Daily Writing

Friday, 16 August 2019

Or do you think that the Scripture says in vain, “The Spirit who dwells in us yearns jealously”? James 4:5

The words of James 4:5 are highly debated, and manuscripts and translations vary widely in what is stated. Some say that the spirit referred to is the spirit of man. Others say it is referring to the Holy Spirit. If the Holy Spirit, some say that the Spirit “lusts against envy,” thus tying it in with Galatians 5:17 –

“For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish.”

In other words, this view says that the Spirit “lusts against” or wars against envy which is a fleshly emotion. Others will say (as the NKJV) that “the Spirit who dwells in us years jealousy.” The meaning is that because we are sealed with the Spirit, there is a yearning for us to do that which is right and that the “Spirit which He implanted yearns tenderly over us” (Cambridge).

On the other hand, if it is speaking of the spirit in man (not the Holy Spirit), then one might agree with Albert Barnes –

“The more obvious interpretation is to refer it to our spirit or disposition as we are by nature, and it is equivalent to saying that we are naturally prone to envy.”

The Aramaic Bible would agree with Barnes –

“And perhaps you think the Scripture says in vain, ‘The spirit that dwells within us lusts with jealousy.’”

The first main problem lies in the fact that James begins with, “Or do you think that Scripture says in vain.” The dilemma with this is that there is no verse which can be cited as the source for this. However, the Greek term used, hē graphē, is always used to indicate a quote from the recognized Jewish canon, with the exception of Peter speaking of Paul’s words and equating them to Scripture.

Many attempts to resolve this have been made, one is that it is a general principle found throughout Scripture, and not any specific quote. The noun, however, is singular, implying one quote from a single part of Scripture. For every suggested answer, there is a corresponding difficulty which seems to speak against it. Thus, there are many translations.

One thing is for certain, James is writing to fellow believers. This can be seen, again, in verse 4:11 where he notes that they are “brethren.” Further, one cannot be an adulteress (see previous verse) if that person is not married to a husband. If believers are married, they have a sign of that union. For them, that sign is the Holy Spirit. It was given first at Pentecost, and it comes to any believer since then as a seal and guarantee (Ephesians 1:13, 14) when he believes.

What makes the most sense, simply because of the context (being married to the Lord and having the seal of the marriage) is that this is speaking of the Holy Spirit in us, and that it is yearning jealousy over our actions.

This would then explain the first part of the verse concerning what the Scripture says. The Lord, again and again in the Old Testament, refers to His jealous nature. It doesn’t need to be referring to all of Scripture (meaning the noun must be plural) such as, “as it is written in the Scriptures.” Rather, it can simply be referring to any single occasion, such as –

“They provoked Him to jealousy with foreign gods;
With abominations they provoked Him to anger.” Deuteronomy 32:16

In this, it then would be an obvious reference to the fact that the Spirit is God; a member of the Trinity. The same God who yearned jealously over the people of Israel due to their adulterous ways now yearns jealously within each saved believer who acts in an adulterous manner. This view on James’ words is in accord with what will next be stated by him.

Life application: Surprisingly enough, this is a good verse for getting doctrine concerning the Spirit straight – not just on the issue of jealousy, but in other areas as well. God caused the Spirit to live in us. This, when taken in context, shows that the Spirit indwells the believer. Paul says this occurs the moment we believe –

“In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, ¹⁴ who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.” Ephesians 1:13

There is no “separate” baptism of the Holy Spirit and there is no sign necessary to know that He resides in you (such as a specific “prayer language”). The believer is given the Holy Spirit by faith in Christ.

Another area this verse deals with indirectly is eternal salvation. If we have the Spirit of God living in us and He envies intensely, then it implies that despite our failings, He never leaves us. As Hebrews says, Jesus is the author of “eternal salvation.” The Holy Spirit will never depart the believer in Christ. As this is so, shouldn’t we live in a manner that honors God rather than bringing about discipline for our envy, selfish ambition, strife, and other wayward conflicts?

Take time today to reflect on the nature of your salvation and the eternal rewards that it implies.

