INTRODUCTION #17
1. Open your bible to James 4:1&2.
2. This passage reminds us that many people in the church don’t know how to get along with each other and that many don’t know how to get along with their self.
3. Let’s begin our discussion of the things that James sets forth in the first part of the fourth chapter.
DISCUSSION
I. FIRST, JAMES 4:1a RAISES A QUESTION ABOUT THE PROBLEM OF THE BRETHREN THAT HE WAS WRITING TO NOT GETTING ALONG.
1. Let’s read James 4:1a, “Where do “wars and fights” come from among you?”
(1) The words “wars and fights” probably cause our minds to think that James is talking about wars and fighting’s between nations, such as World War II, the war of Vietnam, the war with Iraq, the war of Afghanistan and etc.
(2) However, this is not the kind of wars that James is raising a question about.
(3) James says that the “wars and fights” were “from among you”. James is referring to quarrels and problems that take place among those who are members of local congregations.
2. This question causes us to think about some of the statements that James has already made about how that the brethren that he was writing to were not getting along.
(1) In James 2:1-13 he brings up the problem of showing more friendliness to the rich people than to the poor people, who would attend the services of the church.
(2) In James 2:14-26 he brings up the problem of neglecting to feed and cloth the needy and the problem of some trying to prove their faith with “words only” instead of “words and works”.
(3) In all of James 3 he brings up many problems due to them not controlling their tongues and to the extent of, while blessing God, cursing men, who have been made after the likeness of God. James categorized such uncontrolled use of the tongue as having not part in the demonstration of wisdom from above. James emphasizes the importance of being a peacemaker.
3. James’ question also causes us to think of different problems that existed in different congregations referred to in other N. T. letters.
(1) In 1 Cor. 6:1-8 Paul refers to members of the church going to the courts of the land against one another.
(2) In 1 Cor. 14 Paul refers to quarrels the members of the church in Corinth were having in connection with spiritual gifts that had been given to them.
(3) In Galatians 5:15 the Galatians were spiritually and emotionally “biting and devouring one another”.
(4) In Philippians 4:2&3 two women are referred to as not getting along.
4. James and Paul refer to problems of brethren not getting along that, sadly, is not limited to just the first century. Brethren in the 21st century still have this terrible problem.
(1) James raises the question pertaining to what is the origin for problems among members of the church.
(2) Thankfully, James gives an answer to his own question.
II. SECOND, JAMES 4:1b, TEACHES THAT PART OF THE REASON FOR “WARS AND FIGHTS AMONG MEMBERS OF THE CHURCH” IS DUE TO SELFISHNESS.
1. Let’s read James 4:1b, “Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members?”
(1) Like a skilled surgeon, James, inspired of the Holy Spirit, spiritually opens Christians up to reveal the cancer that is destroying individuals and the church that Jesus purchased with his blood.
(2) The reason Christians in the days of James (and in the twenty-first century) could not and can not get along is that they were and are being ruled and controlled by their own passions and desires – selfishness.
(3) The words “wars and fights” refer to controversies and quarrels, animosities and bad feelings among Christians. These problems develop and erupt when individuals want to have their own way, and when that way is contrary to God’s will.
2. Do we have this problem today? Yes! Most church problems come from the question, “Who is going to be in charge or in control?”
(1) These kinds of problems are fed by our own selfish desires that James described in the previous chapter as “bitter envy and self-seeking” (James 3:14).
(2) We become convinced that we have all the answers and cannot understand why people do not look to us for leadership.
(3) When they do not look to us, we manipulate people and situations to get them to look our way.
3. Look again at James’ statement in James 4:1. Notice that his statement, along with revealing why members of the church can’t get along, it also is telling Christians why that the members of their own physical body keep a war going with our soul.
(1) James 4:1 says that “wars and fights come from your desires for pleasure (KJV LUST) that war in your members?
(2) “Your members” refers to the members of our physical body. “Pleasures” or “lust” refer to our many strong desires that can develop into sin, as referred to in James 1:13-15.
(3) The evidences of internal conflict are numerous in society today. The work going on of psychologists and psychiatrists, counselors and therapists of all sorts point out that many people have internal “wars and fights” going on in their emotional make up.
a. Clinics for the treatment of a host of emotional and psychological disorders; the increased problems of drug addiction, domestic violence and abuse, dreadful crimes, alcoholism, and of suicide give abundant evidence that personal disorders have reached a crisis point.
b. The increase of impatience, frustration, anger, and hostility is not only seen in street crime, but vividly portrayed on modern highways, where drivers use obscene gestures, dangerous acts of intimidation, and sometimes even gunfire to vent their displeasure at what another driver does or fails to do.
(4) The “wars and fights” that each individual must deal with, in this thought that James is explaining, relates to individuals dealing with their personal struggles and also being tempted of becoming guilty of not being willing to work with a local congregation in a cooperative way to promote unity and peace.
4. Turn to Philippians 2:2-8. This passage exhorts Christians to be peacemakers and to follow the example of Christ in humility and being servants to one another. Let’s read Philippians 2:2-8, “2 fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. 3 Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. 4 Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. 5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, 7 but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.”
(1) Christ leaves us this beautiful example of accepting the role of being a servant under His Father and a servant to all humanity.
(2) Each Christian should do the same and encourage the church to be filled with unity and love and peace.
