James 4:2

NIV 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.

The Message YYou lust for what you don't have and are willing to kill to get it. You want what isn't yours and will risk violence to get your hands on it. You wouldn't think of just asking God for it, would you? And why not?

Just read through what James is saying here. We fight, argue, quarrel, kill, covet and do not have what we want because we do not ask God.

What I interpret these words as saying is that we are relying on ourselves to provide all that we need. Then when we don't have what we want, we get jealous of those who do, or perhaps we end up so bitter and twisted inside (because we don't have the big house, the fancy clothes, the high powered job, the pots of money in the bank and so on) that we blame the rest of the world for everything that is not right in our lives and end up quarrelling with everyone and pushing our friends and family away.

Maybe we think we are perfectly capable and don't want to bother God with the mundane things in life, the day to day problems of work, school/college, or whatever. Maybe we don't trust God enough to ask Him, because after all, if we don't ask, then we won't be disappointed if the answer is no. Maybe we don't have enough faith, we don't really believe that God can, or will, answer our specific requests for money to pay the bills, healing, for children, for marriage, and so on. Maybe we feel that we don't deserve God's help, that we are just such an awful person we are having a hard time believing God really cares. Then again, if He really does care, does He really have the time to take care of our problems, because after all, He is busy running the Universe, and doing everything else He does. Surely He can't be interested in the problems we're having at work, whether or not we can get a parking space on market day, if we have enough money in the bank to pay the bills that have just arrived in the post, etc.

But the bible tells us exactly the opposite. We serve a big God, one who has more than enough time for each one of us, one who loves us more than we could possibly imagine and is interested in each and every aspect of our lives, no matter how small or trivial:

• Consider how the lilies grow. They do not labour or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendour was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith! (Luke 12:27-28, NIV);
• Like a shepherd, he will care for his flock, gathering the lambs in his arms, hugging them as he carries them, leading the nursing ewes to good pasture. (Isaiah 40:11, The Message)
• The Lord is a shelter for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble. (Psalm 9:9, NLT)
• For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope (Jeremiah 29:11, NLT)
• I will be your God throughout your lifetime—until your hair is white with age. I made you, and I will care for you. I will carry you along and save you. (Isaiah 46:4, NLT)

So for me, this is a lesson on not worrying, for trusting God ion all things, big and small. That includes everything from whether or not I have any work or any clients who will be paying me so I can pay our bills, to sorting out packed lunches for the children and deciding if we are going walking this weekend. God cares about the big things, and the little things, and if He takes such good care of the flowers in the field that are only here for a short time, then just think how much more care He will be taking over each one of us.