James 4 Pride Promotes Strife
In this chapter we are directed to consider some causes of contention, besides those mentioned in the previous chapter, and to watch against them. We are taught to abandon the friendship of this world, so as to submit and subject ourselves entirely to God. All detraction and rash judgment of others are to be carefully avoided. We must preserve a constant regard, and pay the utmost deference to the disposals of divine Providence.
This chapter speaks of a lust after worldly things, and a setting too great a value upon worldly pleasures and friendships, as that which carried their divisions to a shameful height.
James 4:1 (KJV), ‘From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members?”
Wars – Strong’s Concordance (4171) – polemos: war. Thayer’s Greek Lexicon – 2. a dispute, strife, quarrel.
Fightings – Strong’s Concordance (3163) – maché: a fight. Thayer’s Greek Lexicon – 2. of persons at variance disputants, etc., strife, contention; a quarrel.
War – Strong’s Concordance (4754) – strateuó: to make war, hence to serve as a soldier. Thayer’s Greek Lexicon – of passions that disquiet the soul.
It is important to see that James is not necessarily speaking to battles and wars but internal disputes and quarrels. Is it not in our human nature to want to argue things? We argue due to pride.
James 4:2 (KJV), “Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not.”
Ye Lust – Strong’s Concordance (1397) – epithumeó: desire, lust after. Thayer’s Greek Lexicon – to have a desire for, long for.
Desire to have – Strong’s Concordance (2206) – zéloó: to be jealous. Thayer’s Greek Lexicon – 1. absolutely, to be heated or to boil (A. V. to be moved) with envy, hatred, anger.
Now you will see another example of how the same word has different meanings, depending on context
Fight – Strong’s Concordance (3164) – machomai: to fight. Thayer’s Greek Lexicon – to quarrel, wrangle, dispute.
War – Strong’s Concordance (4170) – polemeó: to make war. Thayer’s Greek Lexicon – to wrangle, quarrel.
James 4:3 (KJV), “Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.”
The Websters 1828 Dictionary – AMISS‘, adjective. 2. adverb In a faulty manner; contrary to propriety, truth, law or morality.
Avoid battles or quarrels among ourselves, to avoid division within the church.
James acknowledges what Paul stated as not to be part of this world
James 4:4-5 (KJV), “4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.
Romans 12:2 (KJV), “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”
Our sin nature
James 4:5 (KJV), “5 Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy?”
Genesis 6:5 (KJV), “And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.”
Spirit – Strong’s Concordance (4151) – pneuma: wind, spirit.
The spirit which naturally dwells in man is always producing one evil imagination or another. Now this way of the world, affecting pomp and pleasure, and falling into strifes and quarrels for the sake of these things, is the certain consequence of being friends to the world.
God reproofs the pride in mankind
James 4:6 (KJV), “But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.”
Psalm 138:6 (KJV), “Though the Lord be high, yet hath he respect unto the lowly: but the proud he knoweth afar off.”
When temptation creeps in, submit to God and the devil will flee
James 4:7 (KJV), “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”
You are either in with God 100% or you are not, there is no 99%
James 4:8 (KJV), “Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.”
Judging [condemning] and chastening are two different things (vs. 11 – 12)
James 4:11 (KJV), “Speak not evil one of another, brethren. He that speaketh evil of his brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the law: but if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge.”
Judgeth – Strong’s Concordance (2919) – krinó: to judge, decide. Thayer’s Greek Lexicon – b. to pronounce judgment; to subject to censure; to condemn.
Do NOT put off tomorrow what should be done today
James 4:13-14 (KJV), “3 Go to now, ye that say, To day or tomorrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: 14 Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.”
Don’t boast of what you think you can do tomorrow – I can do this or that
James 4:16 (KJV), “But now ye rejoice in your boastings: all such rejoicing is evil.”
Do everything in accordance with God
James 4:15 (KJV), “For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that. ”
What is sin?
James 4:17 (KJV), “Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.”
Grow in the Word of the Lord 