James 4:2-3 New International Version 2 You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God. 3 When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.
Full Answer
What do James 4 3 mean?
For if our identity is in Christ, the intentions of the heart will align with the Word of God as it pertains to righteousness. But if our identity is wrapped up in our love of self, our heart's intentions will seek personal pleasure with no regard for the consequences that follow.
What is the meaning of ask and you shall receive?
This passage suggests that God will give whatever is needed to those who have the faith to ask for it.
What does the Scripture mean you have not because you ask not?
0:331:42You Have Not Because You Ask Not | Joyce Meyer Ministries - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAnd the simple. Answer is you have not because you ask. Nothing. If there's anything you want youMoreAnd the simple. Answer is you have not because you ask. Nothing. If there's anything you want you ask God for it.
What is the meaning of James 4?
James is talking about being humble before God, and being humble means avoiding presumptuous behavior. In his illustration, James portrays a traveling merchant planning out their travel for future markets. There is nothing wrong with planning, but James warns against presuming our futures.
What is the meaning of the first shall be last and the last shall be first?
In a general sense, “the first” are the privileged, prestigious, and selfish who get ahead in this life while defying God's commandments. But they will receive condemnation in the life to come. “The last,” though rejected by the world, will receive a great reward in heaven.
What ever you ask in prayer believe and you will receive?
The scripture verse on this Bible is "Whatever you ask for in prayer believe that you have received it, and it will be yours, Mark 11:24.
What the Bible says about asking God for things?
The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
When 2 or more are gathered in my name?
“For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” (Matt. 18:19–20.) Prayer, then, is the vehicle whereby we invite His Spirit to be with us.
What do you have that you did not receive meaning?
It's easy to take pride in what we have earned or the talents we possess. We naturally take ownership of our accomplishments. But, the reality is God is our Creator and provides us with life and the tools to succeed.
What does James 4 say in the Bible?
Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up. Brothers, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against his brother or judges him speaks against the law and judges it. When you judge the law, you are not keeping it, but sitting in judgment on it.
Who was James addressing in James 4?
James the Apostle, abbreviation James, New Testament writing addressed to the early Christian churches (“to the twelve tribes in the dispersion”) and attributed to James, a Christian Jew, whose identity is disputed.
What does being double-minded mean?
Definition of double-minded 1 : wavering in mind : undecided, vacillating a double-minded man unstable in all his ways — James 1:8 (Revised Standard Version) 2 : marked by hypocrisy : insincere.
What does James 4:1-12 mean?
You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and wage war. You do not have because you do not ask.". James 4:1–12 builds on the end of chapter 3, describing how living according to the world's wisdom has led to great conflict among James's Christian readers.
Why did James and James fight?
They were fighting with each other because they couldn't get what they wanted. James says that living that way is adultery. It's ''cheating'' on God. He calls them to quit their friendship with the world, humble themselves, repent from their sin, and receive God's grace. God is the Lawgiver and Judge, not man.
What does the Bible say about jealousy?
You are jealous of what others have, but you can't get it, so you fight and wage war to take it away from them. Yet you don't have what you want because you don't ask God for it.". James 4:2, CSB: "You desire and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and wage war.
What does the Bible say about coveting?
You covet but you cannot get what you want , so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God.". James 4:2, ESV: "You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask.".
Verse Thoughts
So much in Scripture points to right thinking. We are to take every thought captive to Christ. We are to let His mind dwell in us richly. We are to have this same attitude in ourselves that was in Christ Jesus. We are to look to the Lord Jesus as our example in selfless humility.
My Prayer
Loving Father I do want to pray aright and to pray into Your perfect will.
What does James 4 say about asking God for something?
James 4 does not really address those larger issues. It simply says that, if there is something we want, we need to ask God for it, instead of resorting to ungodly means. It stands to reason that there are some things that we will not get unless we ask for them, but, if we ask, we will receive them. So, if there is something that we want, we need ...
What does James write about?
James wrote to believers who seemed to have quite a few problems with their behavior. The one he addresses at the beginning of chapter 4 has to do with their desire to get things.
Why do I not have because I do not ask God?
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.”. 1. The people wanted a lot, and this was causing them to fight and quarrel among themselves.
Why does God say "no"?
There are some times when God may say “no” because we ask with the wrong motives , and there may be some times that He says “yes” because He wants us to have what we ask for. (His “yes” does not mean that the object of our desire will necessarily arrive “on a silver platter” from heaven.
Why do Christians lash out at each other?
There are Christians who are out to further their own agenda to get what they want by any means possible. When they are frustrated in their aims, they lash out at each other. James says there is a better way. Instead of coveting, quarrelling, fighting, and even killing, Christians need to simply ask God for what they want.
Why did people fight and quarrel?
1. The people wanted a lot, and this was causing them to fight and quarrel among themselves. Presumably, they were frustrated with each other as they could not get what they wanted. 2. The inability to get what they wanted had driven some of them to “kill.”.
When you ask God for something, do you receive?
Likewise, when we ask God for something, He reserves the right to do what is best for us. James 4:3 brings up another situation where God may not grant our requests: “When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.”. So, while it is better to ask God for things ...
What does James seem to be bothered by?
i. “James seems to be bothered more by the selfish spirit and bitterness of the quarrels than by the rights and wrongs of the various viewpoints.” (Moo) ii. Almost all who have such a critical and contentious attitude claim they are prompted and supported by the Spirit of God.
What does James ask us to consider?
It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away: James asked us to consider the fragility of human life, and the fact that we live and move only at the permission of God. James does not discourage us from planning and doing, only from planning and doing apart from reliance on God. i.
What is the source of wars and fights among Christians?
The source of wars and fights among Christians is always the same. There is some root of carnality, an internal war within the believer regarding the lusts of the flesh. No two believers who are both walking in the Spirit of God towards each other can live with wars and fights among themselves. i.
What does the word "sinner" mean in the Bible?
i. “The word used for sinner is hamartolos, which means the hardened sinner, the man whose sin is obvious and notorious.” (Barclay) ii. In using terms like lament and mourn and weep, “James speaks in terms of the Hebrew prophets’ language about the anguish of repentance.” (Moffatt) h.
What does it mean to submit to God?
This means to order yourself under God, to surrender to Him as a conquering King, and start receiving the benefits of His reign. i.
What does "such friendship with the world" mean?
i. “Such friendship with the world means that one is on a footing of hostility towards God, for it defies His will and despises His purpose; disguise it as one may, it is an implicit challenge to God.” (Moffatt) ii. The strong statements James made here remind us that all was not beautiful in the early church.
What does the Bible say about uncertainty?
The uncertainty of life should make us ready to recognize what is good and then do it. “This uncertainty of life is not a cause either for fear or inaction. It is always a reason for realizing our complete dependence on God.” (Moffatt) b. To him it is sin: Jesus told a story with much the same point in Luke 12:41-48.
Why doesn't God give us a gift?
He will not give us a gift that will replace himself in our hearts, because he loves us too much and does not wish to see us come to harm. It is not always what we ask for that is the problem, but rather how and why we ask. God always tests the heart. #3 “that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.”.
Why do you ask and do not receive?
You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions. Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts. You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures .