James 4:1 -10
This chapter of James 4 speaks a lot of about the battles and struggles we face as Christians.
Verses 1 - 5 seems to speak on the quarrels and evil motives that believers face within themselves.
We quarrel because the source of it starts from our evil desires, whether it's the lust of the eyes, lust of the flesh or the pride of life (1 John 2:15 - 17).
It plainly states in verse 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.
What should this mean for the true Christian?
Well if we love the ways of world, or have little grievances to how things are going in the world :
(1 Corinthians 6:9-11 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, 10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.)
Verses 1 - 5 seems to speak on the quarrels and evil motives that believers face within themselves.
We quarrel because the source of it starts from our evil desires, whether it's the lust of the eyes, lust of the flesh or the pride of life (1 John 2:15 - 17).
It plainly states in verse 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.
What should this mean for the true Christian?
Well if we love the ways of world, or have little grievances to how things are going in the world :
(1 Corinthians 6:9-11 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, 10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.)
and claim to love the LORD then, we are enemies of God.
Are we grieved because if sin? Are we grieved when men accuse us of hating or judging, when we uphold biblical truth and principles?
Some may think it's okay to sin because they can just be forgiven because God is merciful. That is taking the grace of God in vain. It would be likened to Saul (if you have read about how he disobeyed God in two things and was rejected of God because of His disobedience) in 1 Samuel 15.
There is so much in the media that can turn one's heart from God, from desiring holiness and closeness to God. It gives us enjoyment in the things that displease God. Is there anything in the media that can please God? There isn't much.
But there is a solution. Our hearts by nature are wicked, even after we have been saved. There is still some level of resistance to the will of God. Flesh desires fleshly things (Romans 8). But if we walk in the Spirit we will not fulfil the things of the flesh.
God gives grace to the humble, to resist sin and the devil. Grace isn't just some arbitrary thing that we can just claim on a whim. It is a working force in the life of the believer. It teaches us to say no to ungodliness.
Who are the humble? Those who submit to the will of God. It is not just submitting to what man says (although if it brings God glory, let it be so), but rather, if it comes to obeying God's commandments then pleasing man and self, will have to take the back seat.
There is so much in the media that can turn one's heart from God, from desiring holiness and closeness to God. It gives us enjoyment in the things that displease God. Is there anything in the media that can please God? There isn't much.
But there is a solution. Our hearts by nature are wicked, even after we have been saved. There is still some level of resistance to the will of God. Flesh desires fleshly things (Romans 8). But if we walk in the Spirit we will not fulfil the things of the flesh.
God gives grace to the humble, to resist sin and the devil. Grace isn't just some arbitrary thing that we can just claim on a whim. It is a working force in the life of the believer. It teaches us to say no to ungodliness.
Who are the humble? Those who submit to the will of God. It is not just submitting to what man says (although if it brings God glory, let it be so), but rather, if it comes to obeying God's commandments then pleasing man and self, will have to take the back seat.
In verse 7 and 8, it says to submit to God, to resist the devil AND to draw nearer to God. We can't resist the devil if we do not draw near to God.
We need the presence of God to know what is right in His sight. As we come close to Him, we recognize of sins and we repent of them. Repentance isn't just saying sorry but it is a lifetime practice of recognizing sin, confessing it as sin, turning away from them and a growing in holiness.
We learn His will but studying His words, and meditating upon them.
We learn His will but studying His words, and meditating upon them.
Verse 9 -10 shows that being a Christian doesn't always call for laughs and a bed of roses. There will be times where as we recognize our sinful state before a holy God, we will be broken before Him. Seeing the sin around us will grieve us too. Seeing it in our communities and schools and families... Something like Ezekiel 9.
God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble.
God bless in the name of Jesus Christ.
God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble.
God bless in the name of Jesus Christ.
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