“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.” (James 1:5 ESV)

Wisdom comes from the Lord

“With God are wisdom and might; he has counsel and understanding. “ (Job 12:13 ESV)

“For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.” (Prov. 2:6 ESV)

“And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption…” (1 Cor. 1:30 ESV)

Wisdom is full of mercy and good fruits

“But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere.” (James 3:17 ESV)

Wisdom is more precious than silver, gold or jewels

“Blessed is the one who finds wisdom, and the one who gets understanding, for the gain from her is better than gain from silver and her profit better than gold. She is more precious than jewels, and nothing you desire can compare with her. Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor. Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace. She is a tree of life to those who lay hold of her; those who hold her fast are called blessed.” (Prov. 3:13-18 ESV)

“How much better to get wisdom than gold! To get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver.” (Prov. 16:16 ESV)

Therefore…

“Listen to advice and accept instruction, that you may gain wisdom in the future.” (Prov. 19:20 ESV)

“Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.” (Eph. 5:15-17 ESV)

“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.” (Col. 3:16 ESV)

Quote:

“Wisdom is the right use of knowledge. To know is not to be wise. Many men know a great deal, and are all the greater fools for it. There is no fool so great a fool as a knowing fool. But to know how to use knowledge is to have wisdom.” - Charles Spurgeon

“In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.” (1 Peter 1:6-7 NIV)

In this world you will have tribulation, but take heart!

“I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33 ESV)

Remain steadfast under trial and be blessed 

“Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.” (James 1:12) 

Therefore…

“Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.” (Rom. 12:12 ESV)

“And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.” (1 Peter 5:10 ESV)

“Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” (James 1:2-4 ESV)

Quote:

“The Lord's mercy often rides to the door of our heart upon the black horse of affliction.” - Charles Spurgeon

“Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?” (Matt 6:27)

Don’t worry about tomorrow 

“So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today” (Matt. 6:34 NLT)

Don’t worry about your life

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes?” (Matt. 6:25 NIV)

Therefore… 

“Then Jesus said to His disciples, ‘Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat, or about your body, what you will wear.’” (Luke 12:22)

“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” (Phil. 4:6) 

Quotes:

“When I look back on all these worries, I remember the story of the old man who said on his deathbed that he had had a lot of trouble in his life, most of which had never happened.” – Winston Churchill

“Worry does not empty tomorrow of its sorrow, it empties today of its strength.” - Corrie Ten Boom

“He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them his way.” (Psalm 25:9 NIV)

God guides in the paths of righteousness

“He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness for the sake of His name.” (Psalm 23:3 ESV)

The Spirit of truth will guide you into all truth

“When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.” (John 16:13 ESV)

Ask God to guide you

“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.” (Matt. 7:7 ESV)

“Teach me Your way, O LORD, and lead me on a level path, because of my oppressors.” (Psalm 27:11 ESV)

“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.” (James 1:5-6 ESV)

Therefore…

“I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you.” (Psalm 32:8 ESV)

 “And whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear this command behind you: "This is the way. Walk in it.” (Isa. 30:21 ESV)

Quote:

“Does it make sense to pray for guidance about the future if we are not obeying in the thing that lies before us today? How many momentous events in Scripture depended on one person's seemingly small act of obedience! Rest assured: Do what God tells you to do now, and, depend upon it, you will be shown what to do next.” - Elisabeth Elliot

“Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.” (Matt. 11:28 NASB)

The Lord bears us up daily

“Blessed be the Lord, who daily bears us up; God is our salvation.” (Psalm 68:19 ESV)

God will satisfy every weary and languishing soul 

“For I will satisfy the weary soul, and every languishing soul I will replenish.” (Jer. 31:25 ESV)

The Lord upholds and raises up all who are falling 

“The Lord upholds all who are falling and raises up all who are bowed down.” (Psalm 145:14 ESV)

Therefore…

“Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Matt. 11:29-30 NIV)

“Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved (Psalm 55:22 ESV)

“Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” (Gal. 6:2 ESV)

Quote:

“Heaven gives us hope and makes our present burdens easier to bear.” - Billy Graham

“Such are the ways of everyone who is greedy for unjust gain; it takes away the life of its possessors.” (Prov. 1:19 ESV)

