Wednesday, October 19

Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.  James 4:3

Of course the context for today’s verse is this- James is speaking to those who are at war/fighting with others.  He has said that the reason we have these arguments is because of our own sinful desires.  In verse 2 he stated that we haven’t even asked God to fulfill our desires in the first place and that is what has lead to all kinds of fights.

Today’s verse explains the objection that some might have had to yesterdays verse.  We might say, “Wait God- I have asked you for what I wanted and you didn’t give it to me?”  Today’s verse explains that when we ask and don’t receive often times it is because we are asking according to our desires only and not in keeping with God’s desires.

Remember how Jesus Christ prayed in the garden before He died.  “Father, if it be possible, please let this cup pass from me, nevertheless not my will but Thine be done.”  Jesus was asking the Father if there was a way that He could do the Father’s will without going to the cross, yet at the same time He stated that God’s Will would trump His own.

Often our requests are all about our desires and not about God’s desires. When this is the case we are saying, “God, my desires are more important than Your desires.  My desires are more important than your glory.”  That is a very bad place to be.

Application:

If you’re in a dispute with someone right now, think about why you are fighting in the first place.  What do you desire in this situation?  Is what you desire something that would glorify God?  Have you asked God for it?

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?

Monday, October 17

From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members? James 4:1

Have you ever had an argument or disagreement with someone?  Of course you have, and it is never something we would categorize as fun.  We end up avoiding them in the hallway, or not talking to them.  Our stomach churns when we have to interact with them.  Who really enjoys that?

Today James continues the theme that we learned last week back in chapter two.   “Wars” speaks of relationships that are characterized by friction, and “fightings”  speaks of the individual, visible arguments and fights we get into.  The words “among you” suggest that this was a problem in the churches to which He was writing.  Some may ask, “You mean that Christians have arguments and fights with each other, even in the same church?”  The answer is obvious.  Yes!  We have disagreements and often these turn into “wars” and “fightings”.

So what is the source of these “wars”?  According to James it is the sinful desires found inside (“in your members”) the people who are involved.  The war going on inside the people involved shows up in the “war” and “fighting” on the outside.

Application:

Since this is the case, for a “war” or “fighting” to end we have to stop looking to the other person first and check out what is going on inside of ourselves.  We’ve got to own up to the “lusts that war in your members”?

Are you involved in a fight with someone else?  If so, here is an extremely important these question:  In what part of this fight are you to blame?  What have you done wrong?  What evil desire inside you is fueling the war on the outside?  It’s time to own up.

Friday, October 14, 2011

And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace. James 3:18

Today’s message is very simple:

While the result of self-seeking, and bitter envy is strife, confusion and division, the result of God’s wisdom is righteousness.

When we live with God as the priority and putting others before ourselves it leads to a culture where spiritual growth and righteousness can grow in abundance.

Application:

Today walk through the description of God’s wisdom in verse 17 and think about each word.  Where do you need to be more pure, peaceable, gentle, willing to yield….etc.?