Be Careful Why You Ask For What You Ask For

My Utmost For His Highest

 

‘“If any of you lacks wisdom . . . .” If you realize that you are lacking, it is because you have come in contact with spiritual reality— do not put the blinders of reason on again. The word ask actually means “beg.” Some people are poor enough to be interested in their poverty, and some of us are poor enough spiritually to show our interest. Yet we will never receive if we ask with a certain result in mind, because we are asking out of our lust, not out of our poverty.’ CHAMBERS

 

Asking and receiving .. believing and receiving … There are so many views on this.  So many sermons have been preached .. books have been written …. This is what the Bible says in James 4:2-3 “ […] 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.”

 

Receiving from God does not mean that He will or should sustain our level of affluence in our culture. Or worse yet, that He will give us even more.  Think about this .. God gives you more than you need so you will have resources to help support those who are going to spread the Gospel .. to help those who have no food .. no water .. no help .. not so you can spend more on yourself ..

 

When we ask .. we should be at the end of the list … Asking implies prayer .. that is how we ask from God … Have you ever known someone who only calls you when they want something?  They are really not interested in ‘you’, but what is in your pocket.  It can be frustrating .. what you would like is a sincere relationship … and the help that comes from that relationship would be wrapped in love not obligation .. or manipulation … or feigned affection … Well, that is how it is with God.  There is a bigger picture than this life we live .. it is an eternal picture .. it is a story of how God has reached down from heaven to offer eternal life to a lost people devoid of hope.  He wants to use you for that purpose … He has given you opportunity through provision beyond your needs to be part of the greater story …  So be careful why you ask for what you ask for.

 

1 Timothy 6:6-11 “But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.”

 

Bondye Beni Ou (God Bless You)