What is the source of quarrels and conflicts among you? Is not the source your pleasures that wage war in your members? You lust and do not have, so you murder. You are envious and do not obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have because you do not ask. You ask and you do not receive because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures.     James 4:1-3 LSB

Here in the beginning of chapter 4, James is speaking of conflicts that arise among church members. This is not referring to inner conflict in an individual. Discord in a church brings about conflict, quarrels and fighting. This is not something God wants. This happens when unbelievers or false believers are merged with those who are truly redeemed. These conflicts come from selfishness and pride. They come from a need to control and an unwillingness to surrender to God’s control.

James goes on to say, “You lust and do not have so you murder. You are envious and cannot obtain so you fight and quarrel.” We are told not to covet in the Ten Commandments. Our covetousness or desires can lead to all kinds of problems up to and including murder.

Then James says, “You do not have because you do not ask.” Now it would be easy to pull this verse out and twist it to believe that it is saying that God will give us anything we ask for. This is not what it’s saying, however, look at the context. Read the verses surrounding this one.

Another similar verse is found in John 16:23-24 when Jesus said, “…Truly, truly I say to you, if you ask the Father for anything in My name, He will give it to you.” This doesn’t mean God will give us a million dollars if we simply ask for it in Jesus’ name.

Both of these Scripture passages, however, are telling us that when we are in God’s will, we want His will to be done. When Jesus taught His disciples to pray in Matthew 6:9-10 He told them to pray, “Our Father who is in heaven, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”

If we are truly saved and have surrendered our lives to Christ, then we want to please Him. We truly want for His will to be done. These verses are telling us when we pray for God’s will to be done, it’s going to be done. Of course, we know that God’s will is going to be done regardless, but the point in these passages is that when we are surrendered and committed to Christ, our will lines up with God’s will.

James then says we do not receive what we ask for because we ask with the wrong motives. What he means here is we pray with selfish intentions, thinking only of what we want.

And if we are unwilling to submit to Christ, we don’t ask because we know what it will require on our part. It will require obedience. It will require faith. It will require total surrender to Him. There was a time in my life when I didn’t ask for a lot from God because I knew I wasn’t giving a lot, and I certainly didn’t deserve His goodness.

Don’t get me wrong, I will never deserve His goodness. But at least now I’m really striving to do what pleases Him. I’ve finally learned God’s will is what’s best for me even if it doesn’t seem that way at the time. I know He is working all things out for my good (Romans 8:28).

God doesn’t want us to live in discord and confusion, He wants us to have peace. He wants us to be filled with joy. We can have those things if we are willing to ask. Are you unwilling to ask because you are unwilling to surrender? Do you forfeit the unending peace and joy found in Him because you fear He may be asking you to give up the sinful habits you are so fond of.

My friend, you have no idea what the good life is until you experience the peace and joy that only Christ can provide. If you haven’t surrendered to Him, you don’t know what it means to have His protection. You don’t know what it means to have Him lead and guide you every step of the way.

The only way you can experience all of His goodness is to truly surrender to Him.

Have a great day!