James 4:1-3 What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? (2) 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. (3) You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions.
As chapter three comes to a close we are reminded that the righteousness of God is sown by the peacemakers. He then goes right into discussing what causes the quarrels and fights among us. “Is it not that your passions are at war within you?” he asks. Why do so many believers argue and fight with one another? Why do we argue and fight with the world?
Paul would suggest that the desires we have that cause us to wage war are the desires of the flesh. They are not the things of the Spirit, therefore they cause us strife and contention with others. Rather than fulfilling the ways of Christ, we quarrel and fight and strive after the things of the world. (Galatians 5:17) These desires are so strong that for some it brings them to the point of even murder. They lust and obsess over what they do not have and will go to any length to obtain it. Often we will do the same thing. The pursuit of money to spend on our own comfort and pleasure rather than to further the Gospel. The pursuit of power and position so we can lead and control others rather than taking the place of humility and service. The pursuit of fame so we can receive glory from men and women that should go to the Lord. The desire and pursuit of Godliness with contentment is great gain, for we brought nothing into this world and we can take nothing out of it.
When we do ask for things, James says, we ask for them with the wrong motives. We want the Lord to bless us so we have comfort in our lives. We ask the Lord to help us in our finances so we can go on a vacation or get a bigger house. We ask the Lord to give us good health, etc… What are our motives when we pray? James says it is so that we can spend it on our passions. Then, when we don’t receive what we think we deserve, we get upset at not only those around us, but we get angry at God for not “blessing” us. We live in a culture that sees God as the great blesser in the sky who gives us what we want and need if we are doing good things and being good people. Our American Christianity rewards “good behavior” but it is so not the ways of the Bible.
John the Baptist was beheaded, Peter was crucified upside down, Stephen was stoned for preaching the truth. The list goes on of men and women who have suffered for their faith all the while we are asking for a bigger house, new car, better job and whatever else will bring us comfort and pleasure. The beginning of the book of James starts out like this… “Count it all joy when you go through trials of various kinds.” The Christian walk is about sacrifice, servanthood, and often suffering.
What causes quarrels among us? We ask for selfish things and when we don’t receive them we are discontent and frustrated! When our passions go from self to Christ we begin to ask for the things of the Spirit. We walk, talk, and act like Christ. We realize that the Christian faith is more than attending a church service once a week, it is a way of life that sacrifices for others and serves to the point of hurt. Jesus died with no possessions and we spend a lifetime acquiring as much as we can.
Where are you at today? Are you in a quarrel with a brother or sister in the Lord? Do you ask for things that will make you happy and content yet forsaking your part as a member of the body of Christ in advancing the Gospel? Take some time today to turn your heart and mind to the Lord and ask Him to reveal your heart and motives. He is always there to forgive and bring His children back into His loving arms of grace.