Did God not Hear?

James 4:2b-3

Once there was a boy who lived on the same street as a kind and generous man. The boy, whose name was Timmy, loved to ride his bicycle up and down the street under the shade of leafy maples in summer. Timmy had an unusual ability for his age-he could focus his attention on a goal he had for the future. He aspired to be number one in his class upon graduation and he bent all his thoughts toward this goal which, in fact, was really just a means to a greater end--a career in politics!

Timmy knew that if he wanted to catch the eye of the scholarship writers he had to not only have a robust academic record, he would also have to show a long list of charitable deeds done for the betterment of his community and the world. It was about this time that word came across the sea of an orphanage in need, and Timmy, having his radar up for all such news, formulated his plan to raise money for these destitute children.

The first person Timmy thought to approach was the kind and generous man that lived down the street. He peddled down the bumpy sidewalk and practiced his speech till he arrived. Mr. Lewis was home and Timmy was invited in. Timmy sat down opposite his neighbor and poured out his plea for the orphanage. Mr. Lewis was moved enough to make a $1000 donation to Timmy's cause, but knowing the boy and his plans, he provided one condition: Timmy was not to write down his involvement with the orphanage on any application.

The boy was offended. "How dare Mr. Lewis judge my motives!" he said. "This is a worthy cause. Why does it matter why I want to do it? He has the money and the children need it. It is his duty to give to projects such as this. Mr. Lewis must not be the generous, loving and kind man that I took him for. Either that or he really is poor and powerless to answer the way he aught. And what of my career? Is it not a noble one? Yes, I want to be noticed. Yes, I want my name in the papers. But, if  I'm accomplishing good in the process everyone wins, don't they?"

Timmy left in a huff without the money and told all his acquaintances that Mr. Lewis was really a crotchety old man who didn't really care about less fortunate people.

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