“7Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 8For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.” – Matthew 7:7-8 (ESV)
Jesus said the above and I know that it gets misquoted a lot. Or at least misunderstood and applied in our lives. When reading the above, it can be presumed that if you want something, you need only ask. And when it is not given, we wonder in frustration and tend to attempt things on our own to get that which we want.
“3You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions.” – James 4:3 (ESV)
And here we have James addressing one of the reasons that we do not receive what we ask. We are asking wrongly or for the wrong reasons. We are not asking as someone needing provision, we are asking for blessings, or fleeting things. We are not asking for things to be used in bringing glory to God or to get by in this world. We are asking for things that will bring glory to ourselves.
To receive that which we ask for, we should be asking for those things of provision and to bring glory to God. Asking for riches may not be right, but asking for means to provide for others may be right. Asking for arm candy as a date is likely wrong, but asking for a husband or wife who loves me is more in line with what God has in store for us. Asking for a huge house in a nice neighborhood is not the same ask asking for a place to call home for your family. It is the context of the ask where we will receive, not in the what we ask.
God will ensure that we have what we “need”. And, He will provide blessings for us as well. I know that Lori and I have all that we need to make it today, a home, transportation, clothing, food, and all those things. And God has blessed us with things that are much more than we need, our 3000 square foot home, our 2024 Ford Bronco, new clothing, and occasionally a steak for dinner.
We will receive that which we ask for when we ask rightly from the LORD. He will provide for our needs and once we have those, He will give blessings on top, at His discretion. Regardless of those needs or blessings, God gives to us when we ask and are using those things to ultimately bring glory to Him.
What is your view of asking and receiving? Do you get frustrated when you don’t get what you ask? What if you were to ask rightly, in concert with the LORD and bringing glory to Him as opposed to your own personal wants?
