Hedonism: The Root of All Conflicts
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Text - James 4.1-6
Text - James 4.1-6
1 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.
3 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.
5 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.”
Title -Hedonism: The Root of All Conflicts
Background
Background
The Apostle James was addressing problems that arose among Jewish Christians
these Christians were fighting against each other
James 3.1 - the problem was speech based: speaking were speaking against each other in hurtful ways
James 3.13 - distinctions are given to identify between heavenly and demonic wisdom
James wanted address two things here -
what’s the root of these conflicts among you?
how can these issues be addressed effectively?
The root of all conflicts is “desire for pleasure”
The root of all conflicts is “desire for pleasure”
1 Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members?
These wars and conflicts come from your “desires for pleasures”.
These wars and conflicts come from your “desires for pleasures”.
Desire for pleasure
hedone was an existing philosophy among Greeks and Romans in the days of the apostles
Hedonism
Hebrews & James A. Self-Centered Living Stifles Prayer (vv. 1–3)
The Greek word translated “desires” is related etymologically to the English word, hedonism, the philosophy that the chief purpose of living is to satisfy self.
Pocket Dictionary of Ethics Hedonism
hedonism. A widely held theory of value that declares that pleasure is the highest intrinsic value. Hedonism asserts that pleasure is always good for its own sake, whereas pain is always bad, and that pleasure is the only thing that is good for its own sake, whereas pain is the only thing intrinsically bad. Christian ethicists debate whether a Christian hedonism is possible. Some argue that humans are created to enjoy God forever, and therefore the life of devotion to God—rather than the pursuit of worldly pleasures—is the source of highest pleasure.
hedonism asserts that pleasure is always good for its own sake
“if it feels good, it must be right.”
hedonism asserts that pleaure is the only thing that is good for its own sake
hedonism from Merriam-Webster Dictionary
1 : the doctrine that pleasure or happiness is the sole or chief good in life
Hedonism is not a biblical principle
it is based on the senses (carnal desires)
it is serlf-serving
Christian pursuit for pleasure borders on hedonism
when the goal of Christian living is happiness, enjoyment
when they equate “life”” with “enjoyment”
when the focus is on “material blessings” instead of “spiritual development”
The conflicts created by the desire for pleasure is threefold
The conflicts created by the desire for pleasure is threefold
Conflict “within” - ‘hedone’ is at war in our members (the self)
Conflict “within” - ‘hedone’ is at war in our members (the self)
1 Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members?
the pursuit of pleasure creates conflict between our body and our (redeemed, converted) soul
11 Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul,
the pursuit of pleasure feeds the flesh
17 For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish.
the pursuit of pleasure feeds the law of sin
23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.
the pursuit of pleasure stalls spiritual growth
14 Now the ones that fell among thorns are those who, when they have heard, go out and are choked with cares, riches, and pleasures of life, and bring no fruit to maturity.
Conflict “without” - ‘hedone’ is the reason why conflicts among us arise.
Conflict “without” - ‘hedone’ is the reason why conflicts among us arise.
1 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.
(NASB gives a better translation)
1 What is the source of quarrels and conflicts among you? Is not the source your pleasures that wage war in your members?
2 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.
Murder is committed when we want to satisfy our “anger”, our lust for vengeance.
wars and quarrels results when we cannot get what others have and enjoy.
Examples -
Cain murdered Abel -
King David murdered Uriah
Moses murdered an Egyptian
When Christians engage in a quarrel, one of two things is happening:
one of them wants to satisfy his/her desire for pleasure
both of them are aiming for pleasure
Conflict “with God” - ‘hedone’ stands in conflict with God!
Conflict “with God” - ‘hedone’ stands in conflict with God!
3 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.
5 Or do you think that the Scripture says in vain, “The Spirit who dwells in us yearns jealously”?
Unanswered prayers - many of them are motivated by ‘hedone’
16 Come and hear, all you who fear God, And I will declare what He has done for my soul.
17 I cried to Him with my mouth, And He was extolled with my tongue.
18 If I regard iniquity in my heart, The Lord will not hear.
19 But certainly God has heard me; He has attended to the voice of my prayer.
20 Blessed be God, Who has not turned away my prayer, Nor His mercy from me!
29 The Lord is far from the wicked, But He hears the prayer of the righteous.
31 Now we know that God does not hear sinners; but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does His will, He hears him.
these kind of prayers are
self-serving; self-satisfying
driven by the flesh
‘hedone’ is friendship with the world
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.
when we pursue pleasure, we put ourselves against God!
