It’s really no shock that selfish desires result in fights and quarrels, because when you want only what you want.what else do you expect to happen? That’s why Paul warns us:ĭo nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. The other problem these misplaced desires create is fights and quarrels.
Is there any wonder God would not answer this type of prayer? You want what you want and you want it now. The desires James refers to are only beneficial to you. It would be one thing if you were desiring to be more like Christ or to be filled with more of the Holy Spirit, those desires are not only beneficial to you but also to others. The Problem of Misplaced DesiresĪnother problem here is the object of the desires, or the things that bring you pleasure. What God is reminding us through James is that while, yes, asking matters and faith matters-motives matter even more. Can you imagine how we would be if God answered our prayers that were coming from our selfish motives? We would all be a mess. God in his great wisdom and love, chooses not to answer prayers that are pursued with wrong motives. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures. In other words, thank God for the next verse: When James reminds us in James 4:2 that we have not because we ask not, realize it’s a good thing and that God is doing you a favor.
This is a reminder of how deceitful the human heart is and the strong pull your sinful nature can have over you if you let it get out of control. The striking thing about this desire is that it comes from within you. I must remind you again that James is talking to Christians. This type of emotion is not only unhealthy, it is a catalyst that leads to fights, quarrels, and yes-even murder. So the next time someone shares what God is doing in their lives, rejoice with them! The Bible says we should rejoice with those who rejoice. When someone gets a new job, promotion, new house, new car, or any myriad of material blessings.do you find yourself being excited for them, or envious of them instead? If you do, then be careful because the “covet monster” could be stirring inside you. Do you rejoice in the blessing of others or do you despise them? When someone shares about how God has blessed them, do you feel the need to try to trump their blessing with one of your own? How do you know if you are experiencing this emotion? One way is to think about how you feel when you see others around you being blessed and it seems like God is passing you by. To covet is to be jealous of something that someone else has, or to possess a strong eagerness to get something that does not belong to you. James identifies some of these wrong motives, but the ultimate desire that drives all the others is the burning desire to get something you do not have. The problem is in the reason why you are asking. Looking closely at having not because of asking not reveals that the problem is not really in the asking. It’s like James is giving you a litmus test to bring with you when you go to pray. More importantly, he is giving us a great reminder of the proper attitude you need to have when you come to prayer. Is James really talking to Christians here? I know it’s hard to believe, because he mentions words like fights, quarrels, kill, and covet.
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