James concluded
the third chapter of his letter with the words, “And the fruit
of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace”, and
as he began the first verse of the fourth chapter of his letter, he
asked, “from where” do
“wars and fights” come, where we read:
The verse begins, “From whence
come wars and
fightings among you?” James began with the
word, “From whence”
which means “from where, what place, condition, origin or source”
“come wars” which
refers to “fights, battles, disputes, strife and quarrel”
“and fightings” which are “combat,
persons at variance, disputants and contentions” “among
you” which refers to the people within the
“twelve tribes scattered abroad”.
James began his question asking from where his readers' “battles
and contentions” come.
The verse goes on to say, “come
they not hence, even
of your lusts that war in your members?” James
continued, “come they not hence” which
means “do they not originate from this place, on the one side and
on the other or on each side”, “even of
your lusts” or “out of and away from
James' readers' pleasure and desire for pleasure” “that
war” which means “make a military
expedition, do military duty, be on active service such as leading
soldiers to war or battle” “in your
members” or “limbs or human bodies”?
James answered his question by stating their “battles and quarrels”
come from within their own human “desire for pleasure”.
When
we think through these words of James, we discover the source and
origin of all “wars and fights” - “the desire for
pleasure and sensual delight”. People, in general, are interested
in themselves and themselves alone. Selflessness is rare, and since
this is so, whenever others come against anything desired for
oneself, battle ensues. James desired for his readers to know where
their “fights and wars” came from so he could deal with
their core issue and not just the symptoms. As we consider “fights
and wars”, let us remember that Jesus Christ came into this
world to save “sinners” from their sins, and in order to
follow Him, we must “deny” ourselves, “take up” our
“cross” and “follow Him”. If this be our way,
the inward issue has been addressed and “peace” will be
the fruit thereof.
Next
time James shares about “lust,
desire, fighting and war”,
so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, and the new devotional “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.
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