James 1:5: If any of you lack wisdom we should ask of God that giveth to all men liberally.
2. How did James further define the phrase to “ask in faith”?
James says that we need to come unto the Lord and ask in faith, not wavering.
3. How do Matthew 6:24, 1 Kings 18:21, add to your understanding of James 1:8?
James 1:8, “A double minded man is unstable in all his ways”.
Matthew 6:24, “No man can serve to masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon”.
Kings 18:21, “And Elijah came unto all the people and said, how long halt ye between two opinions? If the Lord be God, follow Him”.
What I have learned from these verses is that we cannot serve two Gods. We cannot worship the Lord and other idols, such as worldly possessions. We cannot serve two masters. We need to be loyal to our Heavenly Father who has given us life, who has died for our sins so that we may return to Him, who has comforted us during our afflictions. We need to set aside the things of this world and only follow our Heavenly Father.
4. From James 1:13-15, 19-27, make an outline of how you can better live the gospel of Jesus Christ.
James 1:13-15 explains that when we are tempted, we cannot blame the Lord, because the Lord is not the one who tempts, but rather we are drawn away by temptation because of our own lust. This lust brings about sin, which can lead to spiritual death.
James 19:27 explains that we need to be slow to speak and slow to anger, for the wrath of man works no righteousness before God. We need to lay aside our filthiness, superfluity of naughtiness and with meekness we need to receive the word of Christ, which is able to save our souls. We need to live what we know is true, not just speak it, we need to be doers of the word otherwise our religion is in vain. We need to show our love for our fellowman by being of service to those that stand in need of it, such as spending time with the fatherless, visiting widows during their afflictions and keeping ourselves unspotted from the world.
5. Give a few modern examples of how you have recently seen individuals exemplify James 1:22.
This verse explains that we need to not only be hearers of the gospel, but we need to live the gospel, otherwise we deceive ourselves.
This verse often makes me think of followers of Christ. It makes me think of all the saints of the gospel who would gladly put their life on the line to defend the gospel of Jesus Christ, in particular, the Prophet Joseph Smith, who gave everything he had to serve others and help build up the kingdom of God in this day and age, so that all of us may have the opportunity to hear and receive the gospel of Jesus Christ. I also think of all the pioneers, who suffered great persecution and torment because of their beliefs and yet endured with faith during all their suffering.
6. Read the Institute Student Manual commentary for James 1:5-6, “If Any of You Lack Wisdom”. Make a list of reasons why Elder Bruce R. McConkie of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles said these verses have “had a greater impact…upon mankind than any other” scripture.
At some point in life, every investigator of revealed truth stands in the same place where Joseph Smith stood, and that is asking the Lord, in faith, if the gospel is true, and it if it is what should we do about it. The simple phrase, “if any of you lack wisdom, ask of God who giveth to all men liberally” has led to the opening of the heavens in modern times, with the Lord appearing to Joseph Smith and establishing the gospel of Jesus Christ on this earth today. Had Joseph Smith not read that scripture or had chosen to ignore it, then the gospel may not even be on the earth at this very moment. This scripture had a great impact on a young boy and now each one of us has the opportunity to hear and receive the gospel because of it. This scripture also shows us that there is such a thing as modern revelation and that each one of us can ask the Lord and receive an answer for ourselves if the gospel is true.
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