Written ~ 12-05-2024
Read James Chapter Four
James 4
In this chapter, James is going to give us some very strong advice. It would do us all a lot of good to listen to what he has to say. God’s Word isn’t something we just read then set aside. These words we read should bring renewal, it should bring the desire deep within us to change any attitude or behavior that the Lord does not find pleasing!
I am going to start off today’s study with the last couple of verses from chapter three, just to keep a good flow with the things James wants to confront us with in chapter four.
James 3:17-18 and 4:1-4…
17 “…the wisdom from above is first of all pure. It is also peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others. It is full of mercy and the fruit of good deeds. It shows no favoritism and is always sincere. 18 And those who are peacemakers will plant seeds of peace and reap a harvest of righteousness. 4:1 What is causing the quarrels and fights among you? Don’t they come from the evil desires at war within you? 2 You want what you don’t have, so you scheme and kill to get it. You are jealous of what others have, but you can’t get it, so you fight and wage war to take it away from them. Yet you don’t have what you want because you don’t ask God for it. 3 And even when you ask, you don’t get it because your motives are all wrong – you want only what will give you pleasure. 4 You adulterers! Don’t you realize that friendship with the world makes you an enemy of God? I say it again: If you want to be a friend of the world, you make yourself an enemy of God.”
Seeking the wisdom of God first is the only way we should make substantial and abrupt changes to our lives. Reading our Bibles, learning and applying what we have read to our daily living will increase the wisdom we will have in our decision making. Increased wisdom will determine the words we allow to come out of mouths and our actions will mirror the behaviors we see in Jesus. In chapter three we learned about the importance of controlling our tongues and the damage that can be done when we don’t. In chapter four we are going to learn the importance of choosing between the world and the Lord.
Having the type of wisdom that can be found through the study of God’s Word will instill a peace and a sincerity within our hearts that we could never achieve on our own. When we become peacemakers, instead of those who find reason to quarrel and fight, it distinguishes us from the world’s evil schemes. When we become jealous or don’t get what we want and become angry, instead of going to the Lord for help, we decide fighting and waging war is the desired method to get what you want… it’s showing the true motive of the heart. Let’s read again what it says in verse 4:2b-3, “…you don’t have what you want because you don’t ask God for it. And even when you ask, you don’t get it because your motives are all wrong – you want only what will give you pleasure…”
Think about the things you fight about, think about the things that wage war within your heart. Are you fighting for something that does not give God glory and honor? Are you constantly praying for something to change in your life, but those prayers are not answered to your liking? Just like James says in verse 4:3b, “…you don’t get it because your motives are all wrong…”
When we ask God for something through the eyes of wisdom gained from reading Scripture and when we ask God to change our hearts to desire the things He wants for our lives, prayers are answered much differently.
When we continue to place the desires of the world above the desires of God’s heart, James says we become adulterers. We cannot have both. What would you rather fill your heart and mind with? Are you still blending into the world so there is no distinction at all? Or is the love and devotion you have for the Lord Jesus Christ become such a huge part in your life that all you seek is communion with Him? We cannot continue to live in this world, by the world’s standards and look to its “friendship” as our first desire. Look what James says about that… verse 4:4, “Don’t you realize that friendship with the world makes you an enemy of God? I say it again: If you want to be a friend of the world, you make yourself an enemy of God.” It’s very clear, wouldn’t you agree? When we became children of God by accepting Salvation, we should not live our lives as though change has not taken place within our hearts. Before Salvation we were enemies of God, but when we don’t pursue the Lord in everything we do even after we have received Salvation, we could still be continuing on a path headed towards destruction. We must make up our minds as to who we are going to be loyal… God or the world.
The Life Application Study Bible says this about verse 4:4…
- Why does James say that it is impossible to be a friend of the world and a friend of God at the same time? These two paths lead in opposite directions and to very different destinations. Friendship with the world leads to quarrels and fights (James 4:1-3), materialism (1 John 2:15-17), self-centered living (James 4:3) and death (Proverbs 14:12). The other path leads to faith, hope and love, the fruit of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23) and eternal life (John 3:16).
Time and time again, the Scriptures are going to challenge us to look at our lives and see where change needs to be embraced. Does the world have your attention right now? All its glitz and glam? Is there a constant fight within you that has you torn in two? Do you step one foot into the world, but then find yourself completely pulled in? Or have you made the choice to be set apart for the Lord? Do you recognize the potency of the world’s enticements and steer far away from its lull? Only you can decide where you will draw the line. But just like James has warned, you cannot be friends with the world and still be friends with God.
