James 4:3

“Ye ask, and receive not, etc.] Some there were that did ask of God the blessings of his goodness and providence, and yet these were not bestowed on them; the reason was, because ye ask amiss; not in the faith of a divine promise; nor with thankfulness for past mercies; nor with submission to the will of God; nor with a right end, to do good to others, and to make use of what might be bestowed, for the honour of God, and the interest of Christ: but that ye may consume it upon your lusts; indulge to intemperance and luxury; as the man that had much goods laid up for many years did, to the neglect of his own soul, (<421219>Luke 12:19) or the rich man, who spent all upon his back and his belly,…”

“Some of them are supposed to say in objection, But we do "ask" (pray); compare Jam 4:2. James replies, It is not enough to ask for good things, but we must ask with a good spirit and intention. "Ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it (your object of prayer) upon (literally, 'in') your lusts (literally, 'pleasures')"; not that ye may have the things you need for the service of God. Contrast Jam 1:5 with Mat 6:31-32. If ye prayed aright, all your proper wants would be supplied; the improper cravings which produce "wars and fightings" would then cease. Even believers' prayers are often best answered when their desires are most opposed.”

“Ye ask, and receive not - That is, some of you ask, or you ask on some occasions. Though seeking in general what you desire by strife, and without regard to the rights of others, yet you sometimes pray. It is not uncommon for men who go to war to pray, or to procure the services of a chaplain to pray for them. It sometimes happens that the covetous and the quarrelsome; that those who live to wrong others, and who are fond of litigation, pray. Such men may be professors of religion. They keep up a form of worship in their families. They pray for success in their worldly engagements, though those engagements are all based on covetousness. Instead of seeking property that they may glorify God,…”

“But if ye do ask, ye receive not, because ye ask amiss - That is, from a wrong motive. James 4:4”

“and: Jam 1:6, Jam 1:7; Job 27:8-10, Job 35:12; Psa 18:41, Psa 66:18, Psa 66:19; Pro 1:28, Pro 15:8; Pro 21:13, Pro 21:27; Isa 1:15, Isa 1:16; Jer 11:11, Jer 11:14, Jer 14:12; Mic 3:4; Zac 7:13; Mat 20:22; Mar 10:38; Jo1 3:22, Jo1 5:14 ye may: Luk 15:13, Luk 15:30, Luk 16:1, Luk 16:2 lusts: or, pleasures, Jam 4:1 James 4:4”