Charles Spurgeon Commentary James 4:2

"Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and covet, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war; ye have not, because ye ask not." — James 4:2 (ASV)

Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not,

This is nature's way of trying to get by contention what it desires to possess—fighting, and warring, and killing—yet the result of all this is nil. After all is done, yet ye have not. There is a simpler and a surer way which people forget; they leave that divine path untrodden: Ye have not,.

Because ye ask not.

With all your efforts you do not succeed, because you omit to pray to God. Prayer would have brought you every blessing that you need; but, instead of going to God and asking from him, you rush upon your neighbor and seek to take what you desire as spoil from him.

Perhaps some say, "But we do ask." "Well, then," says the apostle,--