GIMME AND GET
James 4:2 Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not.
No one could point to the day in which the two parted ways and travelled down different roads. The twins had always seemed to be of one mind with concerted effort toward every goal. Somewhere this had changed.
It had to have been gradual or simply gone unnoticed for a while. In the cloak of invisibility which expected normalcy had weaved, Gimme began new and separate pursuits. You can’t blame Get for being the one on another path, he’d simply continued straight, true, and on course.
Gimme sought to garner the greater affections. At every turning he took opportunity to butter-up and compliment his parent’s faithful attention. Get never quite understood why Gimme should voice his thanks and appreciation with such lengthy discourse of sloppy, dripping, sweetness. Mom certainly appreciated a simple thanks accompanied by an empty plate. She never quite took to Gimme’s pontificating, lathering, sweetness when he feigned full satisfaction after a partially eaten meal so he could beg an extra helping of dessert. Get tried to explain to Gimme that Mom had worked just as hard on the main course as she did on the dessert and deserved more than flowery thanks. She should be shown appreciation by eating the prepared meal. Gimme would just laugh, pat his growing paunch, and say he’d gotten what he wanted and that’s all that mattered. Get never understood why Gimme didn’t just eat what was good for him and ask for another slice of dessert if he wanted more. Why did he find it necessary to scheme and maneuver his way into another slice?
As the boys grew into teenagers Gimme’s tactics became more bold and daring. Soon he gave up the buttering-up and sweet compliments. Meals were no longer a game to him. He did what he wanted when he wanted and how he wanted. Get stayed on course. When Gimme reached driving age he conned Dad out of the price of a car while Get sweated out three summers to save and scrimp for his. When Get was changing the oil, washing, and waxing his car, Gimme was complaining, kicking, and slapping his. Get grew to love his car as most teenagers do. One night after Get had gone to bed, Gimme came into his room and begged the use of Get’s car because his had a dead battery. Gimme just wanted it long enough to go down to the local store and get a new battery. So, Get let him take it. The next morning Get went out to the drive only to find his poor car battered and wrecked. Gimme was in his car and on his way out. When he saw Get he threw out a lame excuse and lamer apology, saying something about Get and good insurance.
When Get saw his oldest son off to college and went back into the house to his wife and other children, Gimme called for the last time. Gimme had been thrice married, thrice divorced, more than thrice jailed, and never had a child of his own. He had a nice house, nice car, nice boat, motorcycle, pool table, lots of money, and had never held a job for more than six months. Get knew it was just a matter of time before Gimme was in prison or dead. He was dreading this call. Gimme had given less to get more and lost all he could get. Get had given more to get less and gained all he could get.
James 4:3 Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.
Amiss – Out of the right or proper course, order, or condition; improperly; wrongly; astray.
Every improper and wrong prayer is a miss with God. If you gather yourself and aim a prayer at God for the wrong reasons it will be a miss on the target of God’s heart. A miss can be more than amiss when it comes from a mess of sinful desire. This is no prosperity gospel, it is truth. Prosperity gospel is a miss, from hearts amiss, to God not in the midst. A wise man recently stated that God is not a vending machine with a slot that reads, “Insert prayers here!”
“Consume it upon your lusts” sounds much like, “Spend money to get out of debt.” God is not in the business of promoting a stimulus of lust. Answering the prayer of a lustful desire will lead to lustful consumption and more lusting prayer. The only thing in such a wicked circle of events which is not consumed is lust. The only answer to lustful prayer is, “No!” God is not the author of sin:
James 1:13-15 Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.
Gimme won’t find an answer in Get.
Get’s got God and Gimme needs to get what Get’s got.
If we but trust God, we’d get all the good God’s got for us!