James 4:5-6…
5 “Do you think the Scriptures have no meaning? They say that God is passionate that the spirit He has placed within us should be faithful to Him. 6 And He gives grace generously.
As the Scriptures say,
“God opposes the proud
but gives grace to the humble.”
Each of us will struggle with the lure of the world, it’s our human nature that wants us to give in to our sinful desires. But God has placed within us the desire to be passionate for Him! God desires for us to be faithful to Him! To have a deep friendship with Him. And that desire should become overwhelming if we are feeding on the Word of God. Verse 4:5a, “Do you think the Scriptures have no meaning?” I believe if you have given your heart to the Lord, you already know that the Scriptures have meaning. But if you aren’t willing to really read it, study it and absorb what it is saying, how can real and lasting change take place in your life?
Knowing that our hearts will always be drawn to the world’s enticements, if we don’t fill our hearts with a passionate desire to be faithful to the Lord, then we will frequently find ourselves in a place we didn’t intend on being. Think about the things you struggle with. It is time to finally give those things over to the Lord for good.
James 4:7-10…
7 “So, humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world. 9 Let there be tears for what you have done. Let there be sorrow and deep grief. Let there be sadness instead of laughter, and gloom instead of joy. 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will lift you up in honor.”
There are too many worldly pleasures to list that can plague our hearts with sinful desire. And each of us know what has a grip on our lives. We know what attitudes or behaviors don’t please the Lord, but we go on doing it. God is waiting for us to humble ourselves before Him and rid our hearts and lives of those things that do not give Him glory and honor. We learned in James chapter one that we will be tested and tempted, but God blesses those who endure testing. It might be that you are giving into temptation, and it is causing sin to multiply and whatever those temptations are they are causing your heart to be divided on a regular basis.
Verses 4:7-10 can be a cry of your heart! Use these verses as a prayer of forgiveness and give your entire life, your whole heart to the Lord…
Lord, I humble myself before You. In the Name of Jesus, I command the devil to flee. Help me, by Your Holy Spirit, to resist the temptations he tries to offer. Lord, help me draw close to You, I want Your presence in my life, draw close to me, Lord. Father, you know my heart, you know each area that I struggle to give over to You. Help me Lord to wash my hands of these things, once and for all. I know I am a sinner, and I will struggle with a divided heart, forgive me Father for allowing the world and its pleasures to take my eyes off of You. Purify my heart and through the conviction of the Holy Spirit help me never to go back to those worldly desires. I do not want a divided heart, Father help me place my loyalty only with You. My heart is sorrowful that I willfully sin against You and put the world’s desires above Yours. Lift this sorrow, this grief, this sadness and bring Your joy and Your laughter back into my heart. With a humble heart, I give my life to You, Father. I pray that my eyes would be lifted and that my life would bring You glory and honor. Amen.
No matter how “good” we think we are and that whatever we are involved in we may think it isn’t all that bad… But… when we measure our lives to what the Bible says to do, does it constantly bring guilt and shame? Or do we find that as we learn from God’s Word, we are seeing more and more victorious moments! It should be our desire, the passion of our hearts to serve the Lord with glory and honor.
In closing let’s look at…
James 4:17…
17 “Remember, it is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it.”
The Life Application Study Bible says this about verse 4:17…
- We tend to think of sin as doing what is wrong. But James tells us that sin is also failing to do what is right. It is a sin to lie; but it can also be a sin to know the truth and not tell it. It is a sin to speak evil of someone; but it is also sin to avoid that person when you know he or she needs your friendship. You should be willing to help as the Holy Spirit guides you. If God has prompted you to do a kind act, to render a service, or to restore a relationship, do it. You will experience a renewed and refreshed vitality in your Christian faith.
If we are not willing to give up those worldly desires and pleasures for the Lord… we run the risk of being in opposition with God. Sin separates us from having direct communion with Him. The choice is yours, but knowing what God is asking you to do and not doing it leaves you in a very precarious spot. Don’t allow sin in your life to inhibit a fulfilling life walking with the Lord in close union and obedience.
As always, the Word of God gives us a lot to thinks about and I hope James chapter four has made you look within yourself and caused some miraculous change to take place.
~AMEN~