1:7 – For let not that man suppose he will receive anything from the Lord;
1:7. For let not that man suppose he will receive anything from the Lord; – The Bible warns against the use of praying for things when our heart and belief isn’t right. James explains later (3:8) as to why prayers aren’t ‘answered’. The simple reason being that we would use the outcome ‘for pleasures.’
Matthew Henry writes, “In asking for divine and heavenly wisdom we are never likely to prevail if we have not a heart to prize it above rubies.” We would then in essence be manipulating God for our own benefits. Both the books of Proverbs and Isaiah show that a prayer prayed with wicked intent would not be answered. In fact the ‘sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord” (Pr 15:8).
James explains the reason why a doubting man would not receive from the Lord in verse eight.
