Commentary on James (Chapter 4)
I have witnessed many family battles over inheritance issues. It is very sad to see families torn apart over material possessions. I’m sure the deceased family member did not want their family to divide over their stuff. James chapter four warns us about the desires for pleasure and greed. Wars and fights among many come from the lust for possessions and coveting what another has. I have observed many wealthy people who are quite miserable because money cannot buy happiness. What does it profit a man to gain the whole world then lose his soul?
God’s Word says that in the last days they will be lovers of pleasure and money more than God. Many people lust after power, or position, or acquiring their toys, and do not give God a second thought. I have seen bumper stickers that read, “He who dies with the most toys wins.” You cannot bring your toys to hell with you. Christ said to lay up your treasures in Heaven, not the earth. The love of money is the root of all kinds of evil, and you cannot serve God and money.
(2 Timothy3:1) But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: 2 For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, 4 traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!
(James 4:4) Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.
Friendship with the world and it’s carnal pleasures is enmity with God. Many people have been deceived, by the grace without repentance doctrine that is being preached in most churches today. James 4:4 warns us that if you are a friend of the sinful world, you are an enemy of God. You may say, “I have been saved and baptized, and I tithe my ten percent, and I even speak in tongues.” However, if you are not separated from the sinful nature you are lost. If you dress, talk, or joke, in a sinful way, you are compromising your faith. In addition, if you watch sinful movies, or listen to ungodly music, you are a friend of the world, and an enemy of God. I have ministered deliverance to people indwelt with demons, who were faithful church members, and spoke in tongues. However, they were prisoners of sin, and in need of deliverance. In fact, everyone I have ministered deliverance to, were Christians, and church members. Until Christians understand what it means to be born again, they will continue on their path to hell. You must walk on the highway of holiness to inherit eternal life. The churches are not teaching people to get the sin out of their lives, because they are afraid of offending their means of support. Christ said to deny yourself daily, take up your cross, and follow him.
(James 4:7) Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.
8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.
If you want to be free from sinful bondages which will send you to hell, you must submit to God. (James 4:7-10) states, that if you cleanse your hands you sinners, and purify your hearts you double minded, lament, and mourn, and weep, with humility, God will lift you up. This passage is saying, that true, heartfelt repentance, is submission to God, and if you resist the devil he will flee. To be truly saved, you must allow the Holy Spirit to have his perfect work and live a sanctified life. To be set apart from the sinful world, is to be born again.
James also tells us that we should not speak evil of, or judge, a brother. In the last teaching, we discussed the dangers of gossip, and how it destroys relationships. There is righteous judgment; however, if you judge another with hypocrisy, you commit sin. If you will remove the beam in your own eye, then you will see clearly to remove the speck in another’s eye. We must learn to love one another, as well as to bear one another’s burdens. If we will seek the good for another, we will fulfill scripture.
Verse 14 tells us that our lives are like a vapor that appears for a little while, and then vanishes away. We should not boast in our long term plans, rather say, “If it is the Lord’s will we will do that.” Since we do not know when we will draw our final breath, we must be prepared daily to meet our maker. Today is the day of salvation! Don’t put your relationship with God off, you may not see tomorrow.
(James 4:17) Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.
If you see your brother in need, and have the ability to help him, and do nothing, you sin. Do you know someone who needs groceries, or help paying their utilities, or house payment? If you are in a position to help, then you should. There are some able-bodied people who refuse to work; you are not doing them a favor by bailing them out. They need to learn how to eat their own bread. However, there are many struggling families who could use a helping hand, and you would be truly blessed if you could meet their needs.
(James 4:1) Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members?
2 You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. Yet you do not have because you do not ask.
3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures.
4 Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.
5 Or do you think that the Scripture says in vain, "The Spirit who dwells in us yearns jealously"?
6 But He gives more grace. Therefore He says:
"God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble."
7 Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.
8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
9 Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom.
10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up. 11 Do not speak evil of one another, brethren. He who speaks evil of a brother and judges his brother, speaks evil of the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge. 12 There is one Lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy. Who are you to judge another? 13 Come now, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit";
14 whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.
15 Instead you ought to say, "If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that."
16 But now you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil.
17 Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.