‘hedone’ grieves the Holy Spirit
5 Or do you think that the Scripture says in vain, “The Spirit who dwells in us yearns jealously”?
The spirit behind ‘hedone’ is pride (or, a proud spirit)
The spirit behind ‘hedone’ is pride (or, a proud spirit)
6 But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.”
pride and the pursuit of pleasure go together
pride was the cause of Lucifer’s fall
14 “You were the anointed cherub who covers; I established you; You were on the holy mountain of God; You walked back and forth in the midst of fiery stones.
15 You were perfect in your ways from the day you were created, Till iniquity was found in you.
16 “By the abundance of your trading You became filled with violence within, And you sinned; Therefore I cast you as a profane thing Out of the mountain of God; And I destroyed you, O covering cherub, From the midst of the fiery stones.
17 “Your heart was lifted up because of your beauty; You corrupted your wisdom for the sake of your splendor; I cast you to the ground, I laid you before kings, That they might gaze at you.
18 “You defiled your sanctuaries By the multitude of your iniquities, By the iniquity of your trading; Therefore I brought fire from your midst; It devoured you, And I turned you to ashes upon the earth In the sight of all who saw you.
12 “How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How you are cut down to the ground, You who weakened the nations!
13 For you have said in your heart: ‘I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will also sit on the mount of the congregation On the farthest sides of the north;
14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High.’
15 Yet you shall be brought down to Sheol, To the lowest depths of the Pit.
Satan is the spirit that motivates people to pursue pleasure
Satan is the spirit that teaches people the lie that the purpose of life is to satisfy the self!
The cure for hedonism/pride is humility
The cure for hedonism/pride is humility
6 But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.”
the opposite of the “proud” is the “humble”.
James offers the solution to this conflict
7 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.
9 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.
The humble “submits to God”
to be willing to be subject to orders or wishes (of God)
to be under the authority of God
submission to God’s authority ENABLES us to resist the devil
resist his temptation to pursue pleasure
The humble “draws near to God”
drawing near to God is an acknowledgement of our need for God
drawing near to God requires 2 things
renouncing of sins - “cleansing” of hands; purifying of hearts
remorse - lament, mourn and weep!
when we draw near to God in this way, God draws near to God!
Conclusion
Conclusion
Which behavior marks your life on earth?
Which behavior marks your life on earth?
The pursuit of pleasure?
Hedonism - is the distinguishing mark of the “proud” and is in direct conflict with God.
Submission to the will of God?
Humility is the distinguishing mark of the people of God!
1 Remind them to be subject to rulers and authorities, to obey, to be ready for every good work,
2 to speak evil of no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing all humility to all men.
3 For we ourselves were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another.
4 But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared,
5 not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit,
verse 1 - be subject to rulers and authorities
verse 2 - peaceble, not quarrelsome
verse 2 - show humility to all men
verse 3 - we served lusts pleasures (hedone) once
Is there no pleasure in serving God? Yes there is!
Is there no pleasure in serving God? Yes there is!
the delight of the righteous is in the word of God
2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord, And in His law he meditates day and night.
14 I have rejoiced in the way of Your testimonies, As much as in all riches.
15 I will meditate on Your precepts, And contemplate Your ways.
16 I will delight myself in Your statutes; I will not forget Your word.
the delight of the Son of God is to do God’s will
7 Then I said, “Behold, I come; In the scroll of the book it is written of me.
8 I delight to do Your will, O my God, And Your law is within my heart.”
9 I have proclaimed the good news of righteousness In the great assembly; Indeed, I do not restrain my lips, O Lord, You Yourself know.
delight yourself in the Lord
4 Delight yourself also in the Lord, And He shall give you the desires of your heart.
Pleasure in the kingdom of God is NOT the end goal
Pleasure in the kingdom of God is the reward of fulfilling His will, of doing the right thing, of triumphing over sin and evil.
What happens when hedonism is eliminated
What happens when hedonism is eliminated
17 for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.
eating and drinking - signifies fleshly satisfaction, the pursuit of pleasure
in the days of Noah people were eating and drinking
Righteousness - God’s will
Peace - with God, of God
Joy in the Holy Spirit - delight, pleasure
Righteousness LEADS peace, Peace RESULTS IN “true” pleasure in God!
SONG