Last week there was a news report of a gold prospector in Australia who searched out and found a nugget weighing over 100 ounces. In the same paper I read of another gold prospector, in his quest to discover the mother lode, lost his family in this pursuit for wealth. We read of athletes who will sacrifice much to acquire that coveted gold medallion while others will stop at nothing in their thirst for power. The popular show, Dragon’s Den, is built on an investment format in which the wealthy, who want more money, will lend to inventors and the cost for lending their money will often be a large percentage of the new company. We hear much of the quest for power or position or prestige but when is the last time that you’ve heard of someone on a quest for greater wisdom?

If we were to take a poll and ask people what it is they most want from life the answers would be varied but I suspect that virtually no one would answer by saying that they are seeking for greater wisdom and understanding that they might know how to live well.

Solomon was in that position after his father died. God asked him what he wanted, “What shall I give you?”

How would you answer? What would you seek? Long life? Riches? Power? Solomon’s answer was that he might have an understanding heart so that he may discern between good and evil and know how to rule well.

So then what is wisdom? The dictionaries are unanimous on stating that it is the application of knowledge, experience and good judgement. It is not the knowledge or experience itself that defines wisdom but the application. A person can be book smart or have a multitude of varied experiences and yet be foolish or unwise in decision making.

I don’t know about you but I know that I don’t have perfect insight and sound judgement in all my decision making. There are different times I am unclear about whether to pursue this path or strike out in a another direction. It has little to do with my knowledge base or even my experience. It has more to do with a lack of clarity to know whether this is the path to take.

James addresses this with such a simple solution but difficult for many of us. When there is uncertainty or needing more clarity or wisdom, ask. It sounds so easy. Then why is it so difficult. For one I don’t want to seem to appear “stupid” asking for clarity when I think I should know what to do and yet I don’t so why not ask. Secondly I don’t want to appear indebted to others. I should be able to do this on my own. My lack of decisiveness obviously indicates that this isn’t the case or I would make the decision and move forward.

Later James will say that you have not because you ask not. That could easily be said about our lack of clarity on certain situations in our lives. So again, what is the remedy? ASK. It’s good to seek the counsel of others because there is safety in combined wisdom. Yet James offers us this solution even before we seek the counsel of others. “Let him ask of God who gives liberally and without reproach and it will be given to him”. If God is the embodiment of wisdom as Colossians 2:3 states, “In Christ are all the hidden treasures of wisdom and knowledge” and He is prepared to open that treasure chest of wisdom and share liberally without making one feel “stupid” (without reproach) then why not simply ask for the wisdom needed.

Yet we know, because I have done it myself numbers of times, sought the counsel of others and then went ahead only to do my own thing and find that I should have listened in the first place.  It’s like going to a doctor and having him prescribe a treatment and then completely ignoring what he says. Yet I personally know that there are times that I have only sought out counsel because I wanted that person to agree with me and have not really wanted to listen to another viewpoint on the situation.

James says that there is a way to ask. Believe that you have been heard and that God has responded accordingly. Don’t vacillate back and forth. That only shows an instability, like a wave tossed ocean being driven by the wind. It’s like seeking counsel from your friends and after receiving it doing something entirely different. They will only give you counsel for so long and then simply say, “What’s the use. He doesn’t listen anyways.” John Bunyan, in his book “Pilgrim’s Progress”, calls this person Mr. Facing-Both-Ways. Talk about confusion.

So when we ask for wisdom what are we seeking: clarity, insight, direction, right connections, maybe even courage to do the right thing. So ask and believe that you are being given wisdom for your given situation. It’s okay to bounce it off of people you respect but the decision is ultimately yours to make. Don’t go back and forth. Make the decision and press forward, always with an openness to make changes when necessary. Many times wisdom is given chapter by chapter, rather than the full book form. Sometimes it is page by page or paragraph by paragraph but it is always given to those who seek it and act accordingly.

Solomon, considered one of the wisest men, said this. “Wisdom is the principal thing, therefore get wisdom and in all your getting, get understanding.” It will be given to those who seek it out. Ask.

Blessings!