James 4:1-3—Quarrels, conflicts, and wrong motives

What is the source of quarrels and buy 24 h cialis conflicts among you? Is not the source your pleasures that wage war in your members? You lust and do not have; so you commit murder. You are envious and cannot obtain; so you fight and quarrel. You do not have because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures. James 4:1-3

I have to be honest—this section of James is difficult for me to write about. Perhaps it’s because when I was born again, God landed me in a wonderful group of believers—my college Bible study group—and each one of them looked out for everyone else’s best interests. And in the churches I have attended—although they weren’t untouched by conflict—I rarely witnessed the hornet’s nest described by James. Disagreements happen, fallings-out occur, but I’ve seen very little of this kind of carnal hate-fest in my years as a believer. I have been blessed to be around loving, gracious Christians and wise leadership. For that I praise God.

What is the source of quarrels and conflicts among you?

It’s good to discern the cause of conflict when it arises. Likewise, it’s good step back and be brutally honest with yourself when you feel yourself gravitating toward strife. Why am I so upset with him/her/them? What’s stirring this sense of outrage in me? These things are nearly always two-sided. Rarely is one party an angel and http://vignoblesjolivet.com/viagra-le-plus-bas/ the other a devil—especially between brethren. If you have a tendency to think you’re never wrong, then perhaps you’re the main problem in this deal! Jesus is the only One I can think of who is actually right 100% of the time.

Is not the source your pleasures that wage war in your members?

Bible teacher David Guzik wrote about this section, “There is some root of carnality, an internal war within the believer regarding the lusts of the flesh. No two believers, both walking in the Spirit of God towards each other, can live with wars and fights among themselves” (see http://www.blueletterbible.org/Comm/guzik_david/StudyGuide_Jam/Jam_4.cfm).

Are you living in a state of “me vs. him/her/them”? Check your carnality gauge. It’s probably through the roof. Guzik goes on to quote New Testament scholar Douglas Moo, “James seems to be bothered more by the selfish spirit and bitterness of the quarrels than by the rights and wrongs of the various viewpoints” (ibid.) Amen to that.

You lust and do not have; so you commit murder. You are envious and cannot obtain; so you fight and quarrel.

The apostle John said, “We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love abides in death. Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer; and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him” (1 John 3:14-15). Lust—whether for someone else’s stuff, status, position, relationship, or anything else—can lead you into jealousy or indignation bordering on hatred. You’ve got to learn to recognize the signs of envy in your own heart so you can stop it before it takes root. Don’t let yourself flirt with that green-eyed monster! If you discover you are dealing with jealousy, then acknowledge it before God, and receive His mercy and grace to deal appropriately with it. If you don’t, you will be held accountable.

You do not have because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures.

Many Bible teachers cite this section to diagnose underlying causes for unanswered prayer. It’s important to recognize, though, that James specifically wrote this portion of his letter to contentious Christians involved in conflicts and quarrels due to their lust for what each other possessed. Therefore, this admonition should not be universally applied to all cases of lack and unanswered prayer. Have you prayed for something and lasix in vendita have not yet received it? Don’t automatically assume you have asked with the wrong motive; a number of reasons exist for unanswered prayer; this is but one of them.

However, if your prayers remain unanswered and you find yourself in a constant state of conflict with one or more believers, then check your heart. Are you jealous? Are you angry that someone else has attained a position or status that you think you deserve? Do you feel slighted because of someone else’s blessings? Are you fuming because someone did not listen to your advice or go along with your opinion? Are you stewing because someone has snubbed or overlooked you? James just might be talking to you. Both jealousy and a misplaced sense of “righteous” indignation are definitely prayer hinderers—and blessing blockers.

Your job? Guard your heart, watch over the state of your soul, and yield to the correction of the Lord whenever that familiar conviction arises within you. Leave it to the Lord figure out everyone else’s heart, soul, and motives, and don’t get your hackles up over the distribution of God’s blessings, abundance, and wealth. There’s enough for everyone, and He’ll never run out. Only believe.

Dorothy