James 4 Meaning and Commentary
James 4
What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you? 2 You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God. 3 When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.
4 You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God? Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. 5 Or do you think Scripture says without reason that he jealously longs for the spirit he has caused to dwell in us? 6 But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says:
“God opposes the proud
but shows favor to the humble.”7 Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.
11 Brothers and sisters, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against a brother or sister or judges them speaks against the law and judges it. When you judge the law, you are not keeping it, but sitting in judgment on it. 12 There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy. But you—who are you to judge your neighbor?
13 Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” 14 Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. 15 Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.” 16 As it is, you boast in your arrogant schemes. All such boasting is evil. 17 If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them.
James 4 Meaning
James 4 highlight the importance of humility, submission to God, and the dangers of worldly desires and pursuits. It teaches us to rely on God’s wisdom and guidance rather than relying on ourselves or following the ways of the world. It also emphasizes the need for repentance and aligning our desires with God’s will.
James 4 Commentary and Explanation
In James 4, we find a powerful and convicting message that speaks to the human condition and our relationship with God. This chapter addresses issues such as pride, conflict, and the pursuit of worldly desires.
James 4:1-3 – The Source of Conflict
In these opening verses, James addresses the source of conflicts and disputes among us. He attributes them to our desires and cravings for things that we don’t have. These selfish desires lead to quarrels and fights. It’s a stark reminder that our sinful nature often puts our own desires above God’s will. We can draw a parallel to 1 John 2:16, where we’re reminded that the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life can lead us astray.
James 4:4 – Friendship with the World
James warns us against becoming friends with the world. He emphasizes that friendship with the world makes us enemies of God. This aligns with Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 6:24, where He states that we cannot serve both God and wealth. It’s a call to prioritize our relationship with God over worldly pursuits.
James 4:5 – God’s Jealousy for Us
In this verse, James highlights God’s jealousy for our hearts. He desires our devotion and wholehearted commitment. This verse is a reference to the Old Testament passages like Exodus 20:5 and Exodus 34:14, where God’s jealousy for His people is evident. It reminds us of the importance of seeking God with all our hearts.
James 4:6-10 – Humility and Submission to God
James encourages us to humble ourselves before God and submit to His authority. He reminds us that God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. This idea is echoed in 1 Peter 5:5, where Peter also emphasizes the importance of humility. When we humble ourselves, God lifts us up and grants us His grace.
James 4:11-12 – Avoiding Judging Others
James cautions us against speaking ill of one another and passing judgment on others. Instead, we should focus on living in harmony and unity, for God alone is the ultimate Judge. Jesus emphasizes a similar point in Matthew 7:1-5 when He warns against judging others hypocritically.
James 4:13-17 – Boasting about Tomorrow
James advises us not to boast about our plans for the future, as we do not have control over what will happen. We should always remember that our lives are in God’s hands. This is reminiscent of Proverbs 27:1, which reminds us not to boast about tomorrow because we do not know what a day may bring.
James 4:7-8 – Drawing Near to God
James encourages us to draw near to God, resist the devil, and he will flee from us. This speaks to the importance of maintaining a close relationship with God through prayer, reading His Word, and seeking His guidance daily. It’s a practical reminder of what is described in Psalm 145:18, which tells us that the Lord is near to all who call upon Him in truth.
James 4:9-10 – Genuine Repentance and Lamentation
James urges us to be genuinely sorrowful for our sins and to humble ourselves before the Lord. This is a call to true repentance, similar to what we see in Psalm 51:17, where a broken and contrite heart is highly regarded by God.
Overall, James 4 challenges us to examine our motives, avoid worldly entanglements, and seek humility, submission, and closeness to God. It underscores the importance of living our lives in alignment with God’s will rather than our own desires and plans.
Context of James 4
In the book of James, the author addresses various practical aspects of the Christian life. Written to the believers scattered throughout the Roman Empire, James aims to encourage them in their faith, challenge them to live out their beliefs, and provide guidance for their spiritual growth. This particular passage focuses on the issues of conflicts, desires, humility, and submission to God.
Lessons From James 4
- We must identify and confront our selfish desires that lead to conflicts and quarrels. Self-reflection and introspection are crucial in recognizing these areas that need transformation.
- When praying, we should examine our motives and ensure they align with God’s will, seeking His glory and the good of others above our personal desires.
- We need to be cautious about conforming to the ways of the world and guard our hearts against the influences that oppose God’s commandments and values.
- True humility and submission to God are essential in our relationship with Him. We must acknowledge His sovereignty, wisdom, and authority in our lives.
- The enemy will try to deceive and tempt us, but through humble submission to God and resisting the devil’s lies, we can overcome his schemes.
- Drawing near to God requires repentance, self-reflection, and obedience. It is a continuous process of purification and pursuit of righteousness.
Final Thoughts
James 4 provides practical wisdom and guidance for believers in their daily lives. It reminds us of the importance of self-reflection, humility, and submission to God’s will.
By aligning our desires with His plans and seeking His guidance, we can experience His grace, draw near to Him, and live in harmony with others. Let us strive to be humble, submit ourselves to God, and resist the temptations of the world, knowing that God rewards the humble and is always faithful to those who seek Him.
