Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.
3 Ye seek and receive not. He goes farther: though they sought, yet they were deservedly denied; because they wished to make God the minister of their own lusts. For they set no bounds to their wishes, as he had commanded; but gave unbridled license to themselves, so as to ask those things of which man, conscious of what is right, ought especially to be ashamed.
Your wars come from lusts warring in your members, not from true zeal for God or country. What appears as righteous cause often shelters pride, malice, covetousness, and revenge; the root is worldly desire, and until you see that, you cannot stop fighting.
AI summary
Commenting on James 4:1-10
Ye ask, and receive not,.... Some there were that did ask of God the blessings of his goodness and providence, and yet these were not bestowed on them; the reason was, because ye ask amiss; not in the faith of a divine promise; nor with thankfulness for past mercies; nor with submission to the will of God; nor with a right end, to do good...