From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members?
Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not.
Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.
Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.
Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy?
But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.
Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.
Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness.
Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.
Speak not evil one of another, brethren. He that speaketh evil of his brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the law: but if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge.
There is one lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy: who art thou that judgest another?
Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain:
Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.
For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that.
But now ye rejoice in your boastings: all such rejoicing is evil.
Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.
James 4 addresses critical issues for Christians, including the roots of conflict, the dangers of worldliness, the importance of humility, and the need to acknowledge God's sovereignty in our lives. This chapter builds on the themes introduced in James 3, where James contrasted worldly wisdom with God's wisdom, and prepares the way for James 5, which deals with the dangers of wealth and the power of prayer. Understanding James 4 is key to living a life of genuine faith and experiencing God's grace.
The Source of Conflict: Inner Desires (James 4:1-3)
James begins by directly addressing the conflicts and quarrels plaguing his readers. He doesn't attribute these conflicts to external factors alone, but instead, he points to the true source: "What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you?" (James 4:1).
These desires, often selfish and unchecked, wage war within us. They can range from the mundane to the significant. When someone prevents us from satisfying these desires, we are tempted to view them as obstacles, even enemies. This inner turmoil leads to outward conflict.
James highlights a crucial point: "You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight." (James 4:2). He also points out a critical missing element: "You do not have because you do not ask God." (James 4:2). How often do we resort to fighting and striving when a simple prayer might have resolved the issue?
Even when we do ask, James warns that our motives can be flawed: "When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures." (James 4:3). This reveals a heart focused on self-gratification rather than God's kingdom and the needs of others. A helpful question to ask when praying for ourselves is: "How will God's program be advanced by granting this request?"
The Danger of Worldliness: Spiritual Adultery (James 4:4-6)
James intensifies his critique by labeling his readers as "adulterous people" (James 4:4). This isn't a literal accusation of infidelity, but a powerful metaphor for spiritual unfaithfulness. "You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world means hostility toward God? Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God." (James 4:4).
Worldliness, in this context, is prioritizing the values, desires, and systems of the world over God. It's pursuing the satisfaction of our own desires above all else, which James equates to idolatry. Just as Israel was unfaithful to God by worshipping other gods, we commit spiritual adultery when we prioritize worldly pursuits over our relationship with Him. The church is the bride of Christ, and cozying up to the world is hostility towards God.
James emphasizes God's jealousy for our devotion: "Or do you think Scripture says without reason that he jealously longs for the spirit he has caused to dwell in us?" (James 4:5). God desires our wholehearted commitment and will not share His bride with false gods.
However, James doesn't leave us without hope. He reminds us of God's grace: "But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: 'God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.'" (James 4:6). While God resists the proud who align themselves with the world, He offers abundant grace to those who humble themselves before Him.
The Path to Restoration: Humility and Submission (James 4:7-10)
James outlines a clear path to restoration, beginning with submission: "Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." (James 4:7). Submitting to God means recognizing our weakness, surrendering our will to His authority, and acknowledging His sovereignty in our lives. If we had the power to transform our lives on our own, we wouldn't need "greater grace" (James 4:6).
Resisting the devil is the other side of the coin. We cannot passively submit to God while simultaneously allowing the enemy to influence us. We must actively oppose Satan and his schemes. The most effective weapon against the devil is the Word of God. When he whispers lies to our conscience, we must proclaim the truth of Scripture, and he will flee.
James continues with a call to repentance: "Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded." (James 4:8). Drawing near to God involves prayer, praise, and obedience. It requires a conscious effort to cultivate intimacy with Him, not just on Sundays, but daily.
He calls for genuine sorrow over sin: "Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom." (James 4:9). This isn't about wallowing in self-pity, but about acknowledging the seriousness of our sin and its impact on our relationship with God. Jesus didn't die for mistakes; He died for sins.
James concludes this section with a powerful promise: "Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up." (James 4:10). True humility involves admitting our sin, eradicating pride, and trusting in God's grace. God's elevator to the top always starts with a trip down.
