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”. This encourages us to come unto Christ. He will help us get those things that we ask for in faith and righteousness. James goes on in verse 6 to explain, “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.” When we ask things of the Lord we must ask with a sure faith that he will help to guide us whenever and however he sees fit.
James 1:8 says, “A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.” This verse is kind of confusing at first glance, but with the help of Matthew 6:24 and 1 Kings 18:21 we see that this is talking about attempting to love two masters. We can’t love good and love evil at the same time.
In our lives, we can be better disciples of Christ by not giving into temptations that would lead us to sin. We should be slow to anger, because our tongue offends when we do not guard it. “Be ye doers of the word and not hearers only” as this scripture states. We must be willing to go out and do the things we know to be right. We also need to keep others in our minds who are afflicted, and be willing to help them.
Elder Bruce R. McConkie said in regards to James 1:5-6, “…this single verse of scripture has had a greater impact and a more far reaching effect upon mankind than any other single sentence ever recorded by any prophet in any age. It might well be said that the crowning act of the ministry of James was not his martyrdom for the testimony of Jesus, but his recitation, as guided by the Holy Ghost, of these simple words which led to the opening of the heavens in modern times.”
· This passage of scripture is what prompted Joseph Smith to go to a grove of trees and ask if which church to join. This experience led to the restoration of the gospel.
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