“When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures. (James 4:3 NIV).
When was the last time you used a vending machine? There seems to be nothing more frustrating than a machine that doesn’t function as it is supposed to, especially when you’re having a sugar or salt craving. You approach the machine, look at the selection and put your money into the slot, and nothing happens. You stare at it, confused, because you felt you had done everything necessary to ensure a smooth transaction, but no treat. You may push the coin return several times and possibly bang on it because you don’t want to call the number on the machine to report the problem. Worse yet, at times the machine seems to work but still disappoints. You put in your money, punch in your selection, and the item falls out of the tray, only to get hung up on another item in the machine. You bang on the glass, thinking that it will dislodge it, and you may even try rocking it. If you are a young male, you’ll probably try to snake your arms up through the deposit slot and try to pull your treat or any treat down. Standing there without your treat or money, you become more agitated because the machine was supposed to work. You think you did all you could to get the treat you asked for, but you got nothing. Even though a solution was in front of you, you left frustrated, upset, and without a blessing.
Do you see God as a celestial vending machine where you put in your prayers and expect immediate results? When you don’t think you get an immediate answer to your prayer, do you believe you must try again, but this time, praying harder, louder, hoping you can rock God and have Him release our desired answer? Is your attitude, “I want what I want”? When you pray, is it about God being glorified or your satisfaction? James reminds us of the importance of examining our motives when praying and ensuring our requests align with God’s will and not solely with our desires. It’s not just about what we ask for, but why we are asking.