James 4:3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions.
We hear stories of people praying for a cadillac or a mansion or winning the lottery. some of this may be in jest but some of it is quite serious. This type of thinking, whether it is on a small scale or big scale, comes from the wrong motives. James puts it as asking wrongly. The motive is all selfish: “to spend it on your passions.” Do we ask God for “things” thinking that our lives will be happy and free from worry? We want houses, land, and gold because they offer the promise of happiness. But true happiness cannot be found in things of this world. These things can bring a degree of comfort, but they bring worry. James may be reflecting on Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 6:19-24, about storing up treasurers for ourselves in this world, whereas our treasures should be stored in heaven. I will admit that I have wasted money on passions, hobbies, desires, and other things. Some of these were for fun or to relieve stress. I believe God gives us blessings in life so that we enjoy life and can be of better service to others. But the world tempts us to go beyond the necessities to the wants which are fueled by passions that have not been sanctified to God. Therein lies the challenge. Have we given to God ourselves, our desires, and the material things of our lives and allowed God to make them holy for God’s purposes?
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