James 4:2-4

Seeking To Please Self"Lust" is a strong desire for a thing. Certainly, it has caused others to do wicked things. David committed adultery with Bathsheba and had her husband, Uriah, killed to satisfy his lust. Jezebel had Naboth killed to fulfill her husband's desire to have his vineyard (2 Samuel 11:1-27; 1 Kings 21:1-16). The sad part is that strong desire is never fulfilled. Instead, obtaining what it wants only makes it want more. James told his readers they did not receive what they wanted because they did not direct their wants in the direction of God's will. Lust controlled their will. Coffman suggests their willful seeking for personal gratification dried up their prayers so they did not even ask God (James 4:2).

Woods notes that it is not unusual for men to be very wicked and yet ask God's blessing on their deeds (Matthew 23:29-35; John 16:2). They do not receive the things for which they ask because they ask for wicked purposes. They simply want to satisfy their desire. God hears the prayers of the righteous and provides for all the needs of those who seek his kingdom first (James 4:3; Psalms 34:15; Matthew 6:33).

When the church is full of lust, she seeks the love of the world and becomes a spiritual adulteress (James 4:4). Paul told the Corinthian brethren, "For I am jealous for you with godly jealousy. For I have betrothed you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ" (2 Corinthians 11:2). The church is Christ's bride and should remain faithful to his wishes (Romans 7:1-4; Ephesians 5:23-24; Revelation 19:6-8). It should be plain to all that one cannot love God and the world at the same time. Jesus said, "No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon" (Matthew 6:19-24; 1 Peter 1:9-11; 1 John 2:15-17).