A Living Faith Evidenced in Godly Affections – Part 1 (James 4:1-12)

This section addresses and expands upon James’ third example (James 1:27) of what it means to be a doer of the Word (James 1:22)—keep oneself unspotted from the world. James 4:1–12 brings to a climax the heart of the problem (worldliness rooted in lusts) and the ultimate solution (humble repentance).

This section can be outlined like this:

• The Problem Manifested: fighting/quarreling—Disunity (James 4:1a, 2a cf. 3:1-18)
• The Source of the Problem: worldly passions (James 4:1b, 2b-4)
• The Conviction: the Holy Spirit’s jealousy (James 4:5)
• The Solution to the Problem (James 4:6–10):
  • The means of receiving the solution: by God’s grace, through humility, and holiness (repentance)
  • The result from this solution: spiritual nearness to God and exaltation
• Moving Forward with the Solution (James 4:11–12)
  • • Manner: don’t take God’s place to judge others
    • Manner: Be a doer of the Word yourself (cf. James 1:19–27)

The Problem Manifested (James 4:1–2)

Quarrels and fights are external symptoms manifesting a problem that begins in the heart. Why do people murder (whether literally, or figuratively getting rid of someone out of your way, or hating—which is at the root of murder)? Why do people engage in disputes and conflicts? They want something and do not have it. They covet something and cannot attain it.

In other words, if a person is driven by lusts, that desire to have something so strongly can lead to such covetousness that a person is willing to take even extreme unethical steps to gain what is wanted. People may even murder or intensely battle it out with each other in fights. Quarrels are long-term and continuous; fights are sudden outbursts of hostility. All of this is in stark contrast to the wisdom from above (James 3:17–18); it is aligned with worldly wisdom and conduct (James 3:13–16).

Here, we need to pause for some clarification in application. If you’re observing two sides of a fight, the problem may be either two-sided or one-sided. Both sides may be driven by lusts, it is true. But it is also true that one side can be the antagonizer driven by lusts and the other side can be seeking to defend righteousness against adulteresses who are worldly. Taking a stand against adulteresses then is not the cause of the fighting, and they are not to blame. The adulteresses are to blame. Certainly, James should not be condemned for stepping into the midst of the fight as if he were to blame for continuing the fight by way of his confrontation. Therefore, when observing interpersonal or theological quarrels, we would do well to carefully analyze whether both sides are driven by lusts or whether one side is defending against the lusts of the other side—or if an arbiter like James who is above the fray can point out the root problems and solution.

In sum, James 4:1–2 can be summarized accordingly:

• Fights and quarrels (1a)
  • Come from wrong desires (1b)
  • Frustrated desire leads to (2a)
• Quarrels and fights (2b)¹

In the next post, we’ll delve deeper into the source of the problem.

---

Kevin Collins has served as a junior high youth leader in Michigan, a missionary in Singapore, a Christian School teacher in Utah, and a Bible writer for the BJU Press. He currently works for American Church Group of South Carolina.

Photo by Andre Hunter on Unsplash

1. Moo, James, 184. [↩]