Great Lord and God! Thank you for the gift of your Holy Spirit and thank You that He will never leave us once we have trusted in the work of Jesus. Because of Jesus’ cross, we are free from condemnation and we live with Your presence ever within us! Glory to You in the highest. Amen.

Thursday, 14 August 2019

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. James 4:4

There is a difference between source texts here –

Adulterers and adulteresses! (NKJV, et al)

You adulteresses! (BSB, et al)

The latter of the two is probably correct. Somewhere along the line, someone not understanding the uses of the feminine probably added in the masculine. But James is speaking to the believers in Christ who comprise His bride. In Matthew 12:39, Jesus uses similar terminology and equates the people of Israel as a “wicked and adulterous generation.” It implies that they are like an unfaithful wife.

The word translated as “adulteresses” is exactingly translated. It signifies not only a married woman who commits adultery, but it also speaks of people who worship any other than the true God. The same terminology is used of Israel throughout the Old Testament. The adulterous nature of the people against their Husband is highlighted.

James shows that this continues on in the body of believers in Messiah. Even Paul alludes to the bridal covenant, speaking of the Gentiles who are included in it, as a group who are espoused to a husband (2 Corinthians 11:2). Once espoused, the one so espoused is obligated to the betrothal and bears the full responsibility of fidelity.

With the terminology rightly understood, James then asks, “Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God?” The “friendship with the world” speaks of placing the things of the world in a position above one’s allegiance to the Lord. A spouse is to put her affections on her husband first and foremost. If she spends her time chasing after other men, she is failing to commit to her husband.

This does not mean that people cannot interact with the world around them. Paul makes that perfectly clear in 1 Corinthians 5 –

“I wrote to you in my epistle not to keep company with sexually immoral people. ¹⁰ Yet I certainly did not mean with the sexually immoral people of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world. ¹¹ But now I have written to you not to keep company with anyone named a brother, who is sexually immoral, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner—not even to eat with such a person.”

What is obvious from Paul’s words, is that there are two ways that a believer may approach the world around him. The first is living in the world, associating with it, and using it in a manner which is customary to all human interaction. Nothing is forbidden in this. However, the second way is for the believer to act as the world acts. He lists such ways – sexual immorality, covetousness, idolatry, reviling, drunkenness, being an extortioner, etc. The latter are acting as an unfaithful bride because they are placing a higher priority on what the world offers than on their allegiance to the Lord.

But note that Paul calls them believers, and he later says they are “inside,” meaning of the body which is the bride. He does not call into question their status, position, or salvation, but he does call into question their allegiance. For this, they will be judged – not for condemnation, but for reward and loss.

James next states explicitly, “Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.” He shows that intent is equal to act. It is the heart which is being evaluated. It is not necessary for a person to actually be a friend of the world to be at enmity with God. Rather, whoever “wants to be” has already set the wall between himself and God. This is what Israel desired, and it is even what they did, but the Lord said that despite their ways, as a Husband He would cause it to cease. Follow the similarity in terminology in Ezekiel to what James is saying here –

“Thus says the Lord God: ‘Are you defiling yourselves in the manner of your fathers, and committing harlotry according to their abominations? ³¹ For when you offer your gifts and make your sons pass through the fire, you defile yourselves with all your idols, even to this day. So shall I be inquired of by you, O house of Israel? As I live,’ says the Lord God, ‘I will not be inquired of by you. ³² What you have in your mind shall never be, when you say, ‘We will be like the Gentiles, like the families in other countries, serving wood and stone.’” Ezekiel 20:30-32

As is evidenced, Israel did – in fact – commit harlotry against the Lord. But the Lord, rather than rejecting Israel forever, twice sent her into exile. And yet, in her exile, He has remained faithful to the covenant which He established with them. What occurs with Israel is a type and picture of how God deals with all of those who come to Him in faith through the New Covenant. We may, in fact, commit harlotry against the Lord, but He will treat us in the New Covenant as He continues to treat Israel under the Old, meaning with perfect faithfulness.

Our friendship with the world does not bring about our excision from the body. But it does bring us into temporal judgment in this world, and it will bring us into negative judgment at the Bema Seat of Christ – a judgment of reward and loss. It is a judgment of salvation, not for condemnation.

