We have talked a lot about building the city on a hill, spiritual growth, and the fruits of the spirit. We have talked about transparency and letting the light of Christ shine through us for all to us. I want to take a moment and step back and look at something God laid on my Heart this morning: Asking for things He already knows we need.
We hear so much on the television and from the pulpit about giving to be blessed or giving to increase. The same message is delivered in many different packages. We also hear take it all to God..."ask and you shall receive." We've all heard these messages and we've all read the scriptures. But what about that little scripture in James?
James 4:3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures.
There is a lot of admonishment that occurs throughout much of the New Testament. The disciples were sent out to spread the gospel. As they did, they were creating groups of people that were learning how to be the Body of Christ. They were learning how to loger be gentiles, but grafted into the vine. Jesus said,
Matthew 7:7-9 "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. (8) For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. (9) Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone?"
There seems to be a contradiction between what Jesus said and what James says, doesn't there? But yet, there isn't. When we ask God for something, the reason we are asking for it comes into play. James said we don't receive because we are asking incorrectly...we aren't hitting the mark with our requests. Jesus said,
Matthew 6:31-33 "Therefore do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' (32) For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. (33) But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.
I find myself praying quite a bit for provision to meet financial needs either for myself or loved ones or friends. Yet, what did Jesus say above? Our Father knows we need all these things! The Gentiles, the unsaved or those that don't know Christ, seek after all these material things, provision for needs. James says that when we ask, we are asking so we can fulfill pleasures, desires, or in other words...things we want.
We actually have an example in the Old Testament of what we should ask. In 2 Chronicles 1:7-12, we see God ask Solomon what he wants and God would give it to him. Okay, this is like handing someone a blank check and saying you can go out and buy whatever you want, no limits. What did Solomon ask?
2 Chronicles 1:10 Now give me Wisdom and knowledge, that I may go out and come in before this people; for who can judge this great people of Yours?"
Out of everything Solomon could have asked for or purchased with his "blank check," he asked for wisdom and knowledge. Why did he want wisdom and knowledge? It wasn't for his own gain, it was so he could lead and judge the people of God...not to advance his agenda or sell his books or grow his church...or pad his bank account with riches. What was God's reply?
2 Chronicles 1:11-12 Then God said to Solomon: "Because this was in your heart, and you have not asked riches or wealth or honor or the life of your enemies, nor have you asked long life—but have asked wisdom and knowledge for yourself, that you may judge My people over whom I have made you king— (12) wisdom and knowledge are granted to you; and I will give you riches and wealth and honor, such as none of the kings have had who were before you, nor shall any after you have the like."
Not only did God grant Solomon's request, but He added to Solomon what Solomon DID NOT ask for because Solomon's request was borne from a heart that had a true desire for the wisdom and knowledge to lead and judge the people God had entrusted to Solomon's care. Not only did God add riches, wealth and honor to Solomon because he asked from a heart true to his request, God said that no kings before Solomon and none after Solomon would have the wealth and honor God gave Solomon.
Jesus said,
Matthew 6:28-30 "So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; (29) and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. (30) Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?
In looking at these scriptures closely this morning and in the light of building the City on a Hill, I would dare say that we should not pray for provision of anything. God knows the need. He even said above How much more would He not clothe, feed, provide for (read the entire chapter 6 in Matthew) us? He even equated worrying over the provision means we have little faith. I believe we should probably follow Solomon's example and pray for the wisdom and knowledge of what to do with the provision when it is received. How can we use what God provides to advance His Kingdom? How can we use what God provides to care for His people? Is that not what we are called to do?
Philippians 4:6-7 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; (7) and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Our hearts are key here. The condition of our hearts is important. I was talking with someone yesterday and we were talking about the law of Moses, the Ten Commandments. The law was to address outward behavior. There was no provision for the changing of hearts in the law. When Jesus came, He fulfilled the law...He did not abolish the law. How did He fulfill the law? He turned it inward. If we are even angry with a brother without cause, we are in danger of judgement. (Matthew 5:22).
John said,
1 John 3:15 Whoever hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.
So, Jesus turned the law into a condition of the heart, actually making it much stricter for us. We have to be careful what we allow to sit and dwell within us to ensure our hearts are pure in Him. Our hearts are naturally deceitful.
Jeremiah 17:9-10 "The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked; Who can know it? (10) I, the LORD, search the heart, I test the mind, Even to give every man according to his ways, According to the fruit of his doings.
This is why we need the peace that passes all understanding to guard our hearts and minds. The Lord searches our hearts. He knows what is there within us. I dare say that if Solomon had only spoken empty words without the intent of his heart being true that it would not have gone the way it did with Solomon. The Lord gives to us according to our ways of behavior, according to the fruit of what we do. So...what are we doing? What is the fruit of our labor? What is the intent of our hearts for the provision God is providing?
