God is Liberal...

One of my most influential professors during my educational tenure at the Criswell College was a man by the name of Dr. Joseph Wooddell.  Dr. Wooddell always had strong conservative views, especially in light of politics.  I'll never forget something he said in class one day: "The liberals have taken our word, and I want it back!"  That is, the word "liberal" actually means free, and somewhere along the line, the guys out in left field stole it from us; I agree with him.

James has written,

"If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him."

The word "liberally" there in Greek is the word aplos, which, according to Rogers and Rogers, means, "simply, unconditionally, without bargaining."  They further write, "Here the word could possibly mean 'generously,' derived from the noun meaning 'liberality,' from the idea of frankness and open-heartedness (Mayor).  Perhaps the best translation here is 'freely' (Adamson), or perhaps 'purely and simply,' emphasizing that it is a pure gift."

The idea of the verse is, as the title declares, that God is liberal...in the gift of His wisdom.  Not "liberal," as in abortion favoring, same sex marriage desiring, ten commandment removing politics, but "liberal" in the true sense of the word--free.  That is, when you ask God for wisdom, which is the understanding to live your life to God's glory, He will give it to you freely.  God is liberal in this approach.

Kenneth Barker and John Kohlenberger III have written concerning this wisdom that it is "understanding the nature and purpose of trials and knowing how to meet them victoriously.  Such wisdom is available to the one who will 'ask God' for it, not once only, but repeatedly" (Zondervan Bible Commentary, 1020).  This emphasizes John's words that when you pray according to the will of the Father, those prayers will come to fruition.

"This is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.  And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests which we have asked from Him" (1 John 5:14-15).

If there is one thing that I am confident in, it is that pure wisdom begins with Jesus Christ.  Solomon has written, "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge" (Pro 1:7).  It is not until you fear the Lord, which includes a saving relationship with Jesus Christ, that you truly begin to have knowledge.  When you pray to the Father acknowledging that you are surrendering your life to Christ, you are praying according to His will, and therefore your request will be given to you purely, generously, and liberally.

I am so thankful that God is liberal in His wisdom.