Be on your guard about all kinds of greed 

“Someone in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.” Jesus replied, “Man, who appointed me a judge or an arbiter between you?” Then he said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.” “And he told them this parable: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded an abundant harvest. He thought to himself, ‘What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.’ “Then he said, ‘This is what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store my surplus grain. And I’ll say to myself, “You have plenty of grain laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.”’ “But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’ “This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God.” (Luke 12:13-21 NIV)

Greed will trouble your own household 

“Whoever is greedy for unjust gain troubles his own household, but he who hates bribes will live.” (Prov. 15:27 ESV)

The greedy is among those who will not inherit the kingdom of God 

“Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.” (1 Cor. 6:9-11 ESV)

Therefore…

“A greedy man stirs up strife, but the one who trusts in the Lord will be enriched.” (Prov. 27:25 ESV)

“Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.” (Col. 3:5 ESV 

Quotes:

“He who is not contented with what he has, would not be contented with what he would like to have.” – Socrates

“Successful people are always looking for opportunities to help others. Unsuccessful people are always asking, ‘What’s in it for me’.”  - Brian Tracy

“For I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.” (Psalm 73:3 ESV)

Always be zealous for the fear of the LORD

“Do not let your heart envy sinners, but always be zealous for the fear of the LORD.” (Prov. 23:17 NIV)

Do not choose any of their ways

“Do not envy the violent or choose any of their ways.” (Prov. 30:31 NIV)

Therefore…

“Be still in the presence of the LORD, and wait patiently for him to act. Don’t worry about evil people who prosper or fret about their wicked schemes.” (Psalm 37:7 NLT)

“Do not fret because of those who are evil or be envious of those who do wrong; for like the grass they will soon wither, like green plants they will soon die away.” (Psalm 37:1-2 NIV)

“That the triumphing of the wicked is short, And the joy of the godless momentary?” (Job 20:5 NASB)

“Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind. Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing. For “Whoever desires to love life and see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit; let him turn away from evil and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.” (1 Peter 3:8-12 ESV)

 Quotes:

 “The wicked exist in this world either to be converted or that through them the good may exercise patience. - Saint Augustine

 “The riches of His free grace cause me daily to triumph over all the temptations of the wicked one, who is very vigilant, and seeks all occasions to disturb me.” - George Whitefield

“Be not quick in your spirit to become angry, for anger lodges in the bosom of fools.” (Eccles. 7:9 ESV)

Anger: a strong feeling of displeasure aroused by injury, injustice, wrong, etc.; wrath; ire. 

Even Jesus got angry

During His sinless life Jesus expressed righteous indignation with those who desecrated the temple of God, (John 2:15-7), with injustice, with hypocrisy and with hard heartedness.

“… After looking around at them with anger, grieved at their hardness of heart, He said to the man, ‘Stretch out your hand.’ And he stretched it out, and his hand was restored. The Pharisees went out and immediately began conspiring with the Herodians against Him, as to how they might destroy Him.” (Mark 3:4-6)

Take care of anger quickly

“In your anger do not sin” Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold.” (Eph. 4:26-27 NIV) 

Be slow to anger

“Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.” (James 1:19:20 ESV)

“Good sense makes one slow to anger, and it is his glory to overlook an offense.” (Prov. 15:11 ESV)

“The vexation of a fool is known at once, but the prudent ignores an insult.” (Prov. 12:16 ESV)

Therefore…

“Whoever is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city.”  (Prov. 16:22 ESV)

Quote:

“Do not say, "I cannot help having a bad temper." Friend, you must help it. Pray to God to help you overcome it at once, for either you must kill it, or it will kill you. You cannot carry a bad temper into heaven.” - Charles Spurgeon

“Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.” (Eph. 3:20 NLT)

You may have abundance for every good deed

“And God is able to make all grace abound to you, that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed.” (2 Cor. 9:8 NASB) 

God will supply from his glorious riches in Christ Jesus

“And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.” (Phil. 4:18 NLT)

Therefore…

“Now all glory to God, who is able to make you strong, just as my Good News says. This message about Jesus Christ has revealed his plan for you Gentiles, a plan kept secret from the beginning of time.” (Rom. 16:25 NLT)

Quote:

“Our high and privileged calling is to do the will of God in the power of God for the glory of God.” - J. I. Packer