Tuesday, October 18

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.  James 4:2

In today’s text James explains what these “wars” and “fightings” can look like.  He is making the argument that these are caused by our sinful desires.  When these sinful desires go unrealized we go to greater and greater lengths to try to satisfy them.  Often the end of these sinful desires can look like murder and covetousness.  We can go to the extreme to try to get our way, and yet so many times it doesn’t get us what we want.

Has a long term fight and argument really ever satisfied what we really want?  Maybe ultimately get us what we thought we wanted, but what do we sacrifice and pay for to get it along the way.

What is interesting is that James says that often we haven’t even stopped to ask from God (the one who can satisfy our desires) to give us what we are ultimately trying to get from the person we are fighting with.

Application:
Today, take a few moments to think about the argument, fight, or “war” that you are involved in or have been involved in.  Was the fight really worth it?