James 4:1-3 From where come wars and fights among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members?… A gentleman of fine social qualities, always ready to make liberal provision for the gratification of his children, a man of science, and a moralist of the strictest school, was sceptical in regard to prayer, thinking it superfluous to ask God for what nature had already furnished ready to hand. His eldest son became a disciple of Christ. The father, while recognising a happy change in the spirit and deportment of the youth, still harped upon his old objection to prayer, as unphilosophical and unnecessary. "I remember," said the son, "that I once made free use of your pictures, specimens, and instruments for the entertainment of my friends. When you came home you said to me, ' All that I have belongs to my children, and I have provided it on purpose for them; still, I think it would be respectful always to ask your father before taking anything.' And so," added the son, "although God has provided everything for me, I think it is respectful to ask Him, and to thank Him for what I use." The sceptic was silent; but he has since admitted that he has never been able to invent an answer to this simple, personal, sensible argument for prayer. Parallel Verses KJV: From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members? |
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