In this section of James, we will be considering the issue of conflict. James highlights 3 dimensions about conflict — heart, spiritual and verbal (how we use our words).
But before we go on, it is also important to consider why conflict seems to be unavoidable. The Bible’s story seems to have the answer for us. In Genesis 1-2, we see that God declared all things very good when man and woman live in fellowship with Him in paradise. But with the fall, everything went wrong. God’s order was overturned and reversed. In Genesis 3:16, we see how life is going to continue — the world will go on despite the fall — but it will continue in pain. Pain enters into life. The relationship between a husband and his wife (“helper”) will also experience a contest of desire. This will describe the rest of human history.
In James 4, we see this thread being picked up.
(A) The heart dimension of conflict (Jas 4:1-3)
James uses two opening questions in James 4:1 to determine the cause of conflicts. Why questions? Questions prompt thought. Our mind engages when there is a question. James therefore uses rhetorical questions because he wants us to think about where our conflicts come from.
Therefore, if we do not think about the cause of conflicts, how do we get by? How do we deal with conflicts? Perhaps we just ignore the cause of the conflict and pretend it does not exist. As Christians, we have a responsibility to think about what God’s word has to say about these matters! When we read Scripture, we have an opportunity to discover God’s thoughts. We are engaging with thoughts that do not come from our own brains but engaging with another mind. We are thinking through God’s analysis of our need.
As Paul describes it in Romans 7:23, we see that there are new realities inside of us that are causing this conflict — a war of passions.
If you are a Christian, you should expect to struggle. There are now 2 “me”s now that I am a Christian. If you are struggling tonight, praise God. A part of you now desire to love and respond to God in a way that you did not when you were dead in sin. You did not care about God before you became a Christian and did not desire His word, nor did you desire peace with God and others. We are a struggling people because there are two “me”s in me.
As Matthew 6:21 tells us, our heart is in our treasure. Instead of worrying about whether we desire the right things, worry about what you delight in, what is the object of your desire. What is it that you really want in the moment of conflict? What we treasure is at the root of our conflict.
We conflict because at the heart level, the other person is standing in the way of what we really want from them.
In James 4:2-3, James is helping us to see the real problem at the heart level. The statements can be broken down into what we want, what we cannot control and the resulting action.
Firstly, what we desire we do not have and as a result we murder (Jas 4:2a). This lack of control can extend to things like respect from others, a desired position in the world or workplace, wealth etc. Now we might also claim that we do not murder, but think about the times that we have become angry at others. Even anger in the heart directed at another can be considered as murder.
Next, James speaks of when we covet and cannot obtain, which results in fights and quarrels (Jas 4:2b). Coveting is slightly different from the desire mentioned earlier. It is when we want something that is not ours or what God has not given us. This results in conflict too.
Finally, James speaks of either when we do not ask and do not have or when we ask and do not receive because we ask wrongly to spend on our passions (Jas 4:2c-3). These are the times when we ask in purely self-gratifying terms, offering it only on the altar of idolatry
What does this mean for us? These statements prompt us to think about our own hearts when we encounter conflict. When was the last time you got into a heated conflict with someone? What did you really want in that moment? The conflicts thats we find ourselves in can be incredibly clarifying. Our conflicts are not just a result of our terrible self-control or the problem that someone else has. Rather, it exposes something in our heart and shows us that how we want the world to be has been defied. The other person has the audacity to step into our universe where we reign and move things around. This reveals what is really going on in our heart.
Are there places and people in your life that you repeatedly, regularly, have conflict with? Perhaps these are the people that love you the most. Maybe your expectations and what you want from them is driving the way you feel when you are defied. Think of Genesis 3:16. Our desire is for or against one we love, and we find ourselves locked in battle against another.
Christian relationships are deeply sanctifying. The people we see on a regular basis — friends, spouses — know something of our heart. Do we authorise and give them permission to tell us when they see that our treasure has been misplaced? Are you too eager to be loved? Maybe you have a self-esteem problem because you want someone else to honour you so badly, you cannot stand it when they bring up something that makes you seem small?
