What causes fights and quarrel among you?
James 4:1-3 - Focus on the eternal rather than the impermanent, and you’re much less likely to be covetous and angry.
'What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you? You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures. '
James 4:1-3
Chapters 4 and 5 of the Epistle of James have a common theme — godliness in all things. James starts off chapter 4 by posing a question to the Christians who will read the epistle; primarily, why are they fighting amongst themselves? He follows that up by answering that they bitterly quarrel with each other because of selfish reasons.
Now, you might think that calling out Christians as people who fight and quarrel is a bit harsh, but it happens even today — particularly between denominations, but also within individual churches when some person or faction disagrees with another.
James went for the shock factor in verse 2, saying that “You desire but do not have, so you kill.” As far as we know, the Christians of the early church weren’t literally killing each other, so it’s assumed that James is simply making a point here: anger and animosity towards each other caused by jealousy is leading to hatred and conflict. Jesus used the term “murder” in a similar way during the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5:21-22 when He compared actual murder to anger with a fellow brother or sister. Judgement would be applied to both situations.
Contemporary bible commentator D. Edmond Hiebert, in his treatise on the Epistle of James, said this:
“The word kill is startling and meant to startle; James sought to force his readers to realize the depth of the evil in their bitter hatred toward others.”1
So what is causing the hateful discord within the church? James sees it as coming from within each member of the church. They have selfish desires that are not being met, so they are unhappy. That discontent bubbles over into intense anger with others, sparking fights.
Those selfish desires come from coveting things that others have, whether they be physical (wealth, property, beauty…) or other factors like power and position. James tells them why they don’t have these things — because they don’t ask God. Even then, they will probably not receive the things they desire, simply because they’re asking for earthly, fleeting reasons. That reminds me of the Janis Joplin song “Mercedes Benz” from 1971 — “Oh Lord, won’t you buy me a Mercedes Benz. My friends all drive Porsches, I must make amends…”2
They’re asking God “with wrong motives.” James has just chastised the church for a lack of prayer, and now he’s pointing out that when they do pray, they’re praying for selfish reasons. They pray for things that bring them pleasure, never thinking of praying for spiritual growth, for the welfare and good of others, or for helping to expand the Kingdom of God.
James is shedding light on a very common failing of all humans, not just Christians. Our selfish desires can make us angry with ourselves and others, sparking everything from hateful words spoken between people to world wars. Focus on the eternal rather than the impermanent, and you’re much less likely to be covetous and angry. Ask God for help with important matters instead of personal satisfaction, and you’re much more likely to have your prayers answered.
Heaven On Wheels Daily Prayer:
Father in Heaven, thank You that Your grace and mercy is sufficient for all of my needs, and that my sufficiency is in Christ alone. When I pray, keep me from covetous thoughts that tie me to this world that truly has nothing to offer, and help me to focus my eyes on You and keep my ears open to Your words. May I pray in spirit and truth, with “thy will be done” as my goal. AMEN.
Scripture quotations taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica US, Inc.®. Used by permission.
Hiebert, D. Edmond "The Epistle of James: Tests of a Living Faith" (Chicago, Illinois: Moody Press, 1979)
“Mercedes Benz”, written by Bob Neuwirth, Janis Joplin, and Michael McClure