
James 4
James 4 delves into the conflicts and disputes among believers, emphasizing the importance of humility and submission to God. It warns against worldliness and pride, urging readers to draw near to God. The chapter also discusses the dangers of judging others and the folly of boasting about future plans without acknowledging God's sovereignty.
James 4:1-3 (NKJV)
1 Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members?
2 You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. Yet you do not have because you do not ask.
3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures.
This passage addresses the root cause of conflicts and strife among believers, pointing to selfish desires and worldly passions as the source of division. James explains that fights and quarrels arise because people seek to satisfy their own pleasures rather than submitting to God’s will. He warns that some fail to receive from God because they do not ask, while others ask with wrong motives, seeking only personal gain rather than God’s glory. This passage highlights the danger of self-centered prayers and worldly desires, reminding believers that true peace and fulfillment come not from pursuing selfish ambitions but from aligning their hearts with God’s purpose. It teaches that prayer must be rooted in humility and a desire for God’s will, rather than being driven by greed or fleshly desires.
James 4:4-10 (NKJV)
4 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.
5 Or do you think that the Scripture says in vain, “The Spirit who dwells in us yearns jealously”?
6 But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.”
7 Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
9 Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom.
10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.
This passage warns against spiritual adultery, calling those who seek friendship with the world enemies of God (verse 4). James emphasizes that God is jealous for His people’s devotion and resists the proud but gives grace to the humble (verse 5-6). He calls believers to submit to God, resist the devil, and draw near to Him so that He will draw near in return (verse 7-8). This requires cleansing the heart from sin, repenting sincerely, and turning away from double-mindedness. James urges believers to humble themselves before God, mourning over sin rather than taking it lightly (verse 9), for it is only through humility that God will lift them up (verse 10). This passage teaches that genuine repentance, humility, and wholehearted devotion to God are necessary for spiritual victory, while pride and worldliness lead to separation from Him.
James 4:11-12 (NKJV)
11 Do not speak evil of one another, brethren. He who speaks evil of a brother and judges his brother, speaks evil of the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge.
12 There is one Lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy. Who are you to judge another?
James warns against speaking evil and judging others, reminding believers that God alone is the ultimate Lawgiver and Judge. When someone speaks against a brother or judges them unfairly, they are not just criticizing the person but placing themselves above God’s law, acting as if they have authority over it. Since only God has the power to save and destroy, believers should not take judgment into their own hands. However, this does not mean that all forms of judgment are wrong. John 7:24 teaches, “Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment,” showing that believers should make fair and discerning judgments based on God's truth. Similarly, Matthew 18:15-17 instructs believers to correct a fellow believer in sin privately, then with witnesses, and finally through the church if necessary. However, James’ warning aligns with Matthew 7:1-5, where Jesus cautions against hypocritical judgment, urging believers to examine their own hearts before criticizing others. This passage highlights the difference between righteous judgment (done in love and truth) and self-righteous condemnation (done with pride and malice). Instead of tearing others down, believers should focus on humility, self-examination, and allowing God’s law to shape their own character.
James 4:13-17 (NKJV)
13 Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit”;
14 whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.
15 Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that.”
16 But now you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil.
17 Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.
James criticizes those who boast about their future plans with a sense of arrogance and self-sufficiency, reminding them of life's fleeting nature and the sovereignty of God. He advises that they should acknowledge God's will in all their plans. The closing verse serves as a solemn reminder: knowing the right thing to do and failing to do it is sinful, emphasizing the need for actionable faith.