James asks some very direct questions in this section. Why do fights and wars occur? Why does trouble arise in a church? James says it all comes from within hearts that haven't learned to control the desires of the old nature. It comes from hearts that want to have all that the world offers while still keeping what Christ has already given them. Human nature always wants what will give it pleasure. In other words it is the satisfying of self or the flesh that causes trouble. Whenever we seek our own will and desires instead of God's will, there will be unrest and unsatisfied longings. These will finally break out into strife with somebody else. On the other hand, says James, you could have real satisfaction and rest by asking God for it. You will find rest in his will. As long as your life is governed by pleasure, rest will be beyond your reach. Someone may say, 'I asked God for some of these things and he didn't answer my prayer'. 'Quite true', says James, 'but you know why, don't you? The only reason you asked for them was for your own pleasure and not for the glory of God. It is all right to ask for some of these things. But we need to have the right reasons for asking. What if we don't have things we want, and what if God doesn't give them to us? Then God will give us the grace to go without them (v.6). We may have to come to a fresh place of submission to God (v.7). We may have to stand against Satan when he tempts us to doubt God's loving care. But the closer we come to God, the closer he will be to us. A THOUGHT: God promises peace to those who pray, not to those who fight. |
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