Thought on James 4:1-10

¹ What is the source of quarrels and conflicts among you? Is not the source your pleasures that wage war in your members? ² You lust and do not have; so you commit murder. You are envious and cannot obtain; so you fight and quarrel. You do not have because you do not ask. ³ You ask and do not receive, because you ask ^[c]with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures. ⁴ You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. ⁵ Or do you think that the Scripture speaks to no purpose: “He jealously desires the Spirit which He has made to dwell in us”? ⁶ But He gives a greater grace. Therefore it says, “God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” ⁷ Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. ⁸ Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. ⁹ Be miserable and mourn and weep; let your laughter be turned into mourning and your joy to gloom. ¹⁰ Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you.

The bell rings the fighters move to the center of the ring to begin their brawl. In the UFC and Boxing world we know that the fight is not over a religious, political, or social position. It is about the winning of a title. To be the best in that weight class. The same is true in other kinds of sports such as football, basketball, baseball, golf, etc... What James is talking about is the fighting between people of faith and their spiritual understanding of the scriptures in relation to the material possessions the world seeks to offer.

He hits on the fact that many in the day sought out the faith not for the salvation that was offered but for the motives of self service. To use God as a lucky charm. When a child does not get the item he or she cries for they may throw a fit in the aisle of the toy store. When an adult does not get what he or she desires they may seek to destroy that which stands in the way of their desires. This could even mean to destroy the faith or person that is standing in the way of the motives of their heart.

Thus, you cannot serve the motives of your heart in the world and still call God Father, Lord, Redeemer, Comforter, Counselor, etc... We make the world our friend by accepting the pleasures it offers and therefore wage war on our spiritual soul. James here is practicing the pastoral roll of Admonishing the people of God to resist the devil schemes so he will flee from you. If you recognize within your heart the times of lust, envy, prideful attitude, adulteresses actions and seek to draw near to God, He will draw near to you. Cleanse your deeds and motives, so that you remain in the presence of the Lord to be exalted as a humble servant.

Pray with me, Dear Lord you are the example of humility teach me to by humble. I confess that there are times that I have not acted with pure intentions. Help me to resist the temptations of the world by drawing nearer to your grace. Turning my mourning into laughter and my gloom into joy, when I resist the world's pleasures. Let your grace show me humility and your rod of correction guide my path. With a pure heart and clean hands may I serve you all the days of my life. Amen...