Verses 1-2 From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members? 2 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.
The Greek word translated as “wars” is “polemos” and it means a war, a fight, a battle, a dispute, strife or quarrel. The Greek word translated as “fightings” is “mache” and it means a fight or combat, disputants, or contention. Apparently, James was getting reports of disharmony among the believers that seems to have been severe based on his use of the Greek words above. The Greek word translated as “lusts” is “hedone” from which comes the English word hedonism (the pursuit of pleasure or sensual self-indulgence). The word, “members”, is referring to the physical body and not to individuals in a congregation. James is saying that the lusts of the flesh are at the root of the discord. The Greek word in verse 2 above translated as “lust” is “epithumeo” and it means to have a desire for, long for, to desire, or to covet. It also refers to those who seek things that are forbidden. The Greek word translated as “kill” is “phoneuo” and it means to kill, slay, or murder. So the problems with the people to whom James was writing appear to be very serious. And the root of the problems was sin.
Verses 3-4 Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts. 4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.
These believers were either not asking God to provide their needs, wants or desires, or they were asking for those things that would just be squandered upon the things of the world they were involved in. It appears that these believers were very immature in their faith and Christian walk. James calls them “adulterers and adulteresses” meaning that they are faithless toward God because of their relationship and interaction with the world. James states the truth very clearly and simply: to love the world is to hate God, plain and simple. Anyone can call themselves a Christian, but if the world is more important to them than God, they are fooling themselves as they are the enemy of God. “Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.” 2 Corinthians 6:17
Verses 5-6 Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy? 6 But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.
“Surely he scorneth the scorners: but he giveth grace unto the lowly. The wise shall inherit glory: but shame shall be the promotion of fools.” Proverbs 3:34-35 The natural spirit of mankind will go towards sin and the things of the Devil, but the people who humble themselves before the LORD are given the strength to resist temptations and to live a righteous life that is pleasing to God.
Verse 7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
So all Christian believers need to understand that they are in a daily battle against the flesh, the Devil, and the world. Their flesh is weak, the Devil wants them to spend eternity in Hell, and the world is run by the Devil and his human servants. The only way to be victorious is to follow the LORD with a whole heart, mind and will, and to consciously resist the things of the Devil. After a while, the Devil or one of his fallen angels will leave and go elsewhere. Yes, the devil may return and try again to tempt the believer away from the Faith and the Christian walk, but if resistance remains strong, like a strong wall around a city, the enemy will have to give up and leave.
Application: This writer has attended churches that seem to be afraid to even mention the name of Satan or to preach about devils and their tactics. To win a war, it is necessary to know the enemy. The Devil and his fallen angels are cowards. They cannot prevail against the true Christian believer as the presence of the Holy Ghost/Spirit is a defense. It is time for the Church to recognize the power they have and to exercise it. Praying against the powers of darkness will yield results. Casting them out of people, places and things should be the normal for the Christian believer. God has given each believer His power. What Jesus did on Earth, believers can do also. Think about it. “And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; they shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.” Mark 16:17-18
Verses 8-10 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. 9 Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. 10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.
James is not telling the Christian believer to be miserable and to not laugh or have joy in life. He is referring to laughter and joy from living in and interacting with the sinful world. The Christian believer who is not walking in the Spirit and in righteousness needs to repent, stop sinning, and get right with the LORD. The believer’s joy and laughter should be because of righteous living and because of a relationship with Jesus which leads to the promise of eternal life.
Verses 11-12 Speak not evil one of another, brethren. He that speaketh evil of his brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the law: but if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge. 12 There is one lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy: who art thou that judgest another?
Basically, James is saying, “Do not judge each other as only God can judge a man/woman.” This judging is not that which people do every day when they make decisions regarding which is the best item to buy in the store or which is the best way to invest their money, but this judging is with an evil intent and a condemning heart. And attached to it is gossip or the sharing of one’s opinion about someone else with the intent of harming that individual’s reputation. Just as God gives His children grace, so should each believer extend grace to others.
Verses 13-17 Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: 14 Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. 15 For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that. 16 But now ye rejoice in your boastings: all such rejoicing is evil. 17 Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin. (James 4)
Application: Most people often live life without consulting the LORD. They make plans, they make decisions, they form relationships with others, they choose careers, they buy cars and houses, and they plan for and expect a future, which is uncertain and not guaranteed. The Christian believer, when walking in the Spirit, will pray about everything everyday. God wants to be in His children’s lives and He wants to guide His children in their daily activities. By consulting the LORD in everything, the believer will stay close to Him so that should life end suddenly, the believer is in a right relationship with the LORD and will go home to be with the LORD Jesus Christ forever. Running their own lives without asking God for guidance tends to distance believers from the LORD. The Greek word translated as “boastings” is “alazoneia” and it means an insolent and empty assurance, which trusts in it own power and resources, and a trusting in the stability of earthy things. Nothing is for sure. One moment all is well, and the next moment, life is in turmoil. Think about it.