Slow to Wrath - From Conflict to Humility James 4:1-10

From Conflict to Humility

Bible Passage: James 4:1-10

1. Conflict's Crucible: Lusts

James 4:1–2 “Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members? 2 You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. Yet you do not have because you do not ask.”

In this new section of being “slow to wrath” James begins with a question, “where do wars and fights come from among you?”

Desires - ἐπιθυμία lust see James 1:15 “Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.”

What do they do to those around us? Murder = hatred (Mt 5:22) and Covet = envy

In the church we are not alone in our trials, one will definitely affect another. (Ro 12:5, 10, 16; 1 Cor 12:25; Gal 5:15, 26; Ep 4:25, 32; Col 3:13; Heb 10:25)

So why are we at war with one another? Maybe it is because we at war within ourselves, our lusts and desires are unchecked by the cross. We see others as standing in the way of our personal agenda.

We have not because we ask with improper motive, not according the will of God.

Matthew 7:7 ““Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.”

James 1:5 “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.”

2. Conflict's Catalyst: Worldliness

James 4:3–4 “You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures. 4 Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.”

What does James mean by, “you ask amiss”? Amiss is translated from the Greek κακῶς kakos - it means morally wrong, wicked, or with evil intentions. They asked for something that would be spent on themselves. Selfishness is what in view here and the request was to be used on a temporal pleasure.

It is as if they were leveraging their relationship with God to something that could be bartered, spent, and used till it runs out. No wonder they did not receive what they asked, it was sin.

God is a jealous God. When it came to the golden calf Moses declares in Exodus 34:14 “(for you shall worship no other god, for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God),” Our God demands loyalty and fidelity, but these Christians were far from obeying this demand. In Exodus 34:15 Israel “play the harlot with their gods and make sacrifice to their gods,” James uses similar language to describe the conflicts in the church. He calls them adulterers and adulteresses and thus calls them out for their infidelity. This is how God views the friendship with the world.

3. Conflict's Conqueror: God's Grace

James 4:5–6 “Or do you think that the Scripture says in vain, “The Spirit who dwells in us yearns jealously”? 6 But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.””

While not a direct O.T. quote perhaps James is paraphrasing the point that God is a Jealous God thus His Spirit that indwells us wants all of us. (1 Cor 6:19) It is not a vain or empty thing this love of God, He is serious about the relationship and expects us to reciprocate. For that reason He gives more grace.

Grace for the humble

1 Peter 5:5 “5 Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.””

Proverbs 3:34 “34 Surely He scorns the scornful, But gives grace to the humble.”

(see Job 22:29; Ps 138:6; Pr 3:34, 29:23; Mt 23:12; 1 Pe 5:5)

Grace is the answer for the rebel, God is faithful and under us are His everlasting arms Dt 33:27.

4. Conflict's Cure: Draw Near

James 4:7–8 “Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.”

Therefore - the answer to verse :1 wars and conflicts

Humility is what God is looking for when we fail. James is calling for repentance and returning. First is the correct attitude towards God, then take a stand against the determined foe. 1 Peter 5:8 tells us to be sober and vigilant in the face of the adversary, he is like a roaring lion. Ephesians 4:27 tells us to give no place to the devil and Ephesians 6:11 “Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.” That is how the Christian is to resist the accuser.

Draw near and renew your fellowship relationship with God by exercising 1 John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” . Be cleansed and purified and enjoy the presence of the Lord.

Grace teaches Titus 2:11–13 “For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, 12 teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, 13 looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ,”

Paul exhorts Titus for the good of the church,

Titus 2:15 “Speak these things, exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no one despise you.”

Don’t be double-minded James 1:8 “he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.” 2 Corinthians 6:14 “Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness?” Ephesians 5:8 “For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light” 1 Peter 2:9 “But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;”

5. Conflict's Conclusion: Repentant Exaltation

James 4:9–10 “Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.”

Galatians 2:20 “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.”

There are times when we need to realize that we are dead. It is a good and sobering thing to attend a funeral. Maybe James was reflecting on Ecclesiastes 7:2–4 “Better to go to the house of mourning Than to go to the house of feasting, For that is the end of all men; And the living will take it to heart. 3 Sorrow is better than laughter, For by a sad countenance the heart is made better. 4 The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning, But the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.”

After a sobering time of reflection we can recognize the miry pit we dwelt in and the great rescue that God has performed for us. Psalm 40:2 “He also brought me up out of a horrible pit, Out of the miry clay, And set my feet upon a rock, And established my steps.”

That rescue is founded in grace on God’s part and humility on our part. Be slow to wrath.