We are still on the practical side of our spiritual life with wisdom supplied from above, in James' discourse, this time with a warning like those of Paul's Epistles carry. Now remember also that James had to know and understand the ancient scriptures as well as Paul did as we shall soon see, for real life applications.
James 4:1-10 "From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members? 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. Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts. 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. Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain (in Numbers 23:19), "The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy?" But He giveth more grace. Wherefore He saith (in Psalm 138:6 and Proverbs 3:34), "God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble." Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up." (KJV)
James 4:1-10 "What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions. You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. Or do you suppose it is to no purpose that the Scripture says (in Numbers 23:19), "He yearns jealously over the spirit that he has made to dwell in us?" But he gives more grace. Therefore it says (in Psalm 138:6 and Proverbs 3:34), "God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble." Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you." (ESV)
James 4:1-10 "What is it that triggers disputes and fighting? Is it not selfish desires and greedy agendas that [1]both parties host within themselves? Hence wars are born. It is a global identity crisis! (The word, [1, G1782 from G1759, from a prolonged form of G1722] enteuthen, means, repeated on both sides; and is also translated, hence, from this point. This is in such contrast to the wisdom from above, see James 1:17 and 3:17. Any sense of lack causes us to forget what manner of person we are, and how perfect and complete and without lack we actually are (when our true and correct identity is fully known) by design, as mirrored in Christ! This is again the typical arena of the Levitical Law of self works and striving against the knowledge of GOD in the law of perfect liberty, faith.) You allow your heart to become so consumed with longing for something until you are ready to kill for it. Then you are still not satisfied. What you want keeps evading you; you quarrel and strive, and you just can't get it. If you are desperately unfulfilled why don'y you simply ask of GOD to give you what you need? (This is in such contrast to the wisdom from above, see 3:17. Also James 1:5, "The only thing you could possibly lack is wisdom [One might sometimes feel challenged beyond the point of sanity]; however, make your request in such a way that you draw directly from the source [not filtered through other opinions, but your own inspiration]. GOD is the origin and author of wisdom; he intertwines our thoughts with good judgment. His gifts are available to all, without regret or partiality.) You have asked, but GOD seems reluctant to give it to you, you may say. But when your motivation is to get something just so that you can squander it on yourself, you are doing it all wrong! (This is like expecting GOD to support your own futile efforts to justify yourself. Look at James 1:2-4, 17-18, 23-25.) Adultery, whether it is the husband or the wife who does the flirting, is destructive. Can't you see that even though the world system might approve of such behavior, it is contrary to GOD'S design for us? Whose friend do you want to be? Are you prepared to distance yourself from GOD (and the life of your design) just to win the plastic applause of this world? Scripture is not quoting empty thoughts when it states that GOD yearns with jealous expectation over the spirit which he has made to inhabit us. His gift of grace (1:17) is in direct opposition to the vanity of the proud mindset of self effort, whereby people strive to prove themselves as superior to others, including GOD! Gift and reward are opposites! Humility attracts grace. Our most effective defense against any diabolical mindset, is to yield ourselves in total abandonment to GOD, and there encounter his dream-life for us. We will witness how effortlessly those thoughts flee from us. (The word, diabollos, is from two parts, diaballo, dia, because of, and ballo, to cast down; to accuse, to make false and defamatory statements against someone. This points to the develish fallen mindset-system which has engaged generations in the blind-fold mode of pride and accusation, by not seeing the image of GOD in all human life.) Snuggle up to the warm embrace of GOD; experience his closeness. (In Christ every definition of distance or delay is cancelled.) The sinner can come with all Saints washed from his hands; the double-minded can come with a purified heart. This is not a mere blase yielding. Realizing the misery that you have brought upon yourself and others is often accompanied by intense grief and weeping. This is no place for superficial laughter and make-belief joy; nor any occasion for boasting! (Your futile efforts to justify yourself through striving and fighting against the goads only reinforces your stark nakedness. The perfect law of liberty, unveiling the mirror message declares your redeemed innocence through the finished work of the Cross of Christ, deep within you.) Put down your own efforts to fight for your imaginary rights (the first lie); let him lift you up to the dignity of his [1]presence. (The word translated, presence, [1, G1799 is from a compound of G1722 and a derivation of G3700 ] enopion, means in the gaze of; face to face. See your face reflected in his! There is no higher elevation to engage in!) (The Mirror, with editing)
Until our next visit may the LORD show his wisdom in what is here revealed.
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