The Letter of James - 4:1-10

James 4:1–10 NLT

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. 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.” 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.

What is this first paragraph about? Verses 1-3? What is the it?

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.

And even when you ask, you don’t get it because your motives are all wrong—you want only what will give you pleasure.

Is the “it” something tangible? Or, is it something without a physical presence?

Rule number one in biblical interpretation, aka hermeneutics is context. Context, context, context. Context is king. What is the context of this book of the Bible?

Remember, this is a letter that James wrote to believers living outside of Israel. The 12 tribes scattered abroad. This is a letter, not a book per se. This letter wasn’t composed in the form of verses and chapters as we have it today. Originally, old and new testament books and letters, contained text divisions similar to paragraphs and were written on a scroll.

It wasn’t until the 1200’s that the chapter orientation we currently have in our English bibles was developed. The numbered verse divisions were formulated in the 1500’s.

Keeping that in mind, bible translators and commentators don’t always agree with the current chapter/verse divisions. One issue is the end of James 3 and the beginning of James 4. Some believe this is a continual thought that shouldn’t be broken into two different sections or chapters. James 3 should be read with chapter 4 and not divided.

Let’s do that.

James 3:13–18 NLT

13 If you are wise and understand God’s ways, prove it by living an honorable life, doing good works with the humility that comes from wisdom. 14 But if you are bitterly jealous and there is selfish ambition in your heart, don’t cover up the truth with boasting and lying. 15 For jealousy and selfishness are not God’s kind of wisdom. Such things are earthly, unspiritual, and demonic. 16 For wherever there is jealousy and selfish ambition, there you will find disorder and evil of every kind. 17 But 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.

James 4:1 NLT

1 What is causing the quarrels and fights among you? Don’t they come from the evil desires at war within you?

James 1:13–15 NLT

13 And remember, when you are being tempted, do not say, “God is tempting me.” God is never tempted to do wrong, and he never tempts anyone else. 14 Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away. 15 These desires give birth to sinful actions. And when sin is allowed to grow, it gives birth to death.

James 4:1–2 NLT

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.

James 1:5–8 NLT

5 If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. 6 But when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind. 7 Such people should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. 8 Their loyalty is divided between God and the world, and they are unstable in everything they do.

James 4:3 NLT

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.

Quick recap of the topics James has been talking about throughout his letter.

WisdomHumilityTemptation from our own desiresWorldly achievementsHearing and doingSpeechDiscriminationLove others as you love yourselfFaith must be proved by good actionsSpeech is difficult to tameSpeech can be very deadly, full of poisonBlessing and curses should not come from the same source Wisdom

At the end of chapter 3 we’re back to wisdom. Its almost like a wisdom sandwich.

James keeps coming back to wisdom so let’s take a look a wisdom a little more deeply.

Wisdom goes beyond knowledge, it's the ability to use knowledge according to right behavior. Or as one person said it, “Wisdom is knowledge that is rightly applied for successful living.”

Wisdom holds a moral quality while knowledge holds an intellectual quality.

Some interesting things are going on here. James is discussing more than wisdom, he reminding his readers of the fruit of wisdom, what wisdom produces.

The book of Proverbs, which James seems to reference often, is centered around wisdom. It shows us that God’s wisdom should be our guide through life.

Wisdom is an attribute of God himself.

Moving on.

James 4:2–3 NLT

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.

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.

James’ readers are wanting something. Something that is causing fights within the church. But, I don’t think it’s material. I don’t think they are jealous of some tangible item that others have.

You want what you don’t have.You’re jealous of what others have.Your motives are all wrong because you’re only wanting what will give you pleasure.

What is it that they want?

Verse 4 & 5 give us a clue.

James 4:4–5 NLT

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. 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.

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. 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.*

James calls his readers adulterers! Thats a far cry from how he has been referring to them up till now.

2 Dear brothers and sisters,*16 So don’t be misled, my dear brothers and sisters. 19 Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters:2:1 My dear brothers and sisters,*2:5 Listen to me, dear brothers and sisters.2:14 What good is it, dear brothers and sisters, 3:1 Dear brothers and sisters,*

James has been using terms of endearment when addressing his readers. Now he called them Adulterers. He is calling them unfaithful. Not unfaithful to their spouses, they were unfaithful to God.

But how were they unfaithful to God?

Could it be that they were looking for fulfillment in places other than God?

Jealousy and envy, two words James uses, lead to emptiness. This emptiness can lead to one trying to find fulfillment in places other than God.

These quarrels and fights come from war within.

Remember back in the garden. Adam and Eve sin. They are no longer under the cover of God’s presence. What do they do? They substitute God’s presence with leaves. Seriously?

They're walking with God, covered in his presence. They sin. Notice God’s presence is no longer covering them, they’re naked. So they try to fix the problem themselves.

They cover their emptiness, shame, guilt with leaves.

I believe this is similar to what James is referring to in his letter. He’s asking them is something is lacking in your life. You’re not at peace. Theres an emptiness in your life and you start getting frustrated because the people around you are not fulfilling you. So you fight scheme and kill to get it. You see others living at peace and you become jealous of what they have so you fight and wage war to take if from them.

Yet, you still don’t have what you want because you don't ask God for it. Even if you were to ask, you won’t get it because your motives are all wrong. You’re seeking God for what he has, not for who he is.

You adulterers people! You spiritually unfaithful.

Why are you asking God to give you something other than himself for your fulfillment. Something that will replace him and provide you with pleasure.

Don’t you see, if you’re a friend of world, you become an enemy of God. Stop looking for fulfillment in places other than God, find fulfillment in him alone.

It’s like you're saying God, you’re not enough - give me this, and this, and this.

James 4:5–10 NLT

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.” 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.

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.”

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.

I believe James is telling his readers, drop it, humble yourself, don't make excuses. Submit yourself to God