desert trail is 12.1 miles long.
• Wisdom is taking enough water.

True wisdom is a perspective that helps us view events in our lives in the proper context.

The Bible tells us that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom (Proverbs 9:10). This godly fear is not terror. It is the realization that God deserves our reverence and knows the best way for us to live. The God who created the universe has much to tell us.

Why would God help us? God created us in His image (Genesis 1:26). He wants us to be His children, and one day we will be like God (1 John 3:2; see “What Does It Mean to Be Made in ‘the Image of God’?”).

True wisdom is the lens we can use to view our lives properly from God’s perspective.

How to pray for wisdom

King Solomon gives us insight into how to ask for wisdom. He faced great challenges after his father King David died. Solomon asked God for understanding to be able to know how to judge God’s people (1 Kings 3:9).

Solomon received wisdom when he asked for it in humility to benefit others. God was so impressed by the request for wisdom that He also gave Solomon riches and honor.

Solomon was renowned for his wisdom. People came from faraway lands to hear the wisdom of Solomon (Luke 11:31).

How does God answer the prayer for wisdom?

God has many ways to answer our prayers for wisdom. Sometimes, especially in an emergency situation, God can directly intervene in our lives and provide wisdom immediately. When we face a sudden trial and need wisdom, we can say a quick prayer to God, asking for the wisdom we need in that particular situation.

God can also provide wisdom in less immediate or dramatic ways. He can use another person, maybe a friend or even a stranger, to share a nugget of wisdom we need. God also allows trials to focus our attention on wisdom and teach us things we do not know. Trials give us experience in applying wisdom.

Wisdom from God can also be found by listening to inspired sermons, seeking wise counsel and, most importantly, studying the Bible.

Where to find wisdom in the Bible

The Bible should be our primary source for wisdom. King Solomon was inspired to write three books of wisdom. The book of Proverbs gives us sayings of wisdom. Solomon also wrote the book of Ecclesiastes about his experiments in life. The Song of Solomon is dedicated to love and the marriage relationship.

In addition to Solomon’s books on wisdom, King David wrote much of the book of Psalms, which contains wisdom set to music.

In the book bearing his name, Job pondered the deep questions of life under extreme trials. God also asked Job questions that can help us gain the right perspective and understand the nature of God.

The Bible also provides four Gospel accounts about how Jesus Christ (the Son of God) lived life as a man. He exhibited perfect wisdom in everything He said and did. His teachings and examples are there for us to gain wisdom.

The apostle Paul even explained the wisdom of God to philosophers and leaders in the Roman world (Acts 17).

The Bible also gives us different types of wisdom, including:

1. Commandments. God gave specific commands about how to live. He tells us what to do and not do. By obeying His commandments, we can gain great wisdom (Psalm 111:10).
2. Statutes and judgments. The Bible also includes statutes about how to deal with common situations. God’s judgments can be applied correctly to gain wisdom (Deuteronomy 4:5-6).
3. Examples of both heroes of faith and faithless unbelievers. Stories about these individuals are recorded to teach us to make wise choices.

When we pray for wisdom, we should search for wisdom in the pages of the Bible because it is how God primarily communicates His will and wisdom to us. We shouldn’t pray for wisdom and expect God to just divinely download it into our brains. God primarily provides wisdom through His Word, the Bible. For more information, see “God’s Words of Wisdom for You.”

Seeking wisdom from others

Another way to receive wisdom is to seek the counsel of wise people. Solomon tells us to listen to counsel and receive instructions to be wise (Proverbs 19:20). Solomon also tells us a wise king sifts out the wicked (Proverbs 20:26). We should choose our counselors carefully and consider advice in the light of God’s Word.

Be aware that there is a type of wisdom that is of this world. Worldly wisdom at its core can be self-seeking, bitter with envy, and deceitful (James 3:14-15).

On the other hand, godly wisdom is pure, peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy (verse 17; see “What Is Wisdom From Above?”).

Some people may seem wise, but if their wisdom is only of this world, it will be futile (1 Corinthians 3:18-20).

The school of hard knocks: Is experience the best teacher?

Some rely solely on experiences, both good and bad, to teach wisdom. Experience is indeed a teacher and can leave memorable scars. But the process of trial and error is not really the best way to learn.

God loves to teach us new things. If we are willing to listen to our Creator, we can gain great wisdom from the mind of God. Solomon wrote, “There is nothing new under the sun” (Ecclesiastes 1:9). Many things have been tried by those who lived before us. We have the benefit of reading about all that Solomon tried—without suffering the consequences of his mistakes. King David’s triumphs and mistakes are also recorded for our learning.

The mistakes of the children of Israel, including their complaints and rebellion, were recorded for our example (1 Corinthians 10:1-10). We do not need to make the same mistakes to learn.

We need to also understand that God has knowledge and wisdom that we will never discover on our own. So we should pray for wisdom. God in His wisdom has already provided written teachings knowing that we would need more wisdom.

Solomon summarized what he learned after seeking wisdom and folly. In Ecclesiastes 12:10-14 he wrote:

“The Preacher sought to find acceptable words; and what was written was upright—words of truth. The words of the wise are like goads, and the words of scholars are like well-driven nails, given by one Shepherd. And further, my son, be admonished by these. Of making many books there is no end, and much study is wearisome to the flesh.

“Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter:

“Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is man’s all. For God will bring every work into judgment, including every secret thing, whether good or evil.”

Growing in wisdom

As we face the trials of life, we discover the need for wisdom. James tells us that trials test our faith to produce patience (James 1:2-3).

When a trial starts, we might not know what to do. Although we get stressed by the tests of life, ultimately we are perfected by what we learn and the character we build. To get through life’s trials, we need to ask God for wisdom and seek to find the answers He provides. God is glad to hear our request for wisdom.

To ask God for wisdom is to pray for something that is according to God’s will. God loves to teach us new things. If we are willing to listen to our Creator, we can gain great wisdom from the mind of God.

For more information about gaining wisdom, see our article “The Importance of Wisdom and How to Become Wiser.”