Based on the Book of James, chapter 4, we are encouraged to ask God to supply our needs and not to be jealous of what others have.

There is a battle going on: good against evil. Do we do this, or do we do that? It's a battle that sometimes, in our choosing, in our choice, has to be fought on a regular basis. We have to choose.

James says that part of the battle is because we want something and we can't get it. You covet what somebody else has – and you know, covetousness is forbidden in the Scripture. It says don't covet anything that your neighbour's got, from his wife to his car. Don't covet. But he says here, "Don't kill because you cannot have what you want."

And then he goes on to the spiritual side, because what he's saying is: you quarrel and you fight, but you don't have what you want. And when I was studying this in preparation for speaking, I was quite intrigued and interested with the argument that James is using when he says in verse 3, when you ask, the reason you don't receive is because you don't ask God.

You know, it's very interesting because in my life, I've always tended to take counsel from God and ask Him. I didn't ask my mother or my father – you may find that strange, but I didn't – and I didn't ask my brother.

What Does James Chapter 4 Teach About Coveting and Unanswered Prayer?

James chapter 4 addresses the spiritual root of conflict, defining it as an internal battle driven by unchecked desires, covetousness, and flawed motives in prayer. According to the Apostle James, believers often fail to receive what they need for two distinct reasons: failing to ask God directly, and asking with selfish intentions rather than seeking His will.

The Cause of Conflict: Desires and Covetousness (James 4:1–2)

Human quarreling and division stem from internal, competing passions. The Scripture outlines a progression from unlawful desire to interpersonal conflict:

The Internal Struggle: The spiritual conflict between righteous choices and selfish impulses is a continuous, daily decision.
The Root of Envy: Dissatisfaction arises when individuals fixate on what others possess. Scripture explicitly prohibits coveting a neighbor's possessions, family, or livelihood (Exodus 20:17).
The Escalation: In James 4:2, James warns that uncontrolled desire leads to fighting, hostility, and destruction: "You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel."

Why Prayers Go Unanswered (James 4:2–3)

James identifies two primary barriers to receiving provision from God:

Neglecting to Ask God (James 4:2b): Rather than bringing needs before God in prayer, people rely on self-effort, manipulation, or conflict ("You do not have, because you do not ask").
Asking with Wrong Motives (James 4:3): When requests are made, they often go unanswered because the intention is self-gratification rather than alignment with God's purposes ("You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions").

Practical Application: Turning to Divine Counsel

Living out James 4 requires shifting from self-reliance and envy to consistent, humble prayer:

Prioritise Direct Prayer: Bring personal burdens, decisions, and material needs directly to God before turning to external opinions or human counsel.
Examine the Heart: Before making a request, evaluate whether the motive stems from genuine need or from comparison and worldly passion.
Cultivate Contentment: Choosing God's provision eliminates the friction, jealousy, and rivalry caused by coveting what belongs to others.