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who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him (James 1:5b)

Here James states a critical, significant, and weighty promise to the believers who called upon God for wisdom during a trial. The promise he says is that God will give wisdom to those who seek the Lord for it. James assures that promise by stating that God gives to all generously and without reproach. Nothing is promised to a believer that is not asked (αἰτείτω) for, as no servant of God can believe that he has some special right to blessings from God, who does not appreciate it enough to pray for it. No one is so favored by God that he will receive a gift from God, who does not value it enough to keep asking for it. (Matt. 7:7-8) James makes it clear that God will give (δίδωμι didōmi), the verb being in a present participle, suggesting an ongoing reception of wisdom to those who keep asking.

Moreover, he will do so generously (ἁπλῶς haplōs), that is, simply (simplicity), straightforwardly and openly. God gives to all (πᾶς pas) as there is no withholding of wisdom because the believer is poor, without higher education, or unknown. In other words, God desires to give believers wisdom and understanding to discern accurately the trials they were enduring. God does this without reproach (ὀνειδίζω oneidizō), which means without directing criticism toward, without fault-finding toward the believer, making allowances for human imperfection. It did not matter the nature of the situation or the background a believer may have come from; if he called upon God for wisdom, it will be given to him. However, we should not expect the miraculous interventional wisdom that Abraham David, Solomon, Elijah, or Nehemiah received. Our primary wisdom for dealing with trials is not going to come miraculously, but rather through the Word of God. Therefore, if we do not take in that lifesaving knowledge, how can we make wise decisions, as it is the very knowledge of God?