What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you? You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God. [James 4:1-2 NIV]
James is admitting that there is a distinct lack of peace or 'shalom' among the Christian community to which he was writing. You might have thought that their experience of persecution and trials would have united them but that did not happen. Instead, James talks about the existence of 'fights' and 'quarrels' among the first century Jews who had recognised Jesus as the Messiah. Jesus prayed for unity in his prayer recorded in John Chapter 17. Jesus had prayed for the band of disciples who followed him prior to the crucifixion and then he prayed for all those who would come to believe in Him in the centuries which followed. So, we are included but so were the Jews who were part of the diaspora - the dispersed Jews to various parts of the Mediterranean area and it was to this group that James was writing.
My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. [John 17:20-21 NIV]
This is a prayer which seems spectacularly unanswered. There is a distinct lack of unity across the Christian community in the UK in the 21st century. There have been many splits or divisions within churches. The causes of this situation seem very complex and varied. Surely it is not possible to sum up the causes of this lack of unity in one Bible verse. But James does that. Notice that James uses a figure of speech called 'hyperbole' to describe the lack of unity. He uses two very strong words for this state of affairs. The first word is the Greek word polemos which means either a single battle or a series of battles or a war. This word is used to describe the battles described in the Book of Revelation. For example, "thundering of many horses and chariots rushing into battle (polemos) [Revelation 9:9 NIV] But James uses this same word to describe what may be described as 'private quarrels' [This same word is also used in Revelation 9:7; 16:14 and 20:8] So he is wanting his readers to know that such quarrels are harmful and destructive - they are as deadly as a war. The second word which James conveys a different idea. This is the word mache which can also mean a battle or a controversy or striving.
But avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and arguments and quarrels (mache) about the law, because these are unprofitable and useless. [Titus 3:9 NIV]
Don’t have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels. (mache) [2 Timothy 2:23 NIV]
James's choice of word is deliberate. This word suggests that there was a disagreement or a difference of opinion - possibly over aspects of the interface between Christianity and the Jewish religion. From a difference of interpretation there comes open warfare which is destructive and harmful. It has often been said that most splits in churches are over personalities rather than doctrinal matters. However, our interpretation of the Bible often produces disagreements. There are differences of interpretation regarding the gifts of the Holy Spirit, or over prophecy or the role of women in our churches. Instead of having a mature debate and maybe even agreeing to disagree over certain matters, the battle lines are drawn, and hatred and conflict develops.
But James uses even more hyperbole (exaggeration). He talks about this conflict resulting in conflict and fighting but he uses the word 'kill' in his argument. I suggest that this is hyperbole - I doubt if people were actually killed in anger but the teaching of the Lord Jesus indicates that the motives are what is seen before God and if there is hatred, the desire is there for revenge and killing. This is one of the 'you have heard it said' statements where Jesus takes the law and interprets the commandment more rigorously. So 'Do not murder' is shown by Jesus to include hatred and anger.
You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘You shall not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to a brother or sister, ‘Raca,’ is answerable to the court. And anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell. [Matthew 5:21-22 NIV]
But we need to get to the kernel of what James is saying in this verse. He talks about 'desire' or 'lust' and 'coveting'. So James is getting to grips with the common denominator in all conflicts in churches. It is where we are more interested in our wishes and our self-interest than the needs of others. The words of Paul in his letter to the Philippians are very relevant here.
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. [Philippians 2:3-4 NIV]
Paul then goes on to illustrate this important point by highlighting the supreme example of our Lord Jesus. So, if we acted as Jesus acted, we would avoid conflict and quarrels in our churches. If we could take a moment to look more closely at the three words James uses in these two verses. He speaks first about 'the desires that battle within you.' This is the word (hedone) which refers to sensual delight, but James is speaking generally about our desire for pleasure. When we regard our church as being there to suit us and to cater for us, we are on the wrong track. The consumer mentality has deeply affected church life. We want to have a church which makes us feel comfortable. James is not confining this word to sexual pleasure or material pleasure - it is being used in the most general sense possible. We need to change this mindset where we regard our needs as paramount in the church. We are there to serve the Lord and He should have the first place - not us.
James uses two other words - 'You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight.' The words which I have highlighted are not always used in a bad sense. The word translated in the NIV as 'desire' is epithumeo which literally means to 'set the heart upon' but it can mean 'to lust after'. Here are some examples where the word is used in a good way - Luke 17:22; Hebrews 6:11; 1 Peter 1:12). It suggests that we are eagerly longing or desiring something. When this desire is not met, then we become resentful. We feel that we are entitled to something and our desires are not being met - 'so we kill.' We are so fixated with ourselves, that we become deeply resentful when our wants are not being fulfilled. The second word is translated 'covet' and this is a very similar word. It suggests a warmth of feeling for. something. Paul closes chapter 12 of his first letter to the Corinthians with a verse where he uses this word.
Eagerly desire the best gifts. [1 Corinthians 12: 31 NIV]
But this desire to have can involve jealousy and envy and all sorts of negative thoughts. James points out that if we were in a right relationship with God, we would avoid such a state of mind. If we were praying to God consistently and regularly, we would be able to distinguish between God's will and our own selfish desires. Our desires would become more in tune with our Lord and Saviour. We would not view other believers as our enemies and a threat to our wellbeing. We would be waiting for God to answer our prayers and we would be trusting Him for everything. When things did not suit us or turn out the way we wanted, we would recognise God's hand in the matter and would not be resentful.
By the way, some commentators interpret this verse to refer to coveting material possessions and not being prepared to share our wealth with others. I can fully see where this comes from. James has dealt with the issue of the disparity between rich and poor in the Christian community in chapter 2. It may well be that there was a particular situation among the early Jewish Christians to which James is referring. However, the words he uses are relevant to desire in a broader sense than simply covetousness of possessions and money. I am not suggesting that there have not been issues with materialism in our churches. Those of you who have been reading my blogs over the years will know that I have covered this subject many times. However, in this chapter I respectfully suggest that there is a more general application which is relevant to the multitude of conflicts arising in churches in our day.
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