Faith in asking

We as Christians enjoy a special privilege. We can seek the Lord for His counsel. When we feel lost, He will give us direction. Recently I wrote that the answer God gives us, or His “word”, tries us. If our heart does not have faith towards God, we will not value God’s word.

“The mocker seeks wisdom and finds none, but knowledge comes easily to the discerning.” (Prov 14:6). To mock is to scorn, scoff or deride. It seems at times we might place the counsel of God in lower value than the counsel of our own heart, or that of our friends. When God does give us His wisdom, we might not see it as valuable advice.

James tells us that God is glad to share wisdom with us, and will not upbraid us for asking (James 1:5). His thoughts and wisdom are different from our thoughts and the counsel of our own mind and heart. The Lord’s intention is not to make us feel inferior or put down, but to bring us up to His level by sharing wisdom with us. However, if we are proud and value our own thoughts more than his, we will set His counsel aside for our own. This is called being “unstable” (see James 1:6-8). Unstable people are tossed around in their thought-life, unable to anchor on any advice, good or bad. They love to moor in the harbors of their own familiar ways, eventually. The very act of seeking God’s counsel when they love their own makes them hypocrites.

Seeking God for advice can bring good direction to our lives, or, if we are hypocritical, it can uncover the hidden agendas of our hearts. God’s word is living and active, judging the thoughts and attitudes of the heart (Heb 4:12-13). When God speaks His word, it tries our hearts, laying bare the contents. If we have faith we will gain wisdom. If we have unbelief we will continue in the ways we have thought to be better than God’s ways. Our attitude towards God’s word determines our path in this life and our final destination. Today, let us value faith in God more than trusting in our own ways, and receive the direction we all need in our lives. Amen.