James 1:5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that gives to all men liberally, and upbraides not; and it shall be given him. This is a very interesting feature in the character of the Divine Being as a Giver. Not a little of the value of a gift — I mean, of course, not the intrinsic value, but the pleasure imparted by the reception of it — arises from the manner of its bestowal. We feel this, in receiving from a fellow creature. Even a poor man, of any sensibility, would many a time rather be without the alms he seeks, than have it with the ill-natured or the contemptuous scowl with which it is given — thrown to him, it may be, to send him about his business and get rid of his troublesome importunity. How wide the difference of his emotions, when the same or even a less a his is bestowed with open-handed cheerfulness, or the tear of tender pity! Even in higher cases than that of the mere beggar, a gift is often bestowed with what we calf a bad grace; with a manifest grudge; with some reflection against the petitioner for his folly, or for the trouble he causes. This is not God's way. He "upbraideth not." In the first place, He upbraids not the petitioner who comes to Him for wisdom, with his want of it — with his stupidity and folly. On the contrary, He is pleased with that sense of deficiency — that humble consciousness of proneness to err which brings the suppliant to His footstool. In the second place, He does not "upbraid" the petitioner for his importunity; for it is by making importunity necessary that He tries faith — tests its reality and its strength. He is never wearied with the frequency, or displeased with the pressing earnestness of the petitions presented. He receives all graciously. He rejects none. When they embrace His very feet in the earnestness of desire, He spurns them not from Him. Nor does He "send them away empty." (R. Wardlaw, D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: 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. |
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