ASKING AND NOT RECEIVING

ASKING AND NOT RECEIVING
James 4:1-6
"When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives...." (v. 3)

WHEN THE WRONG KIND OF WISDOM prevails, the consequence is disastrous. The picture that James draws here is one of an armed combat, the language he uses is that of war: "fights", "...battle within you" (v.1), "you kill", "you...fight" (v.2). The people are up in arms, their fists flying, and their hands at one another's throats.

Underlying the unruly and disgraceful behaviour are basically two motivations: pleasures and desires (vv.1,3). And they both have one thing in common, namely, self. Too much of self has left no place for God. In the first place, they have forgotten God to ask Him of anything (v.2). Then, when they remember, they ask only to satisfy their ego. No wonder they do not receive (v.3). There is still too much of self even when they turn to God.

Prayer is not so that we may swing God to our side, as if God is a genie in an Aladdin's lamp summoned at our will to do our bidding. No, prayer is so that we may know what God's will is, so that we may move over to His side. We need to examine our prayers and ask ourselves if they are ever so often what we desire, for our pleasures, rather than what God wills, for His glory.

James next charges his readers of spiritual unfaithfulness, calling them "You adulterous people" (v.4). In their bitter strife, they are no different from the people of the world. In fact, they have prostituted themselves to a world-system of values and behaviour opposed to God. Choosing to be a friend of the world, they have become an enemy of God (v.4). This does not mean that God loves them any less. On the contrary, it is precisely because God loves them so much that their unfaithfulness is so abhorrent.

Translators have found verse 5 difficult. If we take the word for "envy" in the bad sense, then it is the human spirit that envies, and gives rise to all the troubles in vv.1-3. If we take the word in the good sense of a healthy "jealousy", it is God who longs us with a divine jealousy. Considering the immediate context of v.4, the latter seems preferable. James is not citing any specific verse here but pointing to the whole tenor of Scriptures that teaches God's jealous love over His people (e.g. Ex 20.5). God desires us wholly for Himself because He has given Himself wholly for us. If we find His demands too great, He assures us that His grace is always greater than His demands (v.6).

Am I asking wrongly?