The book of James is full of wisdom and practical knowledge that helps a Christian know God’s will, and how to adhere to it. It is certainly worth the effort to become familiar with its teaching.
In James chapter four he shows the origin of most strife. “Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members?” (1). This is demonstrably true when considering the motivation of just about every war and conflict that has ever occurred on earth. The pursuits of pleasure, possessions and prestige are the common motivations of conflicts. James noted, “You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war” (2).
Such lusting separates man from God. Selfishness, pride and strife are sinful. As such, those who are motivated in that way can expect nothing from God. James said, “You ask and do not receive because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures” (3).
Christians whose attention is captured by worldly pursuits will never be happy. They are caught between two worlds, the selfish desires to obtain, allayed against the altruism and selflessness of the Christ and the cross. Jesus addressed it clearly when He said, “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon” (Matthew 6:24).
James basically reveals the same thing. In this circumstance, the writer is admonishing those who are caught in the sins of strife, pride and worldly pursuits. He writes, “Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. Or do you think that the Scripture says in vain, ‘The Spirit who dwells in us yearns jealously?’” (4-5).
Be assured that selfishness is anti-Christian. The godly pursuit of loving others precludes a focus on what I want, what I covet, what I am lacking. A person who is all about “me” is a person who is proud, self-centered, and willing to divide and conquer to get what is his. Such a character has no ability to place another first, and that includes an unwillingness to make God his priority.
So, the God of heaven who “gives more grace” rewards the selfless, but penalizes the self-centered. “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble” (6). Do you struggle with worldliness? Remember, God considers such a division of priorities to be unfaithfulness. It is a harsh, but accurate thing to designate such people as “adulterers and adulteresses.” May we all be fully committed to Him.
