James 4:1-12
James begins the fourth chapter with a question: “What causes fights and quarrels among you?” As our world today is engaged in wars on different fronts and a global war on terrorism, many of us are fighting personal skirmishes with those around us. We would do well to learn from James that war has its symptoms, its sources and its solutions.
War has its symptoms (vv. 1-3): All war finds it origin in selfish desire. It is this selfish desire within that causes war with others. War is simply an external symptom and not a source.
War has its sources (vv. 4-6): The source of war is found in our rebellious relationship with God. War comes from the desires that battle within us.
War has its solutions (vv. 7-12): God has given us the solution to war in the Lord Jesus Christ. James’ pathway to peace is found in five steps; submit, resist, come near, wash and humble yourselves.
Our God calls us to be peacemakers. We have the message of hope and the message of peace, and we must keep telling the story.
For a more complete exposition of this passage, please see O. S. Hawkins’ book Getting Down to Brass Tacks.