Stuff-Mart and All Our Wants

Courtney isn’t afraid to ask for stuff. On a recent trip to the store she had a quarter burning a hole in her pocket. We weren’t ten feet into the store before she started asking if she could get this or that for her quarter. I think she could read the prices, but wanting a $5 to $10 treat for a quarter didn’t stop her from asking. After about fifteen minutes we came by the toys with a huge display of giant balls. “Could I get one of those for a quarter?” The price $2.50, but for Courtney it was just .25¢.

Let’s face it; a lot of us are still just like Courtney. We want stuff, and we want it now. Isn’t that why we have credit cards run up to the limit; we buy things we can’t afford just to satisfy our wants?

James didn’t have to deal with credit cards, but the selfish desires we have today are just like those people had at that time. James said the longing for more stuff was the cause of many of the quarrels and fights going on; people were scheming how to cheat and steal from each other (and James was talking to fellow Christians, so don’t tell me I’m meddling if you feel convicted about credit card debt or the stuff piled in your closets).

James provided these covetous and greedy believers with a simple solution. I think it will still work for us today too.

• [2] . . . You don't have the things you want, because you don't pray for them. [3] When you pray for things, you don't get them because you want them for the wrong reason—for your own pleasure.
  James 4:2-3 (GW)

If we think about what James is telling us we find three common problems with our prayers; three reasons why we don’t receive good things from God.

1. We don’t’ ask God. Another way to think about that is we don’t take time to talk with God on a daily basis. For some God is nothing more than a 911 operator called to help in an emergency.
2. We ask with wrong motives. The reason we want stuff isn’t pure; our hearts are selfish only thinking of ourselves.
3. We ask for the wrong stuff. Our desires are only for the things we want and not for things that our heavenly Father would want to give us. Think about it: if we spent more time in prayer then maybe His desires would become our desires.

Courtney got her ball because her desires were in line with mine; she got something she could share, and she has. Spend some time with your heavenly Father and let Him transform your heart to be aligned with His. Then you will find more of your prayers being answered.