Turn To Jesus With Your Needs

Preacher:
Date: May 27, 2024

The Bible has a wonderful verse that says, 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” (James 1:5). The Bible word “upbraid” means “to scold; reproach; reprimand; rebuke.”  That word is from the King James Version of the Bible, which was translated in the year 1611.

Bible teacher F. B. Meyer, who was born in the mid 1800s. of course used the King James Version in his Bible teaching. So, naturally he used the word “upbraideth” in his commentary on James 1:5. I hope you don’t mind if I substitute the word “rebuke” so we can more fully understand what Mr. Meyer is telling us. He writes,

These words “rebuke not” were principally spoken in reference to our need of wisdom—an incessant, recurring need! We are as little children groping in the dark. We have never before been along this road. We are daily being tested by difficulties we cannot master and problems we cannot solve. …. Do we not need some wise and ever-accessible Mentor and Friend who shall teach us just how to act when the road forks and the signposts are wanting?[1]

We may go to Him a thousand times in a single day, but He will never rebuke us with coming too often. We may go to Him with needs immense as the ocean’s bed, but He will never rebuke us with asking too much…. It will never be so much as mentioned by Him.[2]

[1] F. B. Meyer, The Present Tenses of the Blessed Life (Harrisburg, PA: Christian Publications, Inc., 1965), 76-77.

[2].Ibid, 77-79.