Wars and Fights

Question: I am talking to believers now; wars and fights, where do they come from according to the book of James chapter 4 verses 1-2?  They come from our own evil desires, they come from the things we want and can’t have.  How many of us are still trying to keep up with the Joneses, so to speak?  

To be honest, I have always liked garage sales, but I overdid them, missing very few weeks for years, winter and summer, spring, and fall.  I looked at them as treasure hunts, dragging my wife with me.  She became my chauffeur and sat in our vehicle most of the time, not really into the sales like I was.  There is nothing wrong with garage sales until it becomes an obsession, as it was with me.  Then your needs turn into wants and your whole perspective changes and can become warped and even unhealthy.  Some things can start outright and end up very devastating if you can’t control your desires.   

Think of this please read James 4:1, “Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members?”

Now think of this, your passions within your body parts keep you in a battle constantly.  You crave things but cannot have them, some people go as far as murder because they are so envious and yet they still can’t get what they want.  Many fight and wage war and still fail to receive what they want.  Being envious and full of pride won’t help you get what you want because you have a big problem that cannot be eradicated without the Lord’s help.  Godly sorrow and repentance and confession will go a long way in these situations.

Another reason we don’t receive is because we don’t ask in prayer for them, or when we do ask, we do it with selfish and wrong motives, so even if we ask we don’t receive because of our selfishness and evil desires, thinking only of ourselves!!  If all we do is focus on worldly things and only ourselves, we can’t expect to receive anything from the Lord!!

Please read what it says in God’s Word in Jacob (James) 4:4-10, “You adulteresses! Don’t you 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 think that in vain the Scripture says, ‘He yearns jealously over the spirit which He made to dwell in us?’ But He gives greater grace. Therefore it says, ‘God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.’ Therefore submit to God. But 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! Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned into mourning, and your joy into gloom. Humble yourselves in the sight of Adonai, and He shall lift you up.”              

I guess I will sum this up this way: True repentance and confession of pride and selfishness, humbling ourselves before the Lord, and not falling in love with the world’s system and the things of the world, is so important.  Drawing closer to the Lord and to hunger and thirst for righteousness and holiness is the key to receiving what we need and not just what we want.

Please read Matthew 5:6, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.”     

Being satisfied and having true peace is a good thing, praise the Lord!!  I pray that this has been a true blessing and a help and encouragement to one and all who read it.  May the good Lord bless you and yours with His perfect peace, love and joy and health and happiness.  May each of you have a super day!!