When you listen to the news and read newspaper, what are five big things that in your opinion are always highlighted? I may be wrong but the truth is over 70% of the news, has been quarrels and conflicts among friends and family members, it has been the political wrangling that always seek personal gains and not positive impact in the society.
That’s why James is asking us the question, “what causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you?” Ja 4:1
Quarrels and conflicts come from desires that may not be necessarily wrong but desires that have evil and selfish intents and therefore with wrong reasons. Someone may desire promotion, a new car or to start a business. These are all good ideas and goals but the reason behind it may not be right.
James says that “you want something but don’t get it. You kill and covet, but you cannot have what you want. You quarrel and fight. You do not have, because you do not ask God” Ja 4:3. I have never met someone who has had enough of everything he/she wants. As a result, the world is full of greed to get more and more without considering the means. The rule has been ‘I must get this thing the easiest way and in the shortest time possible’. This is unquenchable quest that is destroying our society slowly by slowly.
James tells us we do not have because we do not ask God reason being, there is a plan B somewhere and therefore the trust to depend on God for our needs is not there. “When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures”. Ja 4:3. Some prayer take very long time to be answered and one may complain that ‘God no longer answers his/her prayers. Its not that God can’t answer your prayer but you must look at your motives always when you approach God for something.
The Lord is pleased with those whose priorities second those of others and those that add value to His kingdom. It’s not everything that we desire or do that counts, but all the things that are godly and have eternal significance in doing them. That is why James tells us in v 4 that friendship with the world is hatred towards God. “Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God” for this reason, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble” v6
Our action plan must be that we turn from the world and its sinful pleasures and willingly submit to God who knows us very well and has a plan for each of us. This will be a reality when “You resist the devil and he will free from you”v8. In the recent past, I have realized that the greatest enemy of our progress is not even the devil but ourselves, the devil always looks for a chance to strike and must be given an opportunity to do so. Yes, God may allow him to, but mostly you have the power to give him re way or not.
Jesus in Mt 4:1-7 encountered the devil in person not his agents and He had the right to give Satan a chance or rebuke him. The best is what he did; first He told the devil “It’s written” the second time, “It’s written” The third time, Jesus denied Satan all the chances of winning him by taking authority over Satan and said, “Away from me, Satan! For its written, “Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only”. Then the devil left him.
The instructions James gives on how we can build a discipline of drawing near to God are very clear, One, we must cleanse ourselves from any sinful behavior, “wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double minded, grieve , mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will lift you up.” V8-10.
We purify our hearts by confessing our sins and turning away from them, repenting and coming to Jesus who is able to save us and to keep us till his return.
In conclusion, James in 4:17 says that “Anyone who knows the good he ought to do and doesn’t do it, sins”.
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