“Let the lowly brother boast in his exaltation, and the rich in his humiliation, because like a flower of the grass he will pass away. For the sun rises with its scorching heat and withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beauty perishes. So also will the rich man fade away in the midst of his pursuits.”

First, note the context. As we saw concerning verses 5-8, so we find that verses 9-11 also expound further upon James’ words of exhortation and command in verses 2-4. “Count it all joy….when you face trials of various kinds…” As the need for wisdom is a common reality in the face of trials, so our trials are often accompanied by financial concerns. In particular, those whom James was writing to had almost assuredly faced financial difficulty. After all, they were among the Dispersion. They had been displaced and had to find a new way to make ends meet.

Well, James has a specific word of encouragement for them and for us. He wants them to know that even in the midst of their financial lowliness, they are still commanded to rejoice and, because of Jesus, capable of doing so. After all, financial difficulty is surely one kind of ‘various trial’ that many of us have met or will meet.

Second, note that the lowly brother is commanded to boast in his exaltation, and the rich in his humiliation.

Let the lowly brother boast in his exaltation…It seems to me that the first man James mentions (the lowly brother) is different from the second in that he is a believer, while the rich man is not. For I can’t imagine him saying that a rich believer will fade away in the midst of his pursuits. And the wording of the text by no means demands such an interpretation. No. It seems that James is encouraging the lowly brother who may be surrounded by many unbelievers enjoying financial security while he seeks the Lord and remains in financial difficulty.

We can all relate right? At least to some degree. For aren’t we all inclined to trust in riches more than we ought? Aren’t we inclined to look to money to give us the security and identity we desire? And, when seeking the Lord and faced with financial concern, aren’t we inclined to wonder what in the world is going on? How can these unbelieving rich people ignore God and find financial security, while I seek Him and find financial difficulty? These are concerns similar to those of Asaph in 73. They are almost certain to arise when we seek the Lord, yet struggle to make ends meet.

But James responds to these concerns by saying, in effect, “Listen lowly brother, don’t forget who you are! Don’t neglect the riches that are yours in Christ Jesus and that will be fully enjoyed when you either die or Jesus comes again. Indeed, don’t neglect the exaltation that is yours now! Don’t fret over financial concerns. Look to things unseen. Count it all joy. For though you may be humbled now, you are the recipient of a true exaltation. The exaltation that really counts. An exaltation that will not pass away. An exaltation by God Himself. In this, rejoice!”

Again, James is pointing us to look to things unseen. To look to those things that really matter. In this instance, he is reminding us of all that is ours in Christ Jesus. Sure, the rich might know exaltation now, but would you rather enjoy it now or later? And do you want the exaltation that man gives or the exaltation that God gives? The answer should be plain.

Is Psalm 73, Asaph was in distress as he looked upon the success of the wicked. But then, he says, he went into the sanctuary of God and there he discerned their true end (73:16-17). This is where James points us in the coming two verses. But for now, recognize that in order to fight for faith in the midst of financial difficulty, we must not only know the end of the unbelieving rich, but the end of all those who believe in Christ (us). That is, we need to remember where we are headed. We need to remind ourselves consistently of all that is ours in Christ. We must get our priorities straight by fixing our eyes on the exaltation that is ours now and that will be fully enjoyed in the age to come.

Do you have financial concerns? Do you look around and wonder why many who neglect God enjoy more temporal blessings than you? Well then, James tells you to do yourself a favor by taking your eyes off of temporal things and looking to things eternal. Look to Jesus. Remember your identity as a child of God and the promise of exaltation by and before Him. Put such temporal matters in perspective by bringing your concerns before the Lord and setting your heart on things permanent, on things now yours in Christ and soon to be fully enjoyed in the age to come. For then you will see clearly and then you will rejoice.

“But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.”

Concerning verses 6-8, realize first that God promises wisdom to those who meet the conditions for receiving wisdom. That is to say that this promise is just like most other promises in Scripture in that it is conditional. That means that one must meet the conditions before he receives the promised blessing.

For example, before one is saved, one must repent and believe the gospel. The two go hand-in-hand to form one condition that must be met before God grants the promised blessing. In this instance, if you and I want to receive faith, we must believe God can and will grant it and ask God for it. That’s it. That’s all. Believe God can and will give us wisdom and ask God for that wisdom, and it is ours. Of course, we realize that the underlying reason why He will do so is because of what Jesus has done. And this should find expression in our prayers. However, James makes things very plain. Believe in God for wisdom. And in turn, ask God for wisdom. And wisdom will be yours. Meet those simple conditions and blessing will soon come.

Yet with that being said, fears might arise. After all, how do I know if I believe enough? Can I really “ask in faith, with no doubting?” That seems kind of tough, indeed, maybe even impossible.

Well, it is here that we must take a more careful look at the text. For though, on the surface, it seems that our requests for wisdom cannot be accompanied by any doubts, that is probably not exactly what James is saying. After all, he was a man like us. Surely, he was well acquainted with doubt. Surely he struggled against unbelief just as we do.