James’ words do not speak of a loss of salvation, but what is a proper standing of believers before God. In the coming verses, this will become painfully evident to those who believe that Christians can lose their salvation.

Life application: One should not get upset at James because of his tone. He is writing as if he were an honest pastor speaking to his audience – in general, but direct, terms. What is being said applies to all of us, but he is not simply pointing his finger at everyone else and claiming superiority over them. His point is that the envy and selfish ambition he describes shows a love of the world – the system of the world and all it entails. This would be different than the “world” mentioned in John 3:16 which speaks of the people of the world. When we put the love of the world ahead of our love for God, we are – by nature – at enmity with Him.

As Jesus said in Matthew 6:24 concerning money, “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.”

Devotion to God must be absolute. However, it doesn’t mean removing yourself from the world. This is what monks and other ascetics do, but the Bible doesn’t teach this either. We are to live in the world but not be “of” the world. We can freely use what is around us, but it is temporary and passing away. Putting our hope in things rather than God separates us from intimacy with Him. What is stealing your joy? If it is a material possession, then you need to let it go because you have lost your focus on God. In all things, remember to put God first and not be distracted by things of the world.

Lord God, we must admit that Your word often speaks directly of us. We often get sidetracked by the things of the world, and we even allow them to steal our joy. In the end, such things only separate us from intimacy with You, so please help us to keep our eyes, hearts, and thoughts on You at all times. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Wednesday, 14 August 2019

You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures. James 4:3

James just said, “…you do not have because you do not ask.” Now, implying that the person has asked, he continues with, “You ask and do not receive.” He is developing his words from one thing to the next in order to show how all things must be in accord with the will of God.

We fight after what we want and we don’t receive it. We have asked for it, but we do not obtain it because the same spirit of coveting existed in our asking as existed in our fighting for what we desired. He says that not receiving (meaning from the Lord) occurs “because you ask amiss.”

The word translated as “amiss” is an adverb which signifies that which is evil – “You ask evilly.” He then defines that by saying, “that you may spend it on your pleasures.” The intent behind the prayer is not that which is godly. Rather, it is self-seeking, and it is worldly.

He again uses the word hédoné from verse 4:1. It is a worldly pleasure with a strongly negative connotation. It is pleasure that is made an end in itself. When asking something from the Lord which is contrary to the nature of the Lord, it is obvious that the request will not be granted by Him.

In these words of James, it appears that what he says contradicts what Jesus says in Matthew 7:7, 8 –

“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. ⁸ For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.”

However, Jesus elsewhere clarifies this, such as in Matthew 21:22. One must have faith in what they ask for. James, under inspiration of the Spirit, also now qualifies what is stated. Not only are we to have faith that what we request will come about, but we are to have our requests in line with the nature and will of God. Unfortunately, people take single verses of Scripture, such as Matthew 7:7, and they build entire doctrines around them without taking into consideration the whole body of Scripture.

Life application: God is infinitely gracious. It is in His very nature to bestow on His children the things they desire and especially the things they need. However, we tend to ask for things we do not need and with the wrong motives as well.

“Oh Lord, I really need a cell phone.” The fact is that a few short years ago, there was no such thing as a cell phone. For six thousand years, man got along just fine without them. Some people still do. Is the cell phone needed, or is the desire to have one based on a misdirected desire? Intent drives the appropriate nature of the request.

“Oh Lord, I really want to retire at 65.” Until the age of Social Security, people worked until they couldn’t work anymore, regardless of age. After that, families pulled together and took care of the elderly. People who retired at a set age, such as 65, were the exception and not the rule. Now we want to retire at 65 and spend many golden years playing golf. What is our motivation for retirement at a specific age?

Often, these aren’t true needs, but depending on how we prioritize them, they may merely be our selfish desires. The vast majority of what we pray for is exactly that, something to fulfill our wish list. Selfless prayers ask for other’s needs to be met, for peaceable living in our circumstances, and for our own daily bread. Above all, selfless prayers ask that God is glorified through our lives; regardless of level of wealth, location of home, or amount of free time to play.

