“Defective in wisdom,” Moffatt puts it. It is the same word that occurs
at the end of verse 4. James is fond of catching up a preceding word and
going on with it, even if, as here, in a new sense. “If any of you
lacketh wisdom,” James gently hints. Who is it that does not feel his
shortcoming here, at times with painful intensity?
What does James mean by wisdom? It is more than knowledge. It is more
than mere intelligent apprehension of acquired knowledge. Tennyson says:
“Knowledge comes, but wisdom lingers.” James shows familiarity with the
Wisdom of Jesus the Son of Sirach (Ecclus.)[50] and possibly also the
so-called Wisdom of Solomon. Certainly he knows the book of Proverbs.
But here he does not use wisdom in a philosophical or mystical sense.
With James wisdom is the right use of one’s opportunities in holy
living. It is living like Christ in accord with the will of God. In
3:13-17 he gives a formal discussion of the two sorts of wisdom. Bede
suggests that we need wisdom to know how to look at trial in the true
light. Yes, and we need it to give patience the chance to do its perfect
work. Paul uses wisdom in the special sense of God’s wisdom as shown in
the gospel as infinitely superior to the wisdom of the world which
scouted the cross of Christ. “We speak wisdom among them that are
perfect” (the mature, 1 Cor. 2:6, AV).
In the Old Testament wisdom is sometimes the intelligence of God (Prov.
8:22-30). “Ten measures of wisdom came down from heaven, and nine of
them fell to the lot of the Holy Land” (_Kiddushim_, 49_b_). With James
the source of wisdom is God, not the Jews. So then, when our supply runs
short, ask of God. It is like a bank to which we go to get our money.
God is the banker whose supply of wisdom never gives out. Unlike other
bankers, he asks no security save the name of Jesus.[51] That name gives
us full credit at the bank of heaven.
On that basis God “gives to all men without question or reproach”
(Moffatt). We have it expressed as “liberally” in the standard versions.
It is a rather difficult word to translate into English. It means
simple, singlefold, sincere. Compare the “single” eye in Matthew 6:22;
Luke 11:34. In Romans 12:8 it is not clear whether singleness or
liberality is the idea, but “liberality” is obviously correct in 2
Corinthians 8:2, “the riches of their liberality.” So it is in 9:11, 13,
but “singleness of heart” in Ephesians 6:5 and Colossians 3:22.
Oesterley finds the notion of James to be “singleness of aim, the aim
being the imparting of benefit without requiring anything in return.”
Likewise, Bengel interprets it by _simpliciter_. Either idea makes good
sense, for surely God gives to us all with singleness of purpose and
also without bargaining on God’s part, for there is no idea of
reciprocity. “Without question” (Moffatt) suggests an understanding with
God, which is true. It is the normal, natural thing for a child of God
to come to God and ask of him, for he “upbraideth not.” A fool upbraids,
the Son of Sirach says (Ecclus. 20:15). Instead of upbraiding us for
asking, rather we are made to wonder why we did not ask sooner.
God does not chide us for our folly but gives us good measure of wisdom
to take its place. This is the literal truth, as many self-confessed
fools of the world are glad to testify. They have left the folly of a
worldly, selfish, sinful life for the rich joy of the service of God in
Christ. The change may come in a moment, for after all, this new view of
life and the power to live it may be had for the asking. “And it shall
be given him.” It will be given on request, with no other identification
than the plea of the sinner who comes in the name of Jesus, the “open
sesame” to the treasures of heaven, himself the wisdom of God (1 Cor.
1:30) in whom are all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge hidden (Col.
2:3). God does ask of us that we use this wisdom for his glory and for
the blessing of other lives, the enrichment of other hearts.