True Faith Does Not Befriend The World James 4:1-12: The source of wars and fights is the desires of one’s members. Whether these desires be lust envy or murder, they all stem from a desire that is within oneself. Nevertheless, when these desires are fueled by the enemy, they become a war within the person. As such, if one is caught in a war, it would be a crime against God and against his will.
What is the Source of Wars and Fights?
From Desires Within That War in One’s Member
The term “member” refers to an individual limb or body part, or to the members of the body collectively. This verse refers to the body as the seat of our passions and desires, and “war” refers to the conflict between these desires and better principles. Specifically, the conflict between the flesh and spirit is noted in Romans 7:23. Similarly, Galatians 5:17 refers to the war between the flesh and the spirit.
The words “from desires within that war in one’s member” are military-style terms, which James uses without having to pinpoint specific sources of quarrels. James knows that all quarrels arise from the same source and that all pleasures wage war on each other. While this is true, it does not make the questions any less rhetorical. James uses military-style language, referring to battles, wars, and fights in his questions. These terms are a good representation of the conflicts among our members.
Such as Lust and Envy
A man’s desire for things is not always evil. Christ desires to eat the passover with His apostles. A wise man desires what he can get, uses it wisely, and distributes it cheerfully. He leaves satisfied and contented.
The Bible says that man’s sinful desires originate in the flesh. It’s impossible to understand the meaning of the verse if you only know it by the context. James 4:1-3 is a chapter break from James 3:18+. The preceding chapter has described the fruit of righteousness, and the next chapter describes the source of wars and fights. War and conflict are based on sinful desires.
In James 4:1, we find that conflicts among Christians are caused by our own selfish desires. These desires, which are rooted in our sinful nature, wage war within us. We are riven with conflict because of our own selfish interests. Envy and hypocrisy are often the sources of conflict and war. James argues that these desires cause conflicts and wars between Christians so we must fight against them.
It is not that we should have our own desires. James warns us against being envious of others. Envy and fighting are the results of the desires of others. People who have these desires put men to death to obtain them. They engage in war and conflict because they cannot obtain what they want. But these people have not asked for what they want, and therefore, their desire has been a source of war and conflict.
Such as Murder and Hatred
In the first part of his letter, James asks us whether our primary aim is to serve God or to live a life of pleasure. This is an important distinction to make, as pursuing pleasure as the chief aim of our life leads to strife, division, and hatred. Indeed, the Greek word for war is machai, and it is often the case that the source of wars and fights is the pursuit of pleasure. In other words, our frantic search for pleasure leads to long-drawn resentments, which, in turn, erupt into battles and wars. Ancient moralists would have agreed.
The enemy’s ultimate goal is to bring us down, and this means pursuing our desires will inevitably lead to conflicts. In James 4:1-3, we read that lust and envy are forms of murder, as well as quarreling, and are the source of war and fight. However, scholars differ on the precise meaning of James’s accusation. Most likely, James didn’t mean the verse literally. This is in keeping with what Jesus taught in the Sermon on the Mount: “Anyone who harbors hatred against his brother is guilty of murder.”
The first question James poses is “Where is the source of wars and fights?” He answers that the source is in the desires of the members. James does not mean legitimate pleasures but desires that are opposed to God. He uses the same word as Jesus did in the ‘Parable of the Soils’ in Luke 8:14. War, fights, and hatred are the result of lust, which James describes as “an appetite for evil.”
Another question arises when we read the verses. Some translations have the passage “such as hate is the source of wars and fights.” In other words, we cannot excuse our sins or use them to justify evil deeds. But when we see the verses side-by-side, they seem to be addressing conflict within the church.
Friendship With The World is Enmity With God
To Be a Friend of the World Becomes an Enemy of God
The scriptures are very clear about the dangers of friendship with the world. James 4:4 warns against friendship with the world, calling people who do so “adulterers”. The Old Testament describes Israel as God’s bride and accuses the Israelites of harlotry, while the New Testament uses similar imagery to describe the church. Sadly, many Christians choose to be friends with the world instead of with God.
Even as the Scripture Warns and Not in Vain
According to the Bible, true religion does not fear the world. This is the key to a happy and successful marriage. James’ warning against loving the world is meant to wake up the sleepy soul. His demands for abstinence from luxury and worldly pleasures are a wake-up call. James also demands that his hearers are aware of their sinfulness. It is in repentance, that we find the true joy of living.
