Double-minded

(James 1:5–8 NKJV) If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

God is is not a vending machine for the things we want.  He is the Sovereign Creator, Eternal, Omnipotent, Omniscient, Holy, Righteous and Glorious!

God cannot be conned.  God cannot be manipulated.  He sees our hearts.  He knows our motives.  God hears both our spoken words and our innermost thoughts.

Double-mindedness is a prideful disrespect for God.  When we should be sincerely seeking God's will and God's leading into His will, we are often only interested in what we want.  We want God to serve our will - as if He were our servant, our ox or our tool.  We see God as powerful, but not as the sovereign of all the universe.

Double-mindedness is impurity.  Instead of having pure motives of honoring, serving and glorifying God, we really want to build our reputation and serve our own pleasures.  (This can be especially pernicious in church ministries... "Lord, build your church so I will look good!"  or "Lord, give me a good sermon/lesson/solo so I will be praised.")

(James 4:8 NKJV) Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.

Double-mindedness is halfhearted commitment to God's will.  We know what God wants us to do, but we love our pleasures.  It is hard to get up and study God's word, spend serious time in prayer, learn to share the Gospel with others or reach out to serve.  Double-mindedness results in tokenism.  We glance in our Bible and call it study.  We mumble a few words and call it prayer.  We leave a track on a park bench and call it evangelism.

(Psalms 119:113–115 NKJV)
113 I hate the double-minded, But I love Your law.
114 You are my hiding place and my shield; I hope in Your word.
115 Depart from me, you evildoers, For I will keep the commandments of my God!

Double-mindedness is unbelief.  The double-minded do not love God and so they do not love God's word.  They are evil-doers who have not genuinely devoted themselves to keeping God's commandments.  Their religion is a sham.

So what can we do?  Believe in God and believe God's word.  Meet with God and develop genuine love for Him.  Make God's delight your own joy.  Carefully examine your heart and root out your sinful & selfish motives.

(James 4:8–10 NKJV)  Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.  Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom.  Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.