In all ways, may Jesus Christ be seen in our lives and exalted in the eyes of those who see us. And, may He be the Lord over everything we have, do, and interact with. When we pray for Jesus to be the recipient of glory in the meeting of our needs, we will receive the thing which will accomplish this; in abundance. He is infinitely worthy; so at the end of every prayer of request, make sure you add in a thought that asks for Him to be glorified through the petition.

Lord, our hearts are heavy for those around us; may You bless them. Lord our stomachs need to be filled; may You fill them. Lord, our nations’ leaders have strayed from Your word; please restore them to right sense and turn them back to it. But, Lord, in all that we ask for may You be glorified above all else. Amen.

Tuesday, 13 August 2019

You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. James 4:2

James turns to a literary technique known as an anaphora to reveal what is going on inside man. This is a technique which consists of repeating various words or sets of words, particularly at the beginning of each sequence of clauses, in order to produce emphasis. In this verse, he begins with, “You lust and do not have.”

The idea here is that of a person desiring something that is outside of his normal ability to obtain. The word translated as “lust” signifies something that is truly yearned for. On the night before the crucifixion, Jesus said, “With fervent desire I have desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer.” It is the same word as James uses here. And so it can be positive or negative. What James is speaking of is this intense desire, but the individual does not possess what is desired, and the implication is that it is beyond him to possess it.

Next, he says, “You murder and covet and cannot obtain.” The result of the lusting has led to the next step of the process. The idea here is that the person is willing to go as far as murder to obtain what he has. The subject “you” throughout the thoughts in this verse is plural. It is a general thought that any person he is addressing is liable to fall into this pattern. There is the intent to murder being worked out in the person based on the coveting. The violation of the Tenth Commandment results in a violation of the Sixth Commandment. Again, what is desired remains out of the ability to obtain.

James next says, “You fight and war.” The localized “murder,” turns into a general battle as part of a greater war. The word translated as “war” is introduced here, and it will next be seen six times in the book of Revelation.

The increasing measure of destruction in James’ words shows that man is never satisfied with what he has. We lust after something, we will kill for it because we covet it, and after that, we are willing to go into battle for it. And all of this, James says, remains elusive. His final thought of the verse is, “Yet you do not have because you do not ask.”

What we know does not belong to us, and which is forbidden to us (such as another man’s wife), is the last thing that we would ask for from God. He has already told us that what we seek after is not available. However, if we come to God and desire for His will in what we ask, then we will be given what we desire – which is His will. He will not give us another man’s wife because it is His will that we do not have what we lust after. However, for that which is in accord with His will, when we ask for it in prayer, we can be sure that He will provide it.

The problem with us is that when we ask for something in His will, we are looking for what we want, not knowing what His will for us is. And so when we don’t get what we want, we assume God did not provide according to our prayer. But the exact opposite is true. We prayed for His will, He provided what is in accord with His will (even if we received nothing physical or tangible), and whatever we now have is exactly what He intended for us to have.

Praying for God’s will in a matter means that whatever comes our way after that prayer of faith is God’s will for us at that time. From there, we cannot go out and do something which is against God’s will (as stated in His word) and claim that it was given to us according to His will. What comes our way in life, if it is in accord with His will, must always be in accord with the word. We can never go around His word and say that what we have is in accord with His will for us in our lives.

If we have cancer, and we pray for God’s will to be done, and then the cancer spreads, can we blame God? The very cancer in our body is a part of the unfolding of our life. It was no surprise to Him at all. We can pray for the cancer to be removed, but we are to accept that it may not be. All must be accepted as being according to His will. James will continue to explain this in the verses ahead.

Life application: Normally a counselor won’t be so direct with his words, but will rather talk around a subject and allow the one being counseled to come to an understanding of the problem through questioning. But James pulls out his boxing gloves and gives the old one-two across the chin.

“You’re a stubborn mule. You want things and don’t get them and here’s why.” He explains that we would rather kill and covet, quarrel and fight than merely ask God for the things we desire. Why would we do this? James will give us good reasons in the verses ahead, but it should be painfully obvious that if we are willing to kill for something we don’t receive then one of the reasons is that it is something we shouldn’t have in the first place.

