We Learned This When We Were Very Young

James 4:2 - "…You do not have because you do not ask."  NASU 

• We Learned How To Ask For Help 

You and I both know we learned how to ask for help from our parents, grandparents, teachers and even siblings. Can you remember asking for help to tie your shoes or lift you up so you could get a cookie? 

So what happened? What changed our way of thinking?
 
When did we start thinking that we could go it all alone? 

• It Started For Me When I Was 14 Years Old 

I was one who associated with guys who were older than me. In Ohio you could buy 3.2 beer (3.2% alcohol) at 18 years of age. So by the time I was 14 yrs. old I had already been drunk numerous times.
 
I really didn't see what the big deal was at the time. Needless to say my parents were not happy with my behavior and they enrolled me in a military academy in Staunton, Virginia. My dad said the military helped him grow up and this is what I needed.
 
I remember watching my parents and siblings drive away and I was left behind on that blacktop driveway. There was an emptiness in the pit of my stomach for about 30 seconds and then my mind entertained this question, "Now what are you going to do?"
 
That is when I said, "It is me against the world." I said some other things but I would not put them in print. There wasn't any emptiness in my stomach now. It was filled with determination that I will show them. I will show the world. I can survive. I can go it on my own.
 
That is when I started avoiding asking anyone for anything. If I wanted something I would get it. If I couldn't get it without asking someone I would do without it.
 
My life plan became plain and simple. If you can't get it by yourself do without it. 

• It Ended For Me March 2, 1975 

That was when I asked God for help. I asked Him to forgive me of my sins. The forgiveness of my sins was something that I really wanted and there was NO way that I was going to be able to acquire that without the help of God's Son, Jesus Christ.
 
So I confessed Jesus to be my Lord and Savior and was baptized into Christ. I have never regretted making that decision. I have made plenty of bad decisions that I have regretted making, but asking for God's help has never been one of my regrets.
 
So as the scripture says, "…You do not have because you do not ask."  So I asked for Jesus to be the Lord of my life. Since I became a Christian on that day I have been asking for help ever since.
 
It really is the better way to live. When I need something I ask God for His help to acquire it. If I am supposed to have it God will see to it that I receive it. If He doesn't want me to have it I will not get it. I know He will supply me with what I need.
 
If He doesn't give it to me there is a reason. I can better serve Him without it.
 
So is there something you don't have?
 
Then ask God for it. If He wants you to have you will. If He doesn't want you to have it this is for your own good.
 
Think on This:
 
You can buy education, but wisdom is a gift from God.
 
God often tries us with a little to see what we would do with a lot.

Stay Pumped,
 
Gary A. Serago

Minister of God's Word