I am studying the book of James with Susan Heck through her With the Master series. This one is called With the Master in the School of Tested Faith. One of the verses she asks the student to memorize is James 1:5, “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.”

I memorized this verse a very long time ago. I’ve sung it over and over again with one of our kids’ CDs. But I didn’t really understand it until last week.

Every single time I’ve read this verse in a book, or heard it used in a sermon, it has been used out of its context. The emphasis is usually on the fact that if we need wisdom, then we should ask God for some. While that is absolutely true, there is so much more that James is saying in this verse, and it relates to the previous four verses.

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. James 1:2-4

The context of verse 5 is “when you meet trials of various kinds.”

The first thing I need to do when facing a trial, after I “count it all joy,” of course, is to ask God for wisdom. So, today, since many of my trials revolve around homeschooling, when my sons or daughters start whining about completing an assignment I will ask God for wisdom regarding how we need to proceed. After all, steam pouring out of my ears, while it motivates for a time, “does not produce the righteousness that God requires” (James 1:19).

The second truth of which I need to remind myself is that God will give wisdom generously and without reproach. This is, perhaps, the most important lesson for me today.

I understand reproach. I dish it out all the time.

In our school area I have two organizers containing all of our school supplies that I wish the little people in my life would leave alone. Even though each child has his or her own box of crayons, there’s just something about a brand new crayon, or the virgin set of markers, that is irresistible. After two weeks, I finally had the kids trained to stay out of the supply drawers without permission. When they ask nicely, I say yes, but with one request: You must put them back when you are finished. My children are not very good at the “put it back when you are finished” part of anything. So, for the last week, when they have asked to use the “new” supplies (that aren’t looking all that new anymore), I have said, “Last time you asked, I said yes, but you had to put them away when you finished. Did you put them back where they belonged?”

[Pokes out bottom lip.] “No, ma’am.”

“Who had to put them back?”

[Still pouting.] “You did.”

“That’s right. You forget to put them back every time. If I let you use them this time, will you remember to put them away?”

[Smiling.] “Yes, ma’am.”

That, my friends, is giving with reproach. Someone asks you for something, you respond with a reminder of how it was previously misused, and how you are so put-out by their asking, but you give it to him anyway. It’s not that you don’t want him to have it. You do want him to use it. You just give it along with some kind of rebuke.

God is not that kind of giver. He does not hear our requests for wisdom in our trials and think, “I helped you last time and what did you do with it?” or “You ought to know how to handle this one.” I will confess that there have been times I’ve heard that reproachful voice in my head telling me not to ask for that again. That voice is not God’s voice. He wants us to keep knocking on the door until He answers (Luke 11:5-13). He wants us to keep pleading with Him and not give up (Luke 18:1-5). Jesus tells us in Matthew 7:7-11,

Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!

God is a good giver, a generous giver, a compassionate giver.

I think Heck’s words are a fitting conclusion: “Many times we come repeatedly to the Lord asking for wisdom in the same situation. Isn’t it wonderful to know we can come to Him a thousand times, year after year? Isn’t it comforting to know His response will be ‘I’m so glad you asked’?”