Our sermon in church today was very good! We are doing a series in James right now and this was the second sermon in the series. From James 1:5-8.

It was about coming to God for the right things. We are told that those who do not know should ask. We should ask God for wisdom and discernment to deal with our trials, not to for riches or quick fixes. We looked at Solomon as an example. He was told he could ask God for any one thing that he wanted. What did he ask for as he was about to become king of a great nation? He asked for a discerning heart so that he could lead that nation the way that God would want it lead. That is a truly faithful servant. (Maybe not later in his life... but at that time....)

One point from the sermon that stuck with me was that so often people come to the Lord as a plan A, but plan B has already been thought out and is ready to be put into place when plan A fails.... that is a disappointing truth. That doesn't make us faithful! That makes us just going through the motions.... "Okay, I asked God for help, wasn't rewarded, now I will take care of this problem all by myself..." No, no, no. We can't think that way! Of course you will not be blessed when you don't even have faith enough to know that our God is loving and generous!

James says in verse 5 that if anyone lacks wisdom, he should ask God for wisdom, because God gives generously to all people. Then in verse 6 and 7 he goes on to tell us that the catch is, when we ask we must believe and be free of doubt because "he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind." James says that the doubting man would be wrong in thinking that he is going to recieve what he asks of God. This man definitely already has a plan B, because he is already in doubt that the Lord is willing to provide for him.

So, to sum all this up... If you lack wisdom, come to God knowing that He is the only plan that you will need and it will be given to you. James 1:8 says "he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does." refering to the man who doubts. Be stable in the Lord. :)