Judging Others: A Sign of Pride (James 4:11-12)
James shifts his focus to another manifestation of pride: judging others. "Brothers and sisters, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against a brother or sister or judges them speaks against the law and judges it. When you judge the law, you are not keeping it, but sitting in judgment on it." (James 4:11).
When we criticize and judge fellow believers, we are essentially placing ourselves above the law of love. Jesus said the greatest commandments are to love God and love your neighbor as yourself (Mark 12:28-31). Therefore, judging our neighbor is judging the law that commands us to love others.
James reminds us that God is the ultimate judge: "There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy. But you—who are you to judge your neighbor?" (James 4:12). As the saying goes, "There but for the grace of God go I." We must extend grace and mercy to others, just as God has shown us grace and mercy.
Boasting About the Future: Ignoring God's Sovereignty (James 4:13-17)
James concludes the chapter by addressing the arrogance of making plans without acknowledging God's sovereignty. "Now listen, you who say, 'Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.' Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes." (James 4:13-14).
God isn't against making plans, but He is against thinking ourselves sovereign over them. We are like vapor, here for a moment and then gone. We must acknowledge that our plans fall within a larger, controlling reality: the will of God.
James urges us to adopt a posture of humility and dependence on God: "Instead, you ought to say, 'If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.'" (James 4:15). Making plans but then submitting them to the Lord for approval acknowledges His sovereignty and invites His guidance.
James concludes with a sobering statement: "Anyone, then, who knows the right thing to do and does not do it, is guilty of sin." (James 4:17). This highlights the importance of not just avoiding harm, but actively doing what is right.
James 4 is a powerful call to examine our hearts, confront our pride, and submit to God's will. It's a reminder that true peace and fulfillment come not from pursuing our own desires, but from seeking God's kingdom and aligning our lives with His purposes. By embracing humility, resisting worldliness, and acknowledging God's sovereignty, we can experience the abundant grace He offers and live a life that is pleasing to Him.
From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members?
Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not.
Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.
Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.
Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy?
But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.
Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.
Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness.
Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.
Speak not evil one of another, brethren. He that speaketh evil of his brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the law: but if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge.
There is one lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy: who art thou that judgest another?
Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain:
Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.
For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that.
But now ye rejoice in your boastings: all such rejoicing is evil.
Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.
James 4 addresses critical issues for Christians, including the roots of conflict, the dangers of worldliness, the importance of humility, and the need to acknowledge God's sovereignty in our lives. This chapter builds on the themes introduced in James 3, where James contrasted worldly wisdom with God's wisdom, and prepares the way for James 5, which deals with the dangers of wealth and the power of prayer. Understanding James 4 is key to living a life of genuine faith and experiencing God's grace.
The Source of Conflict: Inner Desires (James 4:1-3)
James begins by directly addressing the conflicts and quarrels plaguing his readers. He doesn't attribute these conflicts to external factors alone, but instead, he points to the true source: "What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you?" (James 4:1).
These desires, often selfish and unchecked, wage war within us. They can range from the mundane to the significant. When someone prevents us from satisfying these desires, we are tempted to view them as obstacles, even enemies. This inner turmoil leads to outward conflict.
James highlights a crucial point: "You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight." (James 4:2). He also points out a critical missing element: "You do not have because you do not ask God." (James 4:2). How often do we resort to fighting and striving when a simple prayer might have resolved the issue?
Even when we do ask, James warns that our motives can be flawed: "When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures." (James 4:3). This reveals a heart focused on self-gratification rather than God's kingdom and the needs of others. A helpful question to ask when praying for ourselves is: "How will God's program be advanced by granting this request?"
The Danger of Worldliness: Spiritual Adultery (James 4:4-6)
James intensifies his critique by labeling his readers as "adulterous people" (James 4:4). This isn't a literal accusation of infidelity, but a powerful metaphor for spiritual unfaithfulness. "You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world means hostility toward God? Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God." (James 4:4).
