James Chapter 4
Do You Want To Fight?
Do you notice that when there’s a fight, quarrel, or disagreement between two people it’s often because one person’s desires or expectations was infringed upon by another person’s desires or expectations. Then the battle begins. The battle is either between us and God, or us and another person.
Often what we are fighting over has nothing to do with God’s will, God’s plan, God’s desires, but instead is all about our selfish desires or for what this world has to offer.
This passage tells us that friendship with the world makes us an enemy of God.
If not brought under control, then our battles expand towards family members and friends. Jealousy, bitterness, and hatredness grows along with arrogance. The solution to this problem is learning humility. That’s what God wants. God asks us to submit ourselves to him meaning our hearts, our wills, and our desires. We also must continually resist the devil and his continual temptations to lure us back into the world and into selfish desires.
CHALLENGE: Next time there’s a conflict between you and God, or you and someone else, step back and evaluate the situation. Is the fight over selfish desires or godly desires?
