More important is our motivation

 James 4:1-16

You do not have because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.

Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. Or do you think Scripture says without reason that he jealously longs for the spirit he has caused to dwell in us? 

God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.

Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.

There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy. But you—who are you to judge your neighbor?

 “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.” 

Why?

People can speak much more than they really can do. So submit myself to God and resist the devil.

Everyone desires a better life and enjoys a comfortable life. We like to choose to be friends with the world. But James reminds us that it is dangerous and could become an enemy of the Lord.

More important is our motivation. What did I want? For us? For the Lord? Or for someone else?

How?

May the Lord clean my heart, clean my way, clean my mind, and help me walk on the way of the Lord.