Why Am I Like This

The book of James is written to new christian believers who were scattered because of persecution in Jerusalem.

The book of James is considered the New Testament book of Proverbs

The book of James has over 50 commands that a believer can apply to their life.. .

James 4:1 ESV

What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you?

The apostle James asked a rhetorical question…

What causes quarrels… literally fights or state of war

What causes fights… Individual disputes or battles

Why do people want war?

Why do people get into messy disputes?

Why do people act ugly?

Why do people love to start trouble?

James said… The reason why is

“Your passions are at war within you? “

Passions: desire (feeling) n. — the feeling that accompanies an unsatisfied state.

James gives us insight of a person driven by desire.

James 3:13 ESV

Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom.

Wise: describes one with moral insight and skill in the practical issues of life

Understanding: refers to intellectual perception and scientific acumen.

James said… Show your works in the meekness of wisdom..

Be Humble

But when you are driven by desire!

James 3:14–15 ESV

But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic.

James 3:16 ESV

For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice.

Vile: base (immoral) adjs. — not adhering to ethical or moral principles.

Help me!

There is a war going on within me!

James 4:2 ESV

You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask.

You desire and do not have…

The Bible Knowledge Commentary (4:2)

War is the fruit of illicit wants. Lust brings about murder. Covetousness results in the frustration of not obtaining the pursued desires

Hebrews & James A. Self-Centered Living Stifles Prayer (vv. 1–3)

“Lust” is frequently used in the New Testament in a bad sense to describe the act of coveting something belonging to someone else (see Matt. 5:28). “Envious” in this context refers to a quest for position, rank, or fame—an evil expression of personal ambition.

What type of “killing” did James have in mind? James was probably not thinking of physical murder. The Roman government would have executed murderers as criminals. Jesus linked an attitude of hatred and contempt with murder (Matt. 5:21–22). Hatred and jealousy produced by greed and worldliness are potential acts of murder because they can lead to actual murder. The inner attitude is wrong just as is the outward act of murder. Thus, James was not likely accusing his Christian readers of actual murder, but was showing them that their fights and disagreements were as offensive to God as killing.

Hebrews & James A. Self-Centered Living Stifles Prayer (vv. 1–3)

At the conclusion of verse 2 James outlined the startling truth that his readers lacked what they sought because they failed to ask God.

James 4:3 ESV

You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions.

James said you are driven by your fleshly passions and your desire drives your request and you wonder why you don’t receive what you ask for!

James 4:4 ESV

You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.

“You adulterous people”

The act of turning away from God is as spiritual adultery

Let me ask you a question…

Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God?

Friendship

Enmity: hostility (state) n. — a state of deep-seated ill-will.

James (3) The Enmity of Friendship with the World (4:3–5)

Thus, spiritual adultery is synonymous with being an “enemy” of God. Instead of being faithfully wedded, James’s hearers had, by their evil ways, turned their back on God and were having an “affair” with the world.

Hebrews & James B. Self-Centered Living Displeases God (vv. 4–6)

In this context it describes a society severed from God and pursuing its own godless agenda

1 John 2:15–17 ESV

Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.

world system n. — the people constituting the world whose values, beliefs, and morals are in distinction and rebellion to God’s.

James (3) The Enmity of Friendship with the World (4:3–5)

James was speaking generally, but his hearers were dangerously close to this negative condition, not one of familiarity with the world or active participation in it but rather a personal investment in it and chief concern placed in its ways of life that do not follow the standards established by God for his people.

James 4:5 ESV

Or do you suppose it is to no purpose that the Scripture says, “He yearns jealously over the spirit that he has made to dwell in us”?

He yearns jealously

Yearns: to long v. — to desire strongly or persistently.

The apostle James is reminding believers about the desire of God to have a relationship with us!

Our human desire to long for things of the world and not for Him, causes jealousy!

James 4:6 ESV

But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”

But he gives more grace!

Grace: grace (outworking) n. — the resulting activity that is a necessary consequence of genuine, beneficent goodwill; especially used of the outworking of God’s goodwill.

Opposes: to oppose v. — to be against; express opposition to.

Proud: arrogant person n. — a person characterized by feelings of unwarranted importance out of overbearing pride.

“Gives grace to the humble”

James 4:7 ESV

Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

Submit: to be submissive v. — to be or become inclined or willing to submit to orders or wishes of others or showing such inclination.

Resist: to oppose v. — to be against; express opposition to.

The Bible Knowledge Commentary 4:7

“take a stand against.” Take a stand against the devil, and he will flee.

I found out why I am like this!

I have to submit and I have to Resist