If we have to go to such extreme measures to obtain a desired object, relationship, job, etc. then we’ve made it an idol in the place of God. One main purpose of God’s commandment to not covet was to tell the people that what He provides is sufficient. We should be content with that.

A second purpose is to show us our immense need for something greater; because by our very nature we cannot fulfill the law, “Do not covet.” As Paul said, “Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin” (Romans 3:20).

The law makes nothing perfect. It was merely given to lead us to a realization of how sinful we truly are. Once we get that, then we can finally see our need for Jesus. If you’re struggling with overwhelming desires, hand them over to the Lord and ask for His strength in dealing with them. He prevailed and through Him, you can too.

Lord God, desiring things that we don’t have seems to be the norm in our lives. Help us to be content with what You have given us. When there is something we don’t have, but which we hope for, give us the patience to work for it rather than burn with unhealthy desire leading to coveting or worse. Grant us this wisdom so that we might not sin against You. Amen.

Monday, 12 August 2019

Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members? James 4:1

James has been contrasting that which is heavenly wisdom from that which is earthly and reflects no true wisdom at all. He has shown what the results of the two are as well. He now asks, “Where do wars and fights come from among you?”

Is he referring to actual wars and fights among the Jewish believers? Or, does this extend to all of the Jewish people as a collective whole? Or, is this a general statement concerning the cause of such things in humanity? The answer is probably the latter. Humans are humans, regardless of race, culture, nationality, etc.

Further, the word translated as “wars” is one which speaks of actual battles. It can be used figuratively as well, but it is speaking in a broad term about the impetus behind such a war. The word translated as “fights” governs a whole sphere of words, and so it signifies strife, contention, quarreling, and so on.

The two words are given to include the whole round of such violent interactions between people. James is asking his audience where these things arise from. His answer is, “Do they not come from your desires for pleasure?” Here, the word translated as “pleasure” is hédoné. One can see the source of our modern word “hedonistic.” This is speaking of sensuous pleasure, and that pleasure which is looked to as an end in itself. It is not a godly pleasure, but one which is opposed to godliness.

Such desires well up in man and they cause all kinds of vile urges and motivations which can easily lead to wars and fights. As James says, it is these which “war in your members.” The verb here is a present participle. The war is ongoing and active. The word goes beyond just the act of fighting, but in everything that is involved in serving in the military. It is the service of a soldier which is warring inside of us because of our desires for pleasure.

Even Plato understood this precept. In Phaedo 66c, he says, “The body and its desires are the only cause of wars and factions and battles; for all wars arise for the sake of gaining money, and we are compelled to gain money.” It may even be that James was aware of Plato’s words and used the idea in his epistle. Paul cited Greek philosophers on several occasions. These are universally understood precepts because they come directly from the state of humanity.

James will continue with this line of thought, and he will also speak of the cure for it in his words ahead.

Life application: Think about it, if we didn’t have pride we wouldn’t care if we were offended and the fight would never get started. If we didn’t want things we didn’t have, we wouldn’t envy others and steal, kill, or lie to get them.

Admittedly, desire can also be used as a force for good; innovation comes from a desire for these things as well, but it is being channeled properly rather than improperly. Motivation causes us to work within our means for a good purpose, but envy causes us to go beyond our means to attain the same thing. Such is the case concerning the battle within us. We need to quench unhealthy desires and emotions and work towards our goals using proper levels of motivation.

Think on any issue where sin is involved and you will see that the problem could have been resolved from within the person by merely handling what happened differently.

When a candidate for public office lies about his qualifications, he is working outside of his true life story to achieve a goal. However, he could just as easily use the same precept as a point of complement to those who actually have such qualifications. This is just one example which reflects the nature of sin in all of us. We need to be extremely careful that when the internal battle begins, we quench the unhealthy desires before sin gets a foothold.

Lord, Your word is like a mirror that we hold up in order to see ourselves, and right in it, we can see our own failings exposed. We often lose those battles we face and that in turn ends in sin. Please give us the wisdom, the courage, and the fortitude to fight the battle and to prevail in it before sin is released in our lives. In this, You will be exalted through our faithful Christian walk. Amen.