LESSON #9

Why We Fight

James 4:1-6

At War With Each Other

"...wars and fightings among you ..."

The history of man has been a history of conflict - of wars, battles and fights. In the brief two hundred year history of the United States, there have been eleven wars - the French and Indian War, the Revolutionary War, the War of 1812, the Mexican War, the Civil War, the Spanish-American War, World War I, World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam war, and, most recently, the Persian Gulf War. And this list omits numerous brief skirmishes as well as all our battles against the Indian nations! As I write these words, there are currently numerous wars taking place on this planet - in the Balkans (Bosnia), in Somalia, in Rwanda, in Haiti. There is unrest in South Africa and in the Middle East between the Israelis and the Palestinians. There is fear among the nations that North Korea is developing a nuclear arsenal. At any moment another civil war could break out somewhere.

Everywhere one dares to look there is conflict. In homes, between marriage partners, between parents and children, between siblings there is strife and conflict. In neighborhoods, between adults, teens, and even children there are arguments and altercations. The streets are dangerous places to be because of gangs, muggings and drive-by shootings. In the schools there are conflicts between teachers and students, conflicts among students so that many schools have hired security guards and installed metal detectors. In the workplace there strife among employees or between labor and management. Within governments there is constant political battles between various parties, factions, and interest groups. There is great social unrest as one group after another seeks to protect his or her "human rights."

Even the family of God and often times the local church is not exempt from conflict. Swords cross, personalities clash, relationships are strained and severed even within Christianity. We shouldn't be surprised with all this conflict. The Bible records many examples of conflict among the people of God - Cain and Abel; Abraham and Lot; Isaac and Jacob; David and Absalom. The Old Testament chronicles many wars. The New Testament speaks of dissension among the apostles (Lk. 9:46-48), between Paul and Barnabas (Acts 15:37-39), within the Corinthian church (I Cor. 6:1-8; 14:23-40) and the Galatian churches (Galatians 5:15), even between two women in Philippi (Philippians 4:1-3).

Apparently, those to whom James sent his letter were also engaged in conflict. He speaks of "wars and fightings among you" (4:1a), of "bitter envying and strife in your hearts" (3:14), of "speaking evil of one another" (4:11), of showing partiality (2:1-4) and of class conflicts (1:9-11; 5:1-6). Who can dispute the fact of conflict and wars between we who are of the human race? We humans are consistently at war with each other. "(We) fight and war (v.2), (we) kill (v. 2). James asks a rhetorical question, "Where does all the war and conflict among us come from?" "From whence come wars and fightings among you?" What is the source of all these battles?

At War Within Ourselves, 3:1b-3.

"your lusts that war in your members"

James answers his own question. We have fightings without because we have fightings within. We clash with each other because of inner-conflicts. What causes this war within? First, it comes from an uncontrolled desire, namely, "lusts" (v.1 3). Although we associate lust with sexual sins, lust is the uncontrolled desire for anything that God has forbidden. According to 1:15, it is the mother of sin and the grandmother of death. These verses indicate that it is the initial cause for inner conflict. Furthermore, internal conflict is caused by an unfulfilled desire. We "lust and have not". We "desire to have and cannot obtain." We "ask and receive not." Our flesh is never satisfied. No matter what we feed it, the flesh wants more. Inner conflict is increased by lusts that cannot be fulfilled. Finally, James indicates that this inner turmoil comes from an utterly selfish desire. So selfish we are for what we want that we will "fight, war, and kill." We don't have because we won't ask. And when we do ask, we do it with the wrong motives, reasons, intentions and purposes, v. 3. We have the utterly selfish desire of "consuming it upon our own lusts." Such uncontrolled, unfulfilled, utterly selfish lusts as ours cause us to seethe and boil on the inside. There is a war going on within us which will boil over and into our relationships with others. The wars with each other are caused by the wars within ourselves. But where does that inner war come from?

At War With God, 4:4-6.

"the enemy of God"

James traces the history of war back another step. The real root problem is that we are fighting against God. Even Christians fight God at times! How is our battle with God manifest? Certainly by unfaithfulness to God, v. 4. The adultery that James is referring to here is not sexual misconduct but the spiritual adultery of being unfaithful to God. This is a common theme in the Old Testament. James' Jewish audience would immediately understand what he is saying. Psa. 73:27 For, lo, they that are far from thee shall perish: thou hast destroyed all them that go a whoring from thee.

(also Jeremiah 3:1-5; Ezekiel 23; Hosea 1-2). James uses strong terms in this section of his epistle. No one likes being called an adulterer! "Don't you know, " says James, "that being on friendly terms with the world system makes you at enmity (the word means "hostile and in opposition") with God?" You cannot play it both ways! There is no neutrality. You are either being faithful to God or else unfaithful! If you are a friend to the world, you are God's enemy. Mat. 6:24 "No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon." Jesus said, (Mat 12:30) "He that is not with me is against me." "Whosoever therefore will be (chooses to be) the friend of the world is (makes himself) the enemy of God." Our battle with God is manifest by our unfaithfulness to Him.

This battle is also manifest by disregard for the scriptures, v. 5. "Why do you think that the scriptures teach us that within us dwells a spirit of lustful envy?" James is not quoting a particular scripture. He is giving a general composite of what the scriptures teach on this subject (Genesis 6:5; Proverbs 21:10; Jeremiah 17:9). Those who are fighting against God will disregard what the word teaches and "think that the scriptures speak in vain."

Finally, conflict with God is manifest by pride, v. 6. "God resisteth (fights against; opposes) the proud." When you demonstrate pride, you and God are fighting and that is a battle that no man can win. Your pride will bring your destruction. On the other hand, God rewards those who are humble with grace.

Where does war and conflict come from? We fight with each other because we are at war within ourselves, lusting after that which God has forbidden. We have such inner turmoil, because we are fighting against God. Thus, the only way to end human conflict is to stop fighting against God. Why not sign an "unconditional surrender" to Him today?