“You
do not have because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive,
because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your
pleasures.” James
4:2c-3
God conscious people and
many casual Christians seem to think that whatever they ask for of God they
will receive. I mean doesn’t the Bible even say “Ask and you shall receive…”? Yes, taken out of context one could
come to that conclusion; however, God isn’t a genie in a bottle granting wishes
arbitrarily to any and all that should happen to ask. God is a sovereign, righteous, holy spiritual
being that created man for His good pleasure.
It’s to be understood that God answers the requests of His children, not
Joe Bag-a-donuts off the street who wishes to have a nicer apartment or
car. Joe asks, doesn’t receive and
concludes that there is no God. The
children of God ask and receive that which God knows is best for them at the
precise moment He knows it is needed and we praise His name.
The fact of the matter is that when the righteous ask for
things that fall in line with the will of God for their lives they receive in
ample supply. While material possessions
in and of themselves are not evil, they are not the best God has to offer us. We
are human beings who often give in to worldly wants. In the process our
definition of wants vs. needs becomes out of focus. What is our motive for the things we
desire? God knows our hearts deepest
motivations. Nothing is hidden from
Him. We need to understand that the One
who created all things shall meet all our needs. We don’t receive at times because God in all
His mercy is sparing us from what will happen if we do receive what we ask
for. You’ve no doubt heard the secular phrase “Be careful what you ask for, you just might get it.”
The issue comes down to trust. Do we trust God enough to meet our needs and
fulfill our greatest desires? Or do we
feel we must help Him by providing some things on our own. God will not stop you for side stepping His
wishes for you. He will let you go your
own way, always watching, always loving you, until the day that you stop and
realize what you’ve done. Then He will
be waiting with open arms to welcome you back onto the path you have wandered
off of. Seek the will of God for your
life and trust Him to take good care of you along the way. No one knows you better than He does. Until next time, walk with the King and be a
blessing!
