Asking or Demanding

"You want something but don't get it. You kill* and covet, but you cannot have what you want. You quarrel and fight. 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." (Jas 4.2,3)

Like me, you've probably have had situations where subordinates have demanded something from you rather than ask for it: whether it was time off from work, some equipment, personnel changes, or whatever. You probably denied it, not because you were unwilling to meet their need but because they made a demand rather than a request. This happened to me this week, and then today I read this passage of Scripture:

"Judge not that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and the measure you use it will be measured to you" (Mt 7.1-2). I thought, "God, but as a supervisor it is my responsibility to judge." Then I realized, Jesus wasn't telling us not to judge but was warning us that how we judged others would be the measure He used to judge us. Then I read a few verses later: "Ask, and it will be given... for everyone who asks receives." When was the last time I asked God for anything rather than demand from Him some outcome?

When I examine my prayer life I typically say, "Give me this, forgive me that, smite him or her, or teach me something I want." The motivation for my asking is an expectation that God will respond to my beck and call. God showed me today that I do not have because I do not ask, I demand. Thank you God for showing me my faults that I might become more like you.

 

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