Jesus And James Agree

James 1:5-8 is such an “ordinary” passage about a basic need for every Christian.

If any of you 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.

Did you notice similarities to the Mark 11 promise? We’ll see more about that comparison in a moment.

First, let’s look at the setting or context for the promise in James. This James is the Lord’s brother (Galatians 1:19), not the apostle James killed much earlier by Herod (Acts 12:2). Yet James the Lord’s brother does not call attention to his special, fleshly relationship with Jesus. Instead, he speaks of himself as any Christian could, as a servant. In the same way, his writing is not to special leaders or to some small, select band. He writes to the spiritual family, his brothers and sisters in Christ. He writes to the many Christians of the Dispersion, those scattered or dispersed across many lands. They are “the twelve tribes” meaning God’s chosen people— all of God’s people (for old Israel had a total of twelve tribes).

James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes in the Dispersion… (James 1:1).

Thus the promise that we are about to examine is not just for an elite few. It is God’s promise, through James, to Christians in general—all of us. That is why the promise begins, “If any of you…”. “Any” includes each and every Christian in need of wisdom. And which of us does not need wisdom? Certainly, this message is meant for you and me. Yet it is similar in many ways to the promise of Mark 11.

These two passages can be compared in this way:

MARK 11

1. HAVE FAITH IN GOD (v.22)
2. WHOEVER (v.23)
3. ASK IN PRAYER (v.24)
4. WHATEVER YOU ASK… BELIEVE (v.24)
5. DOES NOT DOUBT (v.23)
6. IT WILL BE YOURS (v.23,24)

JAMES 1

1. ASK GOD… IN FAITH (v.5,6)
2. IF ANY OF YOU (v.5)
3. ASK GOD (v.5)
4. LET HIM ASK IN FAITH (v.6)
5. NO DOUBTING (v.6)
6. IT WILL BE GIVEN HIM (v.5)

In Mark 11, Jesus anticipates a wide range of requests—“whatever you ask in prayer” (more literally, “all things whatever you praying ask for”). James focuses specifically on the wisdom Christians need (James 3:17). Yet both use the same principles for prayer. This shows that although Mark 11 took place in a different context, the principles laid down by Jesus still applied in the everyday case of asking for wisdom. Both Jesus and James stressed that an essential element to answered prayer is trust that God generously gives what is requested.