Worldliness, in this context, is prioritizing the values, desires, and systems of the world over God. It's pursuing the satisfaction of our own desires above all else, which James equates to idolatry. Just as Israel was unfaithful to God by worshipping other gods, we commit spiritual adultery when we prioritize worldly pursuits over our relationship with Him. The church is the bride of Christ, and cozying up to the world is hostility towards God.
James emphasizes God's jealousy for our devotion: "Or do you think Scripture says without reason that he jealously longs for the spirit he has caused to dwell in us?" (James 4:5). God desires our wholehearted commitment and will not share His bride with false gods.
However, James doesn't leave us without hope. He reminds us of God's grace: "But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: 'God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.'" (James 4:6). While God resists the proud who align themselves with the world, He offers abundant grace to those who humble themselves before Him.
The Path to Restoration: Humility and Submission (James 4:7-10)
James outlines a clear path to restoration, beginning with submission: "Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." (James 4:7). Submitting to God means recognizing our weakness, surrendering our will to His authority, and acknowledging His sovereignty in our lives. If we had the power to transform our lives on our own, we wouldn't need "greater grace" (James 4:6).
Resisting the devil is the other side of the coin. We cannot passively submit to God while simultaneously allowing the enemy to influence us. We must actively oppose Satan and his schemes. The most effective weapon against the devil is the Word of God. When he whispers lies to our conscience, we must proclaim the truth of Scripture, and he will flee.
James continues with a call to repentance: "Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded." (James 4:8). Drawing near to God involves prayer, praise, and obedience. It requires a conscious effort to cultivate intimacy with Him, not just on Sundays, but daily.
He calls for genuine sorrow over sin: "Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom." (James 4:9). This isn't about wallowing in self-pity, but about acknowledging the seriousness of our sin and its impact on our relationship with God. Jesus didn't die for mistakes; He died for sins.
James concludes this section with a powerful promise: "Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up." (James 4:10). True humility involves admitting our sin, eradicating pride, and trusting in God's grace. God's elevator to the top always starts with a trip down.
Judging Others: A Sign of Pride (James 4:11-12)
James shifts his focus to another manifestation of pride: judging others. "Brothers and sisters, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against a brother or sister or judges them speaks against the law and judges it. When you judge the law, you are not keeping it, but sitting in judgment on it." (James 4:11).
When we criticize and judge fellow believers, we are essentially placing ourselves above the law of love. Jesus said the greatest commandments are to love God and love your neighbor as yourself (Mark 12:28-31). Therefore, judging our neighbor is judging the law that commands us to love others.
James reminds us that God is the ultimate judge: "There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy. But you—who are you to judge your neighbor?" (James 4:12). As the saying goes, "There but for the grace of God go I." We must extend grace and mercy to others, just as God has shown us grace and mercy.
Boasting About the Future: Ignoring God's Sovereignty (James 4:13-17)
James concludes the chapter by addressing the arrogance of making plans without acknowledging God's sovereignty. "Now listen, you who say, 'Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.' Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes." (James 4:13-14).
God isn't against making plans, but He is against thinking ourselves sovereign over them. We are like vapor, here for a moment and then gone. We must acknowledge that our plans fall within a larger, controlling reality: the will of God.
James urges us to adopt a posture of humility and dependence on God: "Instead, you ought to say, 'If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.'" (James 4:15). Making plans but then submitting them to the Lord for approval acknowledges His sovereignty and invites His guidance.
James concludes with a sobering statement: "Anyone, then, who knows the right thing to do and does not do it, is guilty of sin." (James 4:17). This highlights the importance of not just avoiding harm, but actively doing what is right.
James 4 is a powerful call to examine our hearts, confront our pride, and submit to God's will. It's a reminder that true peace and fulfillment come not from pursuing our own desires, but from seeking God's kingdom and aligning our lives with His purposes. By embracing humility, resisting worldliness, and acknowledging God's sovereignty, we can experience the abundant grace He offers and live a life that is pleasing to Him.