“What is the source of quarrels and conflicts among you? Is not the source your pleasures that wage war in your members? You lust and do not have; so you commit murder. You are envious and cannot obtain; so you fight and quarrel. .”-James 4:1-2.

From toddlers, siblings, relationships, Marriages, work places, churches, and countries, when a person wants something and they cannot get their own selfish way, James says the result is quarrels, and fights. Selfishness is the ROOT cause. The rotten FRUIT is manifested in… FIGHTS and QUARRELS! Lusts unfulfilled leads to quarrels and conflicts! Is that your home, my home? When it is…. James 4:1-2 is the Heavenly Umpire which speaks to the heart of the problem which is the heart! We must place the Word of God on the situation and choose to YIELD to GOD’S wisdom and verdict, if we are to follow Him in submission and love!

“James seems to be bothered more by the selfish spirit and bitterness of the quarrels than by the rights and wrongs of the various viewpoints.” (Moo)

  1. The types of desires that lead to conflict are described. Covetousness leads to conflict (you lust and do not have). Anger and animosity lead to conflict (murder).”-Guzik

“James is setting before his people a basic question–whether their aim in life is to submit to the will of God or to gratify their own desires for the pleasures of this world? He warns that, if pleasure is the policy of life, nothing but strife and hatred and division can possibly follow. He says that the result of the over-mastering search for pleasure is “polemoi”- (Greek #4171) “wars” and ” machai”- (Greek #3163) “battles.” He means that the feverish search for pleasure issues in long-drawn-out resentments which are like wars, and sudden explosions of enmity which are like battles. The ancient moralists would have thoroughly agreed with him. “- Barclay

“that war—”campaign, as an army of soldiers encamped within” [Alford] the soul; tumultuously war against the interests of your fellow men, while lusting to advance self. But while warring thus against others they (without his knowledge) war against the soul of the man himself, and against the Spirit;” – Gill

Why are you fighting? Why are you quarreling? Because you don’t get your own way! PRIDE AND GREED. People are not doing what you want, when you want, how you want. You can’t get what you want, so you quarrel and fight! James tells us all. The root is self centeredness, the fruit is quarreling and fighting!

WHAT TO TAKE PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR.

GOD IS RIGHT. I NEED TO ALIGN MY HEART WITH HIS WORD!

  1. – “Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If any of you wants to be My follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross, and follow Me. “- Matthew 16:24
  2. – “Your every action must be done with love.”- 1 Corinthians 16:14
  3. – “Beloved, I urge you as aliens and strangers to abstain from fleshly lusts which wage war against the soul.”- 1 Peter 2:11
  4. – “Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others”- Phil 2:3-4

If love is not the root then the fruit will be quarreling, fighting, pride, and greed!

APPLICATION

  1. – STOP- PRAY- THINK before you SPEAK. ‘Is this loving? Will this build the other person up? Will this honor God?
  2. – Perhaps James 4:1-2 and Philippians 2:3-4 would be good verses to put on each side of a 3 by 5 card and carry with you and when you have a chance read, re-read, meditate, memorize, and pray for the Holy Spirit to teach you to apply His Word so you are not quarreling, fighting and grieving His Spirit.

It’s not about being right but about REVERENCE TO GOD and RESPECT TO OTHERS! REJECT SELFISHNESS AS THE MASTER PURSUIT!