Have you ever talked with someone about prayer, and they tell you that they don’t really pray any more because they don’t feel that God answers their prayers? They tell you how they prayed for this or that, and never received what they wanted, so they have given up on the whole idea of prayer. In our Scripture passage today, James discusses this issue, and gives some reasons why sometimes people’s prayers do not get the response they were looking for, and why we get envious of those who do seem to get answers to prayers and are blessed by God. Let’s see what the Word of God says about this.
As our Scripture opens, James brings up a sin that so many of us get caught up in, and that is envy (vs. 16). Envy is more than just wanting something that another person has. It also involves resentment, resenting that God hasn’t provided for us what He has given to someone else. A person prone to envy becomes greedy. They are discontent with what God has given to them, and they want what other people have. This type of thinking and behavior brings confusion and eventually can lead to evil. When we envy others, Satan is successful in shifting our focus away from God, and onto our circumstances. We are prideful and covetous. We focus on our circumstances and what we feel we deserve.
James then proceeds to describe godly wisdom, which can lead a person away from this envy (vs. 17-18). There are two types of wisdom in this world. One is from God, which is pure, and promotes peace and leads to righteousness. The other is demonic, with jealousy, ambition, strife, evil living, and confusion. A believer showing godly wisdom will have spiritual, moral integrity. They will be peace loving, kind, teachable, and obedient to God’s standards. They will show mercy and concern for those who suffer, and will not make unfair distinctions. There will not be hypocrisy in their life. They will practice godly living both in public and in private.
As our passage continues into chapter 4, James gives us some reasons why our prayers may not be answered. First, we have unaddressed sin in our life (vs. 1-2). James’s readers were filled with strife, coming from their unsatisfied, selfish desires. Discord among believers is not God’s design. When we want our sinful desires badly enough, we will fight to get them. Not only to literally kill, but also destroy the reputations of another in order to gain advantage.
A very common problem in prayer is simply not asking God (vs. 2). Additionally, proud people feel that they can handle everything in their lives all on their own, which is why they do not come to God for help. Sometimes we also feel that a possible “no” to our prayers is unacceptable.
Another reason James gives is that we often have wrong motives in our prayers. If we come to God in prayer with the right motives, putting first the Kingdom of God, and if we live for Him, He will give us the desires of our heart (Psalm 37:4). When our wants and desires line up with what we know God’s Word teaches and with His will for our lives, we can pray, expecting Him to answer. Expectant prayer demonstrates confidence in God’s goodness.
As our Scripture continues, James uses some rather strong words, calling his readers adulterers (vs. 4). Why did he do that? Were they actually cheating on their spouses? No, that wasn’t the case. Just like Israel was spiritually married to Yahweh, but was unfaithful to Him by turning to other gods, and God called them adulterers, the Church is called the Bride of Christ. When we show a love for the ways and things of the world and its mindset, we, too, are adulterers. Being a friend of the world is not compatible with being a friend of God. A friend of the world acts, thinks, and speaks as the world does. He values the same things the world does. What God wants and what the world expects are diametrically opposed to each other.
A cure for evil desires is humility (vs. 4-6). Pride makes us self-centered, feeling we deserve all we can get. When we seek God, we see that the world’s seductive attractions are cheap substitutes for what God has to offer. If we live our life trying to please other people or ourselves, we will be at odds with God. If we live for Him, the world will be hostile to us.
Who would not want to be friends with God? The key is to refuse to pursue worldliness. We cannot play both sides.
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