That is why it is important to note that James is probably not speaking of doubts of any sort, but of persistent doubt, indeed, a heart full of doubt that flows from double-mindedness. For double-minded is the word James uses to summarize the man with the kind of doubts he refers to in verse 6. And double-minded means much more than a man who struggles with any sort of doubt. It points more to a persistent mindset that flows from a heart full of unbelief. Indeed, it points to the heart of an unbeliever. One who has not really entrusted himself to the Lord. One who is still ‘playing the field’ so to speak. One who is trying to rely upon both himself and God. One who is just like a wave of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind.

Therefore, if we have entrusted ourselves to Jesus Christ, we must bring our surface doubts to Him and realize that all God’s promises find their ‘Yes’ in Him (2 Corinthians 1:20). We must not focus too much on our faith, but on the Object of our faith. We must not continually grow anxious about whether or not we believe enough. For our faith will never, at least in this life, be perfect. And, in the end, it doesn’t have to be perfect. For the Lord loves to hear the cry of the needy and to reward the smallest mustard seed of faith, so that that precious seed might grow.

Some today teach that in order to receive the blessings, we must extinguish all doubts by the very strength of our wills. Well, that’s nonsense. Utter nonsense that will soon make us obsessed with ourselves and oftentimes despairing because we cannot believe as we ought.

Others today say that we should just ‘speak the word,’ or ‘name our blessing and claim our blessing,’ believing that if we ‘name it and claim it’ that blessing with soon be ours. But again, the focus is not on Jesus Christ, but upon ourselves, upon our own faith, our own willpower. We end up praying not in weakness, but in strength. Not in authentic faith, but in a ‘faith’ of our own devising. Not believing in Jesus, but believing in our own believing.

Both errors must be rejected. And we, as believers of single-mindedness, must recognize our weakness and bring our requests before the Lord in faith. Yes, we must believe. But we must not believe in our own belief, but in an Object outside ourselves. We must not look within, but without–to the Lord. For if and when we do so, faith will arise. No matter what kind of doubts we begin with, if we look continually to the One who gives generously to all without reproach; to the One who died so that every promise might be fulfilled; to the One who, in His infinite joy, delights to give to the likes of us….yes, if we look to this One, faith will arise. Prayers for wisdom will be uttered. And wisdom will soon come.

Do you lack faith? Well, so do I. Let us come to the Lord in our weakness then, in confidence that Jesus Christ has paid the price for all our unbelief. Then, as God grants wisdom, we will not boast in ourselves, but faithfully boast in the only One worth boasting in: our great God and Savior.

“If any of your lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.”

Third, note that God is a God who gives (or is giving) to all without reproach.

This means simply that He doesn’t treat us as our sins deserve. He doesn’t give to us on the basis of our own merit, but on the basis of Christ’s merit. The gospel is quite evident in the book of James, even if not obvious. For the steadfast love of the Lord is the foundation for statements such a these, a steadfast love that flows from the work of Jesus on our behalf. Of course, if we are ignorant of the extent of our own sin, we will not rejoice and be humbled by such a statement. In fact, we may even take it for granted. We might find ourselves assuming that God would do such a thing–for He does it so consistently.

But should we not fear to approach the Lord of lords day after day with our every need? After all, we continual sin against Him. We consistently trample His glory in the dust with our various sinful motives (many of which we remain ignorant of!). Unedifying words are spoken. Thoughts deep within put down others while exalting self. God is not ignorant of such inner designs. Indeed, He knows us better than we know ourselves. And yet He is giving generously to us without reproach. He doesn’t treat us as our sins deserve. He loves us. He cares for us. He makes us promises that ought to make us weep with joy! He gives to us generously day after day without reproach.

Are you in need of wisdom? Well then, look to the One who gives generously to all without reproach. Take account of your sin. Yes, do so. But do not exalt your sin over the cross of Jesus Christ. Realize that all God’s promises find their ‘Yes’ in Jesus. Recognize that God not only can meet your need, but indeed, that He desires to and will do so.

For as the final statement in verse 5 makes plain, if you recognize your need for wisdom and cry out to the God who gives generously to all without reproach, wisdom will be given to you. “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.”

There doesn’t seem to be a whole lot of question in the matter does there? That is because there is not. Sure, James follows up this statement with a warning (one we will address next), but the warning that follows by no means negates the promise. Realize then, wisdom will be given to you if you recognize your need and cry out to God in faith.

Does it seem too simple? Well, it is simple, but not too simple. Does it seem too easy? Well, it is easy, and yet, at the same time hard. For a clear, consistent recognition of our need is not an easy thing to come by. We are hard-wired to depend upon ourselves. This is why prayer is so often inconsistent and dull. Not only that, but we are also hard-wired, it seems, to think false thoughts about God.

The battle, as always, is to think true thoughts about God and ourselves. For if we do these two things, we will meet the conditions for this promise. First, we will recognize our need. And second, we will know full well (as we have said time and again) that God not only can meet our need, but that He will meet our need in His good timing and grace.

Have we doubts? Well then, let us continually look to the promise. Even more, let our confidence arise as we look to the One who made the promise. For when His character is in plain view, faith will arise, prayers will be uttered, and wisdom will soon come.