III. THIRD, JAMES 4:2 REPHRASES SOME OF THESE SAME REASONS WHY THAT MEMBERS OF THE CHURCH HAVE PROBLEMS.
1. Let’s read James 4:2, “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.”
2. “Lust” refers to strong desires. In this context it is clear that it refers to sinful desires that displease God and that would be disrupting to one’s own life and to the unity of a local congregation.
(1) Lust is evil desire. Evil desires divide men. Some of the evil desires with which men must wrestle are: desire for money, desire for power, desire for prestige, desire for worldly pleasure and desire for the gratification of bodily lusts.
(2) Evil desires motivate men to kill and covet.
3. Murder translates the verb phoneuô, which, in this context, which would include murderous hatred and extremely destructive behavior and even suicide.
(1) 1 John 3:15 teaches that a wrong attitude in the heart is as sinful as the physical act of murdering some one. “Whoever hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.”
(2) When the lusting person cannot achieve his desired goals—whether for reputation, prestige, sexual gratification, money, power, escape through drugs or alcohol, success, possessions, the affections of another person, or whatever—the result is often life threatening to others and always destructive of oneself.
(3) Even when they were struck blind by the angels in Lot’s house, the men of Sodom were so obsessed with their perverted lust that, ignoring their blindness, they continued groping for the door in a vain attempt to gain entrance and satisfy their ungodly passions (Gen. 19:11).
(4) Absalom so lusted to rule Israel that he was willing even to kill his father, David, to achieve it. 2 Samuel chapters 14-18.
4. “Covetousness” (or KJV “desire to have”) is an excessive desire to have what someone else has which is not lawful for the one with the desire to have.
(1) This evil desire may be for possessions, which someone has, or the mate of someone else. When men strive to possess these things, life becomes a competitive arena.
(2) Men trample each other down in the rush grasping for the same things. Men will do anything to eliminate a rival when they are on fire to possess something.
(3) Obedience to the craving for pleasure drives men apart. Envy, jealousy and covetousness do not lead to God’s blessings.
(4) From 2 Samuel 11&12 we learn that David’s lusting after Bathsheba, another man’s wife, led to a life of severe heartaches for David and great trouble for the nation of Israel.
(3) From 1 Kings 21&22 we learn that Ahab coveted Naboth’s vineyard which led to the death of Naboth and much trouble for Ahab and his nation. Of course we know that Jezebel assisted Ahab!
(6) From Acts 5:1-11 we learn that the covetousness of Ananias and Sapphira led to their physical death and, since they died guilty of sin, to their eternal separation from God.
5. In spite of the “murdering (KJV killing) and coveting” one “cannot obtain”.
(1) Their lusts kept them from having the objects of their hearts’ desire. Lust cannot be satisfied for long.
(2) It is impossible for the acquisition of material wealth and possessions to bring lasting satisfaction; the first million dollars merely whets the appetite for a second million.
(3) Even if one were to obtain multiplied billions of dollars in wealth, and vast estates, and great mansions in many places, and have all the automobiles, airplanes, boats, and electronic gadgetry available—before long these would cease to bring satisfaction.
(4) Solomon learned through unhappy experiences that the wealth of this world
is “vanity and vexation of spirit” (Eccl. 4:16). He was guided to conclude that the greatest fulfillment in this life is to fear God and keep his commandments (Eccl. 12:13-14).
(5) Turn to Eccl. 5:10-17. Here, Solomon teaches that lustful and covetous desires will not bring satisfaction. Let’s read Eccl. 5:10&17, “10 He who loves silver will not be satisfied with silver; Nor he who loves abundance, with increase. This also is vanity. 11 When goods increase, They increase who eat them; So what profit have the owners Except to see them with their eyes? 12 The sleep of a laboring man is sweet, Whether he eats little or much; But the abundance of the rich will not permit him to sleep. 13 There is a severe evil which I have seen under the sun: Riches kept for their owner to his hurt. 14 But those riches perish through misfortune; When he begets a son, there is nothing in his hand. 15 As he came from his mother’s womb, naked shall he return, To go as he came; And he shall take nothing from his labor Which he may carry away in his hand. 16 And this also is a severe evil - Just exactly as he came, so shall he go. And what profit has he who has labored for the wind? 17 All his days he also eats in darkness, And he has much sorrow and sickness and anger.”
(6) These words of Solomon illustrate so completely the teaching of James in telling us that “we cannot obtain” what will really bless our life if we remain guilty of lusting and coveting after the wrong things.
6. “You fight and war” is again stated.
(1) Marital conflicts, family conflicts, conflicts within a local congregation, job conflicts, national conflicts—all these are the result of unsatisfied personal lust and envying.
(2) They will forever occur and re-occur when we are guilty of desiring the wrong things.
7. Now we come to the last phrase of James 3:2, “Yet you do not have because you do no ask”.
CONCLUSION
1. The failure to pray is something we will discuss in our next lesson. I do pray that we will all pray about the things that we have studied in this lesson and learn to be less selfish and covetous for the things that are not best for a Christian.
2. The plan of salvation needs to be obeyed if you are not yet a Christian. You’ve heard God’s word. Believe, repent, confess and obey the command of baptism.
3. If you are already a Christian and need prayers for forgiveness or strength or for your health, please come forward, as we stand and sing!
Acknowledgments for a lot of thoughts in the development of all the sermons on the book of James are to go to:
(1) Bob Winton CD Commentary on Matthew 27:50-54. 464 Ridgewood Drive Manchester, Tennessee 37355. If interested in CD covering many O. T. & N.T. books call (866) 753-8456.
(2) Miscellaneous commentaries by numerous others.
