By Brittenne Boykin
Overview
Scripture Lesson Text: James 4:1-10, 13-17
The book of James focuses on practical Christian living. James identifies the reason for much of the discontent that leads to conflict. James traces these quarrels and fights to our insatiable internal desires for all that glistens and shines. He submits that the reader desires what they do not have, so much that they kill for it. They covet to no avail so they covet and fight.
James directly calls the reader adulterous, stating they are being unfaithful to God. He directly asks them if they know that friendship with the world is in direct opposition to God. He picks up reminding them that God gives not only grace but more grace (Vs.6) He says that God opposes the proud but he gives grace to the humble. James urges the reader to submit themselves to God, resist the devil who is their real adversary and he will flee. James ties up the loose end by charging them to draw near to God so that they could cleanse their hands, purify their hearts and humble yourselves before the Lord and He will exalt you.
He ends the passage cautioning the reader against boasting about tomorrow. He warns that this is futile because our life is not our own and we are here for but a moment and then gone. He proposes a better way to go about looking at tomorrow and surrender our plans to the Lord and say ‘If it is the Lord’s will” we will do this and that. In their current state they were boasting in arrogance which James noted was evil. He tells them that knowing the right thing to do and not doing it, for that person it is sin. (Vs.13-16).
Related Scriptures: Luke 12:13-21
In the related scriptures in Luke, Jesus uses a set of parables : a man asking Jesus to tell his brother to divide his inheritance, and a rich man and a great harvest which he decides to store up while he enjoys life. Jesus used this as a cautionary story about storing up earthly riches.
In Luke 14:7-1, we see Jesus again using a familiar story to teach a heavenly principle. He tells the story of guests at a banquet clamoring for places of honor at a banquet. He warns against arrogance lest someone of more importance come and they are asked to give up their seat.
In Luke 18:9-14, Jesus tells the parable of a Pharisee who prays to appear righteous. He prays and gives thanks to God that he is not like sinners and boast of his fasting and giving. In contrast a tax collector who was considered dishonest and a sinner comes humbly before God asking for mercy. In what must have been a shock to the listener Jesus commends the tax collector and not the Pharisee.
1 Peter 5:5-7 urges the young to submit to their elders, that everyone young and old should clothe themselves in humility toward one another. The set of scriptures promises that God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. It pushes us to humble ourselves under the mighty hand of God so that when the time is right he will exalt you. We can cast our cares on Him because He cares for us.
Practical Point:
Fights Among Christians Come From Selfish Desires
Many conflicts in our faith communities arise when our own selfish desires cloud our perspective. Selfish desires are desires that are self serving, us focused and not surrendered to the will of God. We oftentimes are so fixated on what we want that it eclipses what God wants. Our own unyielding insatiable desires to be right, to take more than we need, to garner position or notoriety, or even sympathy outweigh the needs of our brothers and sisters which leads to often time terrible quarrels that hurt not only the believers directly involved but those who are apart of their faith community. We should always start by humility and compassion when engaging others who we disagree with. If we draw near to God he will surely help us navigate the twist and turns that come with being in community. When we begin with humility God gives us the grace to handle our brothers and sisters with the care that he desires.
