Asking For Help For All The Wrong Reasons

"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. You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God? Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God." - James 4:2-4

I wrote about "foxhole religion" the other day. When someone prays to God with the only motive being to get themselves out of a tight spot. Very often we pray to find relief from the consequences of our sins. Of course, we don't see it that way.  To do that would require that we admit that we have sinned and then repent of our sin. In all fairness, I don't think most people see life that way. Cause and effect. I make wrong choices and then face the consequences of those choices. Instead of confession we offer excuses or try to shift the blame onto someone else. There was a comedian named Flip Wilson who would say, "The devil made me do it." The truth of the matter is that the most the Devil can do is make the offer to sin. The choice to sin is ours and ours alone.

"each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death." - James 1:14-15

Because we live in a sin-sick world, we, and everyone else on the planet, will face adversity that is not of our making. Certainly, we should pray for our relief from the adversity and for others. But we should approach God as a loving father, holy God and not a heavenly waiter.

"The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much [powerful and effective]" - James 5:16

Did you notice the caveat was "a righteous man". Why would we think that we could approach a holy God with unclean hands? With unconfessed sin. Worse, that ask God to relieve us of the consequences of those sins without addressing the fact that we have sinned against the One we are praying to? James wrote ....

"My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing." - James 1:2-4

Not getting relief but instead learning to be patient is probably not what you want to hear when you feel the breath of the lion on your neck!

We should be like King David when he was confronted with his own sin by the Prophet Nathan. David wrote this in Psalm 51. Confession and repentance.

"[Father God] Hide Your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me away from Your presence, and do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation and uphold me by Your generous Spirit." -Psalm 51:9-12

To do any less is to treat our salvation and Jesus' sacrifice with contempt. Harsh statement? Yes! But it is a harsh reality.

Think about it – Pray about it – Believe it – Walk in it. Let your light shine and give God the glory. 

By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone