What is the meaning of “wisdom” as referenced in James 1:5?  What is the meaning of the “Royal Law?”  What does James mean when he says, “faith without works is dead?”  Is there a conflict in what James teaches about works and, what Paul are teaches about faith? Here we go!  The General Epistle of James.  So called General Epistle because it was written to a general audience.  James was the son of Joseph and Mary – half-brother of Jesus.  He first rejected Jesus as Messiah (see John 7:5), but later believed (see 1 Corinthians 15:7).  Of all the apostles, this James was first to be martyred.  Acts 12:1-2 tells us that he was beheaded by King Herod Agrippa around the year A.D. 62.  James had been the leader of the church in Jerusalem.  The writer does not use the title of an apostle – but calls himself in Chapter 1 Verse 1 “James, as servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes (Jewish converts) which are scattered (because of persecution – called the diaspora) abroad, greeting.”  Paul in some of his epistles and John in his epistles don’t introduce themselves as an apostle.  So, it’s no big deal that James doesn’t either.  Verse 2 “My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers (various) temptations (trials);” Verse 3 “Knowing this, that the trying (proving and testing) of your faith worketh (builds) patience (perseverance).”  Verse 4 “But let patience have (do) her perfect work, that ye may be perfect (complete) and entire, wanting (lacking) nothing.”  We quickly come upon one of the best-known verses among members of the LDS Church.  It was supposedly, the verse that Joseph Smith Jr. read – which motivated him to go into the woods and pray.  The reported result of that prayer was the First Vision (see Joseph Smith – History 1:11-20).  Verse 5 “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not (won’t restrict or rebuke ); and it shall be given him.”  Mormons use this verse to support their view that you can ascertain whether a religion is true or not – simply by praying about it.  It was a favorite tool of mine, as a young LDS missionary.  But I have since learned in my life that the way to identify a true religion is not simply by praying – but by testing its claims according to the clear teachings of God’s Word.  In all of this – we have to do what every serious student of the Bible must do – look at the verse in context.  First, what does “wisdom” mean in relation to its immediate context in the letter of James?  Within the framework of James, the passage sets the tone and subject of the entire letter.  James is a book of wisdom – that is, a book of advice and admonishment.  The remainder of the letter is, in one sense, a long answer to the question of what is meant by “wisdom” in 1:5.   In short, the concept of wisdom is – the ability to use knowledge in a practical way to the best advantage.  The Bible never tells us to pray about spiritual truth.  Instead the Bible tells us to compare all things with Scripture (see Acts 17:11 and 2 Timothy 3:16) because it is through the word of God that we have spiritual truths revealed to us.  The context of James 1:5 is about gaining wisdom through difficult trials and the testing of one’s faith – not about praying to find out which church is true, or – to find out if a book is true.  Then James goes on to tell the Jewish believers to have faith – and trust God.   Verse 6 “But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering (not doubting).  For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed (in other words, is unstable).”  Moving on to Verses 13-15 “Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man (in other words, God does not tempt people to do evil):  But every man is tempted, when he is drawn (pulled or dragged) away of his own lust (desires), and enticed.  Then when lust