James 1:7 (LSB)

Passage

For that man ought not to expect that he will receive anything from the Lord,

Nearby Context

James 1:5 But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.

James 1:6 But he must ask in faith, doubting nothing, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind.

James 1:7 For that man ought not to expect that he will receive anything from the Lord,

James 1:8 being a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

James 1:9 But the brother of humble circumstances is to boast in his high position;

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "ought", "expect", "receive", "anything", and "lord". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "ought" and "expect", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 6's "But he must ask in faith doubting..." into verse 8's "being a double-minded man unstable in all...", so "ought" and "expect" belong inside that flow. In James context, the local focus is Christ, faith, and discipleship.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "ought" and "expect" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.