Keys of Truth: James (Chapter 4)

Chapter summary:
James looks at more problems for the person committed to living a life of faith. Faith's lifestyle demands that the believer submit to God, despite the presence of warped desires stimulated by the flesh (4:1-3), the world (vv. 4-6), and the devil (vv. 7-10). Believers must also struggle against the temptation to usurp God's place as a judge, rather than accept our rightful place as a mere citizen in God's kingdom (vv. 11-12). Finally, believers must resist the temptation to distort reality and view the future as though they were certain of being a part of it. We are in fact totally subject to God's will, and it is only by His will that we live or die (vv. 13-17).

Key thought: Rely on grace. (4:6)

The believer’s personal application: Living a life of faith calls for strict personal discipline.

TEXTUAL INSIGHT

“Desires within” (4:1):
The word translated "desires" is hedonon and means "pleasures." The image is one of the flesh demanding satisfaction.

"Quarrel and fight" (4:2):
The desires of the flesh are so strong human beings are willing to quarrel and fight in an attempt to satisfy them. That is, these desires lead us into sinful acts.

"Ask God?” (4:2-3):
What if we take a "spiritual" approach and ask God to satisfy our desires? Usually we don't. But when we do God says no because the motive is not to please God but to satisfy the drive of the flesh for pleasures.

"Friendship with the world" (4:4):
The world (kosmos) is that complex interweaving of sinful desires that shapes the society of lost humanity. When we surrender to the desires of the flesh we choose to become friends of the world and are spiritually unfaithful to God.

"Envy" (4:5-6):
Envy here is God's jealous longing for our love. This same theme is seen in (Exodus 20:5 and 34:14). God is truly disturbed when we abandon friendship with Him to make friends with the world—and disturbed for our sake. But how does God respond? Not with punishment, but with "more grace" to lead us back into His arms. Only our own pride can keep us from responding to His grace, turning our back on the world, and experiencing blessing.

"Resist the devil" (4:7):
However strong Satan appears to be, if we set ourselves against him he is unable to prevail and will flee from us.

“Ten imperatives” (4:7-10):
These three verses contain 10 sharp commands calling for immediate action. In essence they tell us how to humble ourselves before God, so that we can experience His grace. The 10 commands are:
(1) submit
(2) resist (v. 7)
(3) come near
(4) wash
(5) purify (v. 8)
(6) grieve
(7) mourn
(8) wail (cry out)
(9) change (v. 9)
(10) humble (v. 10)
Together they picture a complete reversal of the attitudes that shape the spiritually immature and unfaithful.

“Judging” (4:11):
The original tells us not to "speak against" one another and includes all forms of criticism. The "royal law" that James referred to in 2:8, "love one another," is violated even when what we say is true, if we express it in an unkind manner. No Christian is in a position to stand in judgment of another.

“One judge” (4:11-12):
James' point is that a person who takes it on himself to judge, in essence sets himself above the Law. But only the Lawgiver is greater than the Law, and He is the sole judge of how it is kept or broken. What we have to remember is that our role is keeping the law, not exalting ourselves as its interpreter or applier.

“Carry on business” (4:13):
Business travel was very common in the 1st century. And it is natural that a good businessman would make careful plans, arranging both sales and purchases far ahead of time. James is not against planning. What James objects to is an attitude toward the future that takes no account of God. We must live each day with the awareness of our mortality and thus of our total dependence on God for all things.