Befuddled
I am rather taken aback because what I want to do in my life is not what is being accomplished. I seem to be at odds with what is going on with my work. On the one hand, I am being quite successful in certain areas. But on the other hand, I find myself unable to accomplish some things that are vitally important. It also seems like I am being placed in situations where I will fail unless I rely totally on the Lord. Is that where you are right now? What can we make of this? Is the Lord playing tricks on us, or alternatively are we not placing ourselves in subjection to Him enough, or are we simply deluding ourselves and the Lord has nothing to do with it. James calls the situation double mindedness. The inability to stick on one subject line.
James 1:5-8 (NASB)
[5] But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and *without reproach, and it will be given to him. [6] But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind. [7] For that man ought not to expect that he will receive anything from the Lord, [8] being a *double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.
So what is this doubting thing all about anyway? The greek word here is diakrino, which means "to separate throughout or wholly". In other words, it means to contend with yourself. And that is the nature of doubting, to contend with ourselves as to what is the right answer. In this passage in James it would seem that the Lord wants us to have a solid trust in our belief that He will provide.
Why is it that we doubt in the first place? Jesus was very emphatic about having faith. Having faith is necessary in order to please God, not having faith disappoints Him and leads to His displeasure. We often look at this passage in Matthew concentrating on what we can do rather than in the fact that it is the Lord who is actually doing it. We are simply servants.
Matthew 21:21-22 (NASB)
[21] And Jesus answered and said to them, “Truly I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and cast into the sea,’ it will happen.[22] “And all things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.”
The word for doubt in this passage is the same one that we have in James. Our word for faith here is pisteuo which means, "to place confidence in, to trust." It is a total reliance upon the Lord. It is rather strange to look at this passage and realize that we are not doing the mountain moving here, it is the Lord doing the moving. Why? Because of our complete reliance on Him in the situation.
When we ask for something we must have faith or reliance on the Lord that He will do the thing that we ask. When we ask we must make every attempt to ask for something that is pleasing to the Lord, else why should He grant our wish. Also when we ask, we must ask in faith, not wavering but a simple well-founded faith in Him with whom we have to deal. It is easy to back away from such things and simply say that we don't have faith enough to do the impossible, when in effect it is our not relying on the Lord completely that will keep the matter from happening.
I am still confused but I think now I have a better grasp on what it takes to ask the Lord for something.
James 1:5-8 (NASB)
[5] But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and *without reproach, and it will be given to him. [6] But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind. [7] For that man ought not to expect that he will receive anything from the Lord, [8] being a *double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.
So what is this doubting thing all about anyway? The greek word here is diakrino, which means "to separate throughout or wholly". In other words, it means to contend with yourself. And that is the nature of doubting, to contend with ourselves as to what is the right answer. In this passage in James it would seem that the Lord wants us to have a solid trust in our belief that He will provide.
Why is it that we doubt in the first place? Jesus was very emphatic about having faith. Having faith is necessary in order to please God, not having faith disappoints Him and leads to His displeasure. We often look at this passage in Matthew concentrating on what we can do rather than in the fact that it is the Lord who is actually doing it. We are simply servants.
Matthew 21:21-22 (NASB)
[21] And Jesus answered and said to them, “Truly I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and cast into the sea,’ it will happen.[22] “And all things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.”
The word for doubt in this passage is the same one that we have in James. Our word for faith here is pisteuo which means, "to place confidence in, to trust." It is a total reliance upon the Lord. It is rather strange to look at this passage and realize that we are not doing the mountain moving here, it is the Lord doing the moving. Why? Because of our complete reliance on Him in the situation.
When we ask for something we must have faith or reliance on the Lord that He will do the thing that we ask. When we ask we must make every attempt to ask for something that is pleasing to the Lord, else why should He grant our wish. Also when we ask, we must ask in faith, not wavering but a simple well-founded faith in Him with whom we have to deal. It is easy to back away from such things and simply say that we don't have faith enough to do the impossible, when in effect it is our not relying on the Lord completely that will keep the matter from happening.
I am still confused but I think now I have a better grasp on what it takes to ask the Lord for something.