Article August 19, 1950 ISSUE

"THAT YOUR JOY MAY BE FULL"

Denny W. Brankle

Jesus said (John 16:24), "Ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full." What a simple and easy way to obtain what is needful. But someone may say, "I have asked but have not received the things I asked for; therefore I am not happy." If this be so, then one should examine the motive for the asking. Does it measure up to the standard of prayer set by Christ Jesus (Matt. 6:33): "Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you"?

To receive what we ask for, our asking must be unselfish. The Apostle James said (4:3), "Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts." Asking God for material things selfishly to satisfy the material senses is a denial of the spiritual and perfect nature of His creation. Such asking is motivated by the false belief that man is a corporeal being, requiring matter in some form to bring contentment; whereas man, God's idea, is spiritual, rejoicing in eternal completeness. The constant endeavor to spiritualize one's thought and to maintain it at a point where he can joyfully and understandingly say (PS. 17:15), "I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness," helps one to rise above the false belief that matter is the source of joy.

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