Charles Spurgeon Commentary James 1:5

"But if any of you lacketh wisdom, let him ask of God, who giveth to all liberally and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him." — James 1:5 (ASV)

Let him ask of God,

That is the short road to true knowledge – to pray. Study is good, no doubt, for the acquisition of knowledge; but praying is the best way to obtain true wisdom.

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.

We are so apt, when we give anything, to diminish the value of it by some unkind remarks, but God does not do so; he gives, as he bids us give, with simplicity. There is the gift, and he will not detract from it by upbraiding us. Why, some will upbraid the poor while they help them: "How did you come to be in such a condition?"

But God does not say so to us; the gift is given in pure liberality, without any upbraiding. Wisdom is a gift. The best wisdom is not that which we acquire by study, but that which is the distinct gift of God in answer to prayer.

If any of you lack wisdom,

That is the point in which we are all deficient; and if we are to be lacking in nothing, we must not be lacking in wisdom. How, then, are we to obtain it?

Let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

Young beginner, you who have just recently put on Christ, you certainly do lack wisdom; you cannot have attained that gift in all its fullness yet. Then go to God for it. He can give it to you, and he will give it to you if you ask him for it.

If any of you lack wisdom,

Ah, James, you need not say, If any of you lack wisdom, for we all lack it! We are all poor, foolish creatures: 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.

The Lord might very well upbraid us for our folly, and say, "Poor child, I will give you wisdom; yet you are very foolish." But he does not say that.

He giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not. Let him who lacks wisdom ask of God: and it shall be given him.

Can the Lord give wisdom? Surely, we must study, learn, and gain experience before we can know, and then afterwards knowledge, rightly used, grows into wisdom.

Can God give us wisdom ready made? Ah, yes, he can! He gives wisdom if we ask for it.