James: More GraceSample

This means you!

James says ‘you’ again and again in the next part of his letter (4:1–10). He becomes very direct with this group of Christians. He will lay bare the heart of what is wrong with this church family.

He begins here with stark words about their relationships. These Christians are at war with each other; James speaks of fights, quarrels, even killing. Not many peacemakers here!

• What causes these fights (vv. 1–2)?

When we behave badly in relationships, we tend to blame something or someone else. We may blame our circumstances, or our past, or how the other person has treated us. But James points the finger at our own hearts.

There is an inner battle going on inside each of us. All kinds of desires are fighting to take charge of our outward words and actions (v. 1), and when selfish desires win out, we will treat each other badly.

The desire James mentions here is coveting (v. 2) – wanting what someone else has. We should rejoice in the good gifts that God has given to others, but it sounds as though these believers are simmering with frustrated resentment and jealousy.

Bitter envy turns relationships sour. This shows itself in fights and quarrels and a hatred that is so strong that James likens it to murder – ‘you kill’, he says (v. 2).

James does not say exactly what it is that these believers want, but the right response to feeling in need is not to fight but to pray.

• What is wrong with the prayer life of these Christians (vv. 2–3)?

These believers are acting just like unbelievers. They either aren’t praying at all or are only praying thoroughly selfish prayers. In fact, it sounds as if these Christians are just praying for more money to spend on their pleasures (v. 3). Perhaps those who had less were envying the lifestyles of those who had more, and those who had more were wanting yet more still.

God knows our hearts. He knows the motivations that lie behind our requests to him. The pray-ers in verse 3 don’t sound in real need, just greedy for more, and so God will not give them what they ask.

These Christians are looking for satisfaction in the wrong place. The unbelieving world runs after wealth and the pleasures it buys, but such things will never bring us lasting fulfilment. There is only one relationship which can bring us that, and putting that relationship right will bring peace to all our other relationships too.

Pray

Ask God to help you find your satisfaction in knowing him, so that your relationships may be peaceful and your prayers unselfish.