Context
In James 4, James confronts quarrels, worldly desire, pride, and double-mindedness among believers. His comments about asking and not receiving sit inside that larger rebuke of self-seeking and divided loyalties before God.
Common Interpretations
kakos (KAH-kos) — the Greek word translated "wrong motives" — meaning wrongly, badly, or harmfully; describing a self-serving root underneath the request itself. James identifies two separate failures in prayer here. The first is simply not asking at all. The second, more subtle failure, is asking with motives bent toward self-gratification rather than toward God's purposes. James does not promise that correctly motivated asking guarantees the desired outcome — he simply identifies wrongly motivated asking as a reason prayer fails to accomplish anything. Even sincere desire can be self-serving without the person recognizing it as such.
Current Position
No defined position is stated here yet beyond the common interpretations above. As related study develops, this section will be updated where the text warrants a clearer conclusion.
Deeper Study
No deeper study linked yet.