If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.
James 1:5
Wisdom Given Freely
James here is talking about maturity, faith, and perseverance. He lands in verse 5, discussing wisdom—the quality of having experience, knowledge, and good judgment. He notes that some people may lack wisdom, but that does not mean they cannot find it. Wisdom is not a finite resource; it's something the Lord gives freely. So if you lack wisdom, ask God, because He gives generously to all without finding fault. When you ask God, He doesn't judge you for lacking wisdom; He gives it generously.
This reminds me of the story of Solomon, when the Spirit of the Lord asked him, “What do you want from me?” Solomon replied, “I want wisdom.” In that moment, God gave him wisdom, and Solomon became known as the wisest person to ever live. That's how we got most of the Proverbs. It's an example of God giving wisdom to anyone who asks.
Just Ask
My encouragement to you, the application of this verse, is to ask for wisdom. If you don't know what you need or what to do, ask God for wisdom, because He is generous and will give it to you.
Prayer
So Father, we ask today for wisdom. Help us to go throughout our day knowing that You are in command and that You will give us more than we need to tackle each obstacle that comes our way. Help us to be mature and complete, lacking nothing such as wisdom. And when we feel short, Lord, help us to be complete in You. Amen.