Devotional: Ask for It: James 4

“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you” (Matt. 7:7, NASB).

Samuel was on his way to a job interview. As he was walking to the job sight, it occurred to him that he needed to present his best self to the interviewer. Samuel did not know much about the potential job. However, he understood that the interview was a means of asking an employer to hire him for the job. Samuel had grown a full beard, but as he thought about the interview he thought to himself that maybe he should not ask for the job with a full beard. Samuel was thinking about the requirements and preferences of the employer. Instead of thinking about his own preferences, he would consider the preferences of the potential employer.

Samuel saw a barber shop. He entered the shop and asked the barber to shave his beard because he was on his way to be interviewed for a job. The barber asked Samuel about the job. The barber knew that the business sold expensive luggage and other travel items. He thought that getting the beard shave off was a good idea. The interview was conducted and Samuel got the job. Later, he learned that his employer did not care if he allowed his beard to grow.

In the book of James, the author expanded upon the teaching of Jesus. Jesus gave a basic directive for those who wanted to receive blessings from the Father. If we want something from the Father we must pray. We must make an effort to get what we want. Although grace is sovereign, we cannot assume that grace and blessings are automatically given to us. Jesus said that the Father will give us good gifts if we ask, seek and knock. Luke makes this statement in regards to receiving the Holy Spirit (See Lk. 11:13).

James says that we struggle in our relationships with our fellow believers because of our desire to satisfy our own pleasures. We mistreat each other because we allow envy and lusts; our desire for pleasure to be the guiding principle for living. We have quarrels and conflicts (Jas 4:1) which leads to murder (v. 2). However, there is a better way to get the things that we want. James, like Jesus says that the key to getting what we want is to ask. “You do not have because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures” (Jas. 4:2-3, NASB).

We should not seek our pleasures that come from the sinful nature. Instead, we should ask for the things that bring glory and honor to God. We should ask for the things that will help us to endure the attacks and abuse of the evil one and his angels. When we pray to God asking Him for the things that we need we should ask in faith believing that the Father will give us what we need.

Prayer: Lord we thank you for hearing our prayers and supplying our needs. Amen