…ye have not, because ye ask not. – James 4:2 (KJV)
This is a very popular scripture to quote—especially when you are praying and believing God for something in your life. Jesus instructs us to ‘ask’ in many places in Scripture, so it makes sense that if you don’t have something, it could be because you didn’t ask for it.
Does this mean that God will give me whatever I ask for? Is that what James really means here...or is there more to the story? Well, there is, and that's what we’re going to look into. Let’s take a closer look at motives as we explore the scriptural idea that you “have not” because you “ask not.”
Translations of James 4:2
You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask. (ESV)
Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot* obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not. (KJV)
You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God. (NIV)
Context of "You Have Not, Because You Ask Not"
You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions. You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. (James 4:2-4)
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