An Enemy of God
"What is causing the quarrels and fights among you? Don't they come from the evil desires at war within you? You want what you don't have, so you scheme and kill to get it. You are jealous of what others have, but you can't get it, so you fight and wage war to take it away from them. Yet you don't have what you want because you don't ask God for it. And even when you ask, you don't get it because your motives are all wrong - you want only what will give you pleasure. You adulterers! Don't you realize that friendship with the world makes you an enemy of God? I say it again: If you want to be a friend of the world, you make yourself an enemy of God." James 4:1-4 NLT
James 4:1-4 is a clear picture of Hebrews 4:12 NLT that says, "For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.”
James 4:1-4 truly show that the word of God is alive – you almost ask … was this written yesterday?
These truths are happening everywhere, every day in the world today. Quarrels and fights due to selfish, narcissistic evil hearts demanding their own way at others' expense.
There is a blind pride.
A blind oblivion lacking common sense and wisdom, revealing many people to be an enemy of God. It's quite shocking what people believe they are allowed to do, and even more shocking when they feel entitled to what they do not own.
These worldly issues show Jesus Christ is not alive in hearts.
People are fixated on people or things, not focused on Jesus Christ seeking to do the will of the Father. This idolatrous fixation is seeking to satisfy desires by coveting what they do not have, lacking hearts of gratitude for God's provision.
The evil desires at war within people are there because they are not focused on Jesus Christ delighting in the Lord. They are enemies of God, adulterous and idolatrous. The flesh is winning because Jesus Christ is not sought. There is lack of desire for personal relationship with Jesus and listening to Him speak into one’s own life. There is a lack of repenting of sin when evil desires are present. Thus, a lack of sensitivity to the convicting call of the Holy Spirit.
Hearts are hardened to the voice of the Lord.
The focus is on what they want – and that is the sole focus. That focus then turns into a domineering desire to conquer to obtain what they want. The mind then thinks of strategies to obtain what it wants. But notice, seeking God is not what the mind comes up with in obtaining what they want. Why? The lack of fellowship with the Lord. Turning to the Lord is not the solution to their problem and these are not new Christians, which again emphasizes a lack of closeness in one’s relationship with Jesus Christ. If anything, their desire to commit murder to obtain what they want is a clear indicator their mind, heart and soul is not right with the Lord as that is breaking God’s 10 commandments. They are enemies of God and God clearly states in Revelation 21:8, murderers go to hell. Their mind is not even thinking of the Lord – it is an idolatrous focus. And this is why they are not obtaining what they desire.
Their desires are wrong due to a lack of delighting in the Lord. If we delight in the Lord, He places His desires on our heart, and we receive the desires of our heart – Psalm 37:4. Moreover, their desires show they are others focused, living a life of social comparison not Christ comparison, desiring what others have been blessed with instead of looking to the Lord in gratitude for what He has provided.
It’s apparent these Christians are not seeking God, as James says, “you don’t have what you want because you don’t ask God for it.”
It reminds me of the Garden of Eden, when Eve ate of the tree of knowledge of good and evil, doing exactly what God said to not do. She could have simply asked God for the wisdom she desired, but she chose to sin instead – and that one sin opened the door for sin to enter the world. When sin is our solution to obtaining wisdom or knowledge or any other thing, our hearts and minds show to be prideful with God type desires, not humble and submitted unto His Sovereignty. Pride increases sin with a negative domino effect on humanity.
Reality states, you will never be satisfied when you seek to satisfy your sin.
The ultimate desire, James emphasizes, is satisfaction - and people are searching for it, seeking outlets other than Jesus Christ. The desire for pleasure is not holy, it is carnal - hence the carnal avenues of obtainment. Thus, God is not giving them what they want.
Jesus is the only One who brings everlasting satisfaction - found in love, peace, and joy.
Jesus is El Shaddai, the all sufficient One who satisfies every need and desire with Himself.
Prayer: Abba, I do not want to be Your enemy. Please search me and know me and point out anything within me that offends You. In Jesus' name, Amen.