My prayer today:
Psalms 139:23-24 Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me, and know my anxieties; (24) And see if there is any wicked way in me, And lead me in the way everlasting.
What is yours?
Join the discussion on Facebook.
We hear so much on the television and from the pulpit about giving to be blessed or giving to increase. The same message is delivered in many different packages. We also hear take it all to God..."ask and you shall receive." We've all heard these messages and we've all read the scriptures. But what about that little scripture in James?
James 4:3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures.
There is a lot of admonishment that occurs throughout much of the New Testament. The disciples were sent out to spread the gospel. As they did, they were creating groups of people that were learning how to be the Body of Christ. They were learning how to loger be gentiles, but grafted into the vine. Jesus said,
Matthew 7:7-9 "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. (8) For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. (9) Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone?"
There seems to be a contradiction between what Jesus said and what James says, doesn't there? But yet, there isn't. When we ask God for something, the reason we are asking for it comes into play. James said we don't receive because we are asking incorrectly...we aren't hitting the mark with our requests. Jesus said,
Matthew 6:31-33 "Therefore do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' (32) For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. (33) But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.
I find myself praying quite a bit for provision to meet financial needs either for myself or loved ones or friends. Yet, what did Jesus say above? Our Father knows we need all these things! The Gentiles, the unsaved or those that don't know Christ, seek after all these material things, provision for needs. James says that when we ask, we are asking so we can fulfill pleasures, desires, or in other words...things we want.
We actually have an example in the Old Testament of what we should ask. In 2 Chronicles 1:7-12, we see God ask Solomon what he wants and God would give it to him. Okay, this is like handing someone a blank check and saying you can go out and buy whatever you want, no limits. What did Solomon ask?
2 Chronicles 1:10 Now give me Wisdom and knowledge, that I may go out and come in before this people; for who can judge this great people of Yours?"
Out of everything Solomon could have asked for or purchased with his "blank check," he asked for wisdom and knowledge. Why did he want wisdom and knowledge? It wasn't for his own gain, it was so he could lead and judge the people of God...not to advance his agenda or sell his books or grow his church...or pad his bank account with riches. What was God's reply?
2 Chronicles 1:11-12 Then God said to Solomon: "Because this was in your heart, and you have not asked riches or wealth or honor or the life of your enemies, nor have you asked long life—but have asked wisdom and knowledge for yourself, that you may judge My people over whom I have made you king— (12) wisdom and knowledge are granted to you; and I will give you riches and wealth and honor, such as none of the kings have had who were before you, nor shall any after you have the like."
Not only did God grant Solomon's request, but He added to Solomon what Solomon DID NOT ask for because Solomon's request was borne from a heart that had a true desire for the wisdom and knowledge to lead and judge the people God had entrusted to Solomon's care. Not only did God add riches, wealth and honor to Solomon because he asked from a heart true to his request, God said that no kings before Solomon and none after Solomon would have the wealth and honor God gave Solomon.
Jesus said,
Matthew 6:28-30 "So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; (29) and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. (30) Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?
In looking at these scriptures closely this morning and in the light of building the City on a Hill, I would dare say that we should not pray for provision of anything. God knows the need. He even said above How much more would He not clothe, feed, provide for (read the entire chapter 6 in Matthew) us? He even equated worrying over the provision means we have little faith. I believe we should probably follow Solomon's example and pray for the wisdom and knowledge of what to do with the provision when it is received. How can we use what God provides to advance His Kingdom? How can we use what God provides to care for His people? Is that not what we are called to do?
Philippians 4:6-7 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; (7) and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Our hearts are key here. The condition of our hearts is important. I was talking with someone yesterday and we were talking about the law of Moses, the Ten Commandments. The law was to address outward behavior. There was no provision for the changing of hearts in the law. When Jesus came, He fulfilled the law...He did not abolish the law. How did He fulfill the law? He turned it inward. If we are even angry with a brother without cause, we are in danger of judgement. (Matthew 5:22).
John said,
1 John 3:15 Whoever hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.
So, Jesus turned the law into a condition of the heart, actually making it much stricter for us. We have to be careful what we allow to sit and dwell within us to ensure our hearts are pure in Him. Our hearts are naturally deceitful.
Jeremiah 17:9-10 "The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked; Who can know it? (10) I, the LORD, search the heart, I test the mind, Even to give every man according to his ways, According to the fruit of his doings.
This is why we need the peace that passes all understanding to guard our hearts and minds. The Lord searches our hearts. He knows what is there within us. I dare say that if Solomon had only spoken empty words without the intent of his heart being true that it would not have gone the way it did with Solomon. The Lord gives to us according to our ways of behavior, according to the fruit of what we do. So...what are we doing? What is the fruit of our labor? What is the intent of our hearts for the provision God is providing?
My prayer today:
Psalms 139:23-24 Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me, and know my anxieties; (24) And see if there is any wicked way in me, And lead me in the way everlasting.
What is yours?
Join the discussion on Facebook.
