James 4:1-10, 13-17

“From whence come wars and fightings among you?” (v. 1). This epistle is addressed to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad (Jas. 1:1) — a reference to Jewish Christians scattered in locales beyond Jerusalem and Judea. The wars and fightings which are common to believers in all places do not occur within physical combat zones. The wars and fightings which all believers experience is conflict between the spiritual (the new man) and the flesh (the old man).

James’ question is linked to things said previously. Earlier, James stated that those who love their neighbors as themselves do well (Jas. 2:8). One who loves his neighbor as himself does not war and fight with his neighbors. Wars and fightings among men result because men do not love their neighbors as themselves. The “you” in James’ question is not the new man who comes into existence when believers are changed from a life dominated by sin to a life characterized by righteousness and empowerment by the Holy Spirit. The “you” of James’ question is the old man which remains and is at war against the new man.

James answers his own question with the query: Are wars and fightings not the result of lust? The old man is dominated by lust. The old man in us does not seek to fill a nonexistent need. The old man lusts for that which he does not possess. When James says, “ye kill, and desire to have,” he is referring to the old man with whom believers continue to struggle. The old man in us seeks to attain all things by force (killing) — by exerting his will upon others. The old man does not seek to attain through the grace of God. The old man does not ask of the grace which God freely gives (v. 2). The old man asks God for things of this world. The old man asks amiss (v. 3).

James makes it very clear that he is speaking of the old man in verses 4 and 5. He speaks of fallen man who is an enemy of God and whose spirit lusts to envy. The scripture which James refers may be Proverbs 21:10 — “The soul of the wicked desireth evil: his neighbor findeth no favor in his eyes.”

In verse 6, James declares the grace which God freely gives. God’s grace is reserved for the lowly. God’s resisting the proud and giving grace to the humble is stated in Proverbs 3:34.

The new man seeks grace by submitting himself to God and resisting the devil (v. 7). The new man is seen in all who draw near to God. Evidence of the new man is not found in that which we do, but in that which God does — God draws nigh to them who draw nigh to Him (v. 8).

One must draw nigh to God to receive hand cleansing from sin and purification of one’s heart. An impure heart is characterized by double mindedness — being directed by conflicting desires. The new man, the spiritual, seeks God. Hearts directed by the old man seek worldly things.

In verse 9, James states the manner in which one draws nigh to God. One must be afflicted. Affliction is cause for mourning and weeping. Affliction is disabling and strips away illusions of self-sufficiency. When one confesses his insufficiencies and calls out to the Lord, He shall lift you up. He lifts up the humble.

In verses 13-15, James has instruction for them whom God has lifted up. The gain which one might net from buying and selling is worldly gain. It is gain which perishes with one’s physical life. Worldly gain and physical life are the same. Both are as a vapor. A vapor appears and then vanishes away. James urges believers to consider gain which is not of this world — gain which is of God, gain that does not flash then vanish out of existence.

James does not suggest that it is evil to seek worldly gain. He does, however, state that the Lord’s will, not worldly gain, should come before all else.

“But now ye rejoice in your boastings: all such rejoicing is evil” (v. 16). The boastings of which James speaks are not of things of the Lord. Their rejoicing was of worldly gain which gain they attributed to themselves. Their boasting manifested the old man, not the new man which is born of God. They knew to rejoice in that which God had done but they did not.

In verse 17, James states that knowing to do good and not doing it is sin. All believers know “there is none that doeth good, no, not one” (Ps. 53:3). The humble rejoice because they are lifted up. The humble rejoice in that which the Lord does. The humble reveals the new man. Believers know to do good. Believers know to be humble and to reveal that which God has done but fail to do so. Believers sin.

Believers are in continual need of Christ because we sin. We fail to do the good that we know to do. We, however, are not to despair because we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous (I Jn. 2:1). “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (I Jn. 1:9). When we humble ourselves and confess our unworthiness, Christ lifts us up in His righteousness.

Let us do as we know to do such that He may lift us up.