The spirit of God does not entail envy or love of the world. This is not true for Christians who seek to be friends with the world. Instead, they are guilty of spiritual adultery. If you are friends with the world, you are cheating on God, not the other way around. Therefore, we must ask ourselves, “Do I have this spirit of envy and enmity with the world?”
God Resists the Proud and Gives Grace to the Humble
Whether a person chooses to follow a God who has revealed himself to him through the Holy Spirit or rejects the world, there are several ways to live by God’s rules. Ultimately, true religion does not reject the world but submits itself to it. James urges us to submit to God without any fear or resentment. He also encourages us to draw close to God and humble ourselves before him.
James’ tone in these verses is reminiscent of an Old Testament prophet calling people to repent and live a miserable life. In his words, “fear God more than man” James 4:6. By telling the truth to those who are sinning, he is demonstrating his love for both the world and God. He wants to call people back to his side and repent.
Draw Near to God
Submit To God’s Authority
The election is the decision of God to elect His people to salvation. God chose people to be saved before the world began. God has the power to effectually convert people, but we must choose to believe and submit ourselves to God’s authority. By submitting ourselves to His authority, we draw near to God and experience his saving grace.
Submit to God Resist the Devil and He Will Flee
The key to true religion is humility. No man can please God without humility. Pride of heart drives away God. Only those who submit to the will of God will receive grace from God. The devil cannot resist the power of God. Therefore, all human resistance must be futile. Regardless of our motives, we must submit to God’s will. Otherwise, we will be tempted to rebel against God and he will flee.
To resist the devil, the true religion draws near to God. It is difficult to resist temptation, but it is possible to defeat him if you are faithful to the Word of God. Temptation is the devil’s way of trying to get your attention. When you listen to the word of God, you will be drawn closer to God. Remember that Jesus was tempted by the devil as well, but he did not give in.
Draw Near to God and He Will Draw Near to You
The supreme need of mankind is to draw close to God and know Him. There are no other needs in life that can be satisfied without knowing Christ. It is only by knowing Christ that we can experience unsearchable riches. Hence, true religion is the one that draws near to God and knows Him. Consequently, this is the only way to fulfill human desires. But in order to do so, we need to make our hands clean and purify our hearts.
What Counsel Does James Give to Those Who Are Tempered?
Submit to God
As Christians, we love the teaching that Christians must submit to God and resist the temptations of the world. James 4:7-10 reminds us that the devil is our worst enemy and we must fight him recurrently. We must resist him in the strength of the word of God. The devil will be at your back unless you submit to God. This is a vitally important part of a Christian’s life.
The key to a life of obedience to God is submission to the divine Spirit. As Christians, we must be impressionable and susceptible to the world’s influences. The Spirit of God leads many Christians, just as a stout oak in a forest stands firm in spite of a hurricane, and the rush by a river yields to the faintest blow of a gale.
Resist the Devil and He Will Flee from You
As believers, we must fight the devil. Like a roaring lion, the devil prowls around seeking prey. We must be strong and stand firm in our faith. James 4:7 and Ephesians 6:13 refer to this. While many have differing opinions, this scripture demonstrates that we must stand our ground. We must stand up to the devil and obey the commandment, “Resist the devil and he will flee from you.”
One way to resist the devil is to remember that you are not his servant. He is a human, not a divine being. You must understand that this is the enemy of the redeemed. The devil will attack your mind and emotions until you have no more resistance. Then he will give you one last hard punch and be gone. The enemy will then deluge your mind with lies.
Draw Near to God and He Will Draw Near to You
Despite the temptation, we can resist the devil and his temptations by focusing on our God. The devil is the one who tries to sift us out like wheat, buffeting us with his suggestions and worldly advice. Similarly, Satan may suggest that we do something lazy when we are supposed to be serving God. Therefore, we cannot judge ourselves for forsaking God because we have had a conflict with the devil. Furthermore, our faith is not compromised by such conflicts with Satan. Christ, the Savior, was tempted by the devil after his testimony from heaven. The apostle Paul also had a conflict with a messenger of the devil.
In this section of James, the devil is mentioned ten times. In the previous verses, James had described earthly wisdom that is demonic. The word “submit” means to align yourself under authority. These are based on James 3-6 verses. In verse seven, the word “submit” means to align yourself under authority. Verses seven and ten portray an army under command.
Related Bible Study:
True Faith Does Not Befriend The World (James 4:1-12) – Warning Against Worldliness
