James 1:5

James 1:5 says, 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.  James didn’t say if we lack knowledge ask God for it, but if we lack wisdom.  We may gain a lot of knowledge from studying, but we may be very well educated and still lack wisdom which comes from God.  All we have to do is accept that He is the source of wisdom instead of thinking we can gain it by our own understanding.  

Verse six adds, 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.  James said that we are to ask for wisdom in faith that does not waver.  We cannot see God as the source of wisdom one day and doubt Him the next if we are to gain spiritual wisdom.  

Verse seven continues, For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.  James said that people who waver in their faith should not expect anything from God.  I believe that if we ask God for wisdom that we can never waver in believing that He will give us wisdom if we are to have true wisdom.  We cannot believe at one time and doubt the next.

Verse eight states, A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.  A double minded man would be a man who tried to live by the wisdom of God but also tried to live by what the world may teach that is opposed to God’s word. James said such a person is unstable in all their ways.