Acting Like the World
Today was a busy day with campaign activities and meetings. My last of the day was with Bob Walker of Walker Manufacturing (thanks for Mary O’Dell for arranging this meetings). This is a family business that makes commercial lawnmowers of the highest quality. This company has not only been in our area of decades but is founded on strong Christian values.
VERSE FOR TODAY….. “You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions. You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God?” James 4:2-4 ESV
There is a struggle that is taking place at all times in the human heart. It is one between following human, carnal desires or living life by God’s power and standards. Paul refers to it as the battle between the “flesh” and the “Spirit” (the Holy Spirit).
James has just told his readers that the wisdom of the world is “earthly, unspiritual and demonic.” As he continues, he addresses the root of strife and discord. Since righteousness produces peace, discord is from acting like the world. It is the natural consequence of our desires being stymied.
As a result, James says the extreme actions that come from wrong desires and despising self, leads to despising others, and is expressed in murder. Coveting and failure to achieve leads to quarreling. There is a lack of humility that requires asking of God and others and so there is a lack of what is needed in life. When one does ask, there is a failure to receive because it is motivated by selfish ambition and self-centered living.
James is bold in accusing believers of creating “spiritual adultery” with the world. They belong to Christ but they want to act like, be accepted by and have what the “world” says is a priority for their life. The sounds more like modern times, than the first century. Perhaps it shows that the hearts of humanity have not changed over the course of time.
What is the proper response? “But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you.” (James 4:6-8 ESV)
Even in the depths of our own selves the grace of God is deeper. God’s grace is sufficient to cover our shortcomings failures and self-centered lives. But God’s grace does not enable us to stay where we are, it empowers to be where we need to be.
Pride is trusting in self. Humility is trusting in the Lord. When we “draw near to God, He draws near to us.” Like the prodigal we may be “walking” back to God humbled by our failures, but we will find the Lord running toward us.
The power to live above the degrading life begins with submission to God. Then we have the strength to resist the “devil” and have the assurance that being in a position of trust and humility the devil will flee.
James summarizes by saying the way up, is down. “Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.” (James 4:10 ESV)
When we live and act by the world’s ways, it will lead to all types of heartache. But the Lord desires us to live above and beyond all this world has to offer, by yielding our life to Him and His ways.
Prayer for today… Lord help us to see that our human desires and how we seek to attain them only leads to a downward path of destruction and hopelessness. Help us to submit to You, to live in Your grace that is able to build us up and make us strong.