Unless we understand the brokenness of sin as in Psalm 32, we will not know the joy and mercy of the gospel.
(B) The spiritual dimension of conflict (Jas 4:4-10)
James brings a spiritual dimension and uses the language of marriage, friendship and other parts of Scripture. Firstly, he calls them “adulterous people” (Jas 4:4a). He is drawing on a long line of Old Testament language that describes God’s people as married and covenanted to God, but have turned on Him and betrayed Him. This is also the language in James 4:5, where God is described as yearning jealously.
Secondly, there is a picture of friendship (Jas 4:4b). Friendship with the world is enmity with God. Therefore, we cannot be friends with the world. It is a binary system.
Thirdly, James quotes from different parts of Scripture in James 4:4c-5. He is not quoting from a specific verse. In James 4:5, he is teaching us that God is concerned about the allegiance and loyalty of the people in whom His spirit now dwells in.
Thus, our conflicts and quarrels are a reflection of a deeper spiritual need.
If you are a Christian and you find yourself regularly in conflict, you are probably not walking right with the Lord. Thee is a spiritual dimension to our conflicts, especially when we find ourselves in frequent conflicts.
But James does not just stop at the reality of conflict. James also speaks of grace, God’s grace. James begins with what God has done and is going to do. God gives more grace (Jas 4:6). When we have wandered from God, been adulterous and unfaithful friends, God does not just kick us away. He has more grace for us.
Following this invitation, James gives a series of imperatives (action command) that are different dimensions of one thing.
James speaks of humility here. Humility demands that we see ourselves less and to see how big God is. And how do we see God bigger (or as who He really is) (Jas 4:8)? We draw near to Him and our perspective changes. Then, what He promises, supplies, commands, promises, assurances etc are no longer far away but in front of us. And therefore, when we look at ourselves, we see our sin. When we see Him up close as He really is, we see our brokenness, worldliness, bitterness, anger, self-righteousness. And we can see our need to be cleansed and purified (Jas 4:8). We also have a clear view of our double-mindedness (Jas 4:8). We mourn and weep because we see ourselves clearly in the light of His holiness (Jas 4:9).
This is not some masochistic despondency. Let us look at the Beatitudes in Matthew 5. The poor in spirit and those who mourn for their sins are described in Matthew 5:3-4. Jesus also speaks of the meek, those who hunger and thirst for righteousness (Matt 5:5-6). Those who know themselves in this way also extend mercy to others (Matt 5:7). Those in the kingdom are also pure in heart, peacemakers and persecuted for righteousness’ sake (Matt 5:8-10). James is translating the beatitudes in this context. The solution to conflict is an awareness of sin and God’s holiness that drives the Christian to humility. No one stands before the cross of Jesus and declares that they win every argument because every argument is won on the cross. It is ok to lose our own arguments.
(C) The verbal dimension of conflict (Jas 4:11-12)
After addressing the heart and spiritual dimensions of conflict, James also encourages his readers to consider a holy God and fear Him. How have you used your words? Do you walk in self-righteousness, standing on a pedestal, thinking that we are somehow better than another? This extends to how we talk about politicians, celebrities etc. This extends to our social media use. How have we judged a Christian brother or sister — someone made in the image of God, bought with the blood of Christ — and we have deemed that we are superior to?
There is One who will be the judge of us all. It is only Jesus Christ, crucified, risen from the dead, who is given the authority to judge the living and the dead.
How have you spoken of your brother? We will have to give an account for our words. James is channelling the teachings of Proverbs and encouraging us to talk less because God hears every word and He will be our judge.
Look to Jesus, whose treasure was to obey the Father. He is gentle and lowly and spoke no harsh words. Conflict took Him to the cross and it was for peace that He endured it. We should therefore be a people of peace.