4 You adulterous people, # 4:4 An allusion to covenant unfaithfulness; see Hosea 3:1. don’t you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God? But James is saying this is not a hopeless circumstance at all. He asks (3:13a), “Who among you is wise and understanding?” Perhaps some of the self-appointed teachers were thinking, “I’m glad that you recognize my talents!” Then in his no-nonsense style, James springs the trap (3:13b): “Let him show by his good behavior his deeds in the gentleness of wisdom.” It’s easy to claim to have wisdom. The sermonic nature of this epistle is quite pronounced in this chapter, as in the third. When we have become passionate about a thing, then it has become an idol, and the motive for asking has become sinful. James 4:3 “When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.” Explanation and Commentary of James 4:3. Compiled & Edited by BibleStudyTools Staff, California - Do Not Sell My Personal Information. Greetings.. Salem Media Group. ESV You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions. James wrote to believers who seemed to have quite a few problems with their behavior. 5 Can you not see the point of the saying in scripture, 'The longing of the spirit he sent to dwell in us is a jealous longing.'?. James 4:3. Question: "What is the meaning of ‘you have not because you ask not’ in James 4:2?" And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. James tells us what happens when individuals begin to do this. Commentary on James 3:13—4:3, 7-8a View Bible Text After several chapters of warnings and vivid illustrations of the consequences of living contrary to the plan of God, James moves in this passage to describe the good life and give some positive guidance for pursuing it. Copyright © 2020, Bible Study Tools. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.' In typical fashion, James sets his trap and then springs it! James says, “Show me your wisdom by your life!” The old King James Bible uses the word “conversation” (NASB= “good b… 1 Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it. James 4:1-3 This is vital because we find ourselves living in a culture that is coming apart at the seams because each individual wants to execute his desires. James tells his readers to "resist the devil and he will flee from you." Free Reading Plans and Devotionals related to James 4:3. Loving Father I do want to pray aright and to pray into Your will. (v 6-8) And even that's not enough! Do you not realise that love for the world is hatred for God? He will not have a rival God, because he loves us. They were fighting with each other because they couldn't get what they wanted. He does provide us enough for our modest enjoyments, and it brings him glory for us to use his gifts for our wholesome rest and recreation in his name. We get the word hedonism from this Greek word. For We Walk By Faith. It is truly a profound privilege to be able to approach the throne of God with boldness and … James 4:3-5 New Living Translation (NLT) 3 And even when you ask, you don’t get it because your motives are all wrong—you want only what will give you pleasure. We'll send you an email with steps on how to reset your password. indulge to intemperance and luxury; as the man that had much We have to ask with the right motives James 4:3, 'You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions.' The New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures is published by Jehovah’s Witnesses. James 4:3 “When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.”. His basic question to the Christian is, "Are we going to submit to God or to our desires for pleasure?" Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things. James says that living that way is adultery. All rights reserved. James 4. What does James 4:3 mean? Some there were that did ask of God the blessings of his goodness Indeed, we put bits in horses’ mouths that they may obey us, and we turn their whole body. He whispers, “Follow me, and I’ll give you the pleasure you’ve been missing.” Anyone who chooses the world for a friend is constituted an enemy of God. Verse 1. NIV When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures. In verse 2, he wrote that if a person could perfectly control his words, he would be perfect. Hebrews 4:3 Context. James had in mind actual murder and the gamut of sins (hate, anger, bitterness), leading up to it. #1 “When you ask,” We are admonished to pray to God who is like a good Father who will give good gifts to his children when they ask (Mt 7:9). ( Luke The Last Four from Craig Groeschel. James 4:1-17—Read the Bible online or download free. 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. Context Summary 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. of What does James 4:3 mean? Wesley's Notes for James 4:3. There is nothing wrong with “spend[ing] what you get on your pleasures” provided your heart is in alignment with God when you ask. Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God." Please enter your email address associated with your Salem All-Pass account, then click Continue. Proud member [⇑ See verse text ⇑] James continues to illustrate the point about how difficult our words are to control. James 4:3 KJV James 4:3 Bible Apps James 4:3 Biblia Paralela James 4:3 Chinese Bible James 4:3 French Bible James 4:3 German Bible Alphabetical: and ask because do get it may motives not on pleasures receive so spend that what When with wrong you your NT Letters: James 4:3 You ask and don't receive because you (Ja Jas. 3- God’s Remedy (vss. [ a] Don’t you realize that friendship with the world makes you an enemy of God? But when we cross the line into something we must have in our pleasure-seeking, we show that we need pleasure more than we need God. Furthermore, in what seems only too modern in theme, James identifies our difficulty in satisfying our insatiable wants and desires for things as the root cause of the inevitable coveting and cravings that lead to conflict, disputes, and eventually to outright war (James 4:1-3). James calls this enemy “your pleasures” (4:1, 3). Bible Commentary Bible Verses Devotionals Faith Prayers Coloring Pages Pros and Cons, 40 Important Bible Scriptures on Preparation, Righteousness Exalts a Nation Meaning and Meditation, 18 Strong Prayers for a New Place to Live, Having Done All to Stand Meaning and Meditation, A Good Name Is Better than Riches Meaning and Meditation, 50 Compelling Bible Scriptures on Direction. Read commentary on this popular Bible verse and understand the real meaning behind God's Word using John Gill's Exposition of the Bible. 3. 1 a James, a servant 1 of God and b of the Lord Jesus Christ,. Ye Ask Amiss. God always tests the heart. It implies that the enemy poses as a friendly ally, someone who will help you enjoy life better. * The meaning of this saying is difficult because the author of James cites, probably from memory, a passage that is not in any extant manuscript of the Bible. The Sin of Partiality. He is also a wise and good Father who will not give us what will hurt us. ... (James 4:3 ). This Seems Impossible. Ye ask, and receive not Keep me I pray from such covetous thoughts that anchor me to this world, which I know have nothing to offer, but rather help me to focus my eyes on You and keep my ears ever open to Your voice, so that I may pray in spirit and truth, in Jesus name I pray, AMEN. past mercies; nor with submission to the will of God; nor with a It is not always what we ask for that is the problem, but rather how and why we ask. Testing of Your Faith. What does James mean when he uses the words, “He yearns jealously over the spirit that he has made to dwell in us”? and providence, and yet these were not bestowed on them; the belly, and took no notice of Lazarus at his gate; ( Luke 16:19 ) . This is a wonderful statement. James seems to be speaking to the category of things that we want bad enough to fight, or even murder for (Ja 4:1-2). bestowed, for the honour of God, and the interest of Christ: but. 3 When you ask, you do not receive,(A)because you ask with wrong motives,(B)that you may spend what you get on your pleasures. (James 4:4) "But he gives us more grace. 4 You adulterers! 2 My brothers, 1 w show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, x the Lord of glory. Or it may be that James 4:5 speaks in two independent sentences, and that the words of Scripture quoted refer to what was said in James 4:4. Some even have prayed for the things which would satisfy their …