Ye lust, and have not
The apostle proceeds to show the unsuccessfulness of many in
their desires and pursuits after worldly things; some might be
like the sluggard, whose soul desireth all good things, and yet
he has nothing, ( Proverbs
13:4 ) because he does not make use of any means, even of
such as are proper and necessary, and ought to be used:
ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain;
some, instead of kill, which seems not so agreeable, read envy;
and then the sense is, they envy at the good and happiness of
others, and covet after another's property, but cannot enjoy it;
all such envy and covetousness are fruitless, as well as sinful:
ye fight and war, yet ye have not;
go to law one with another about each other's property; or
rather, make a great stir and hustle to get the things of the
world; rise early, and sit up late; strive who should get most,
and quarrel about what is gotten, and seek to get all advantages
of one another; and yet still have not, what at least is desired
and strove for:
because ye ask not;
of God, whose blessing only makes rich: instead of all this
worldly stir and bustle, and these strivings and quarrellings
with one another, it would be much more advisable, and, in the
issue, be found to turn to more account, to pray to God for a
blessing on your endeavours; and to ask of him the good and
necessary things of life, in submission to his will, and with
thankfulness for what he has bestowed.
