What About Me?

James addresses a common problem among humans in general and Christians in particular. He asks, "What is the source of quarrels and conflicts among you?" He answers his own question. "Is not the source your pleasures that wage war in your members?" Then he says, "You lust and do not have; so you commit murder. You are envious 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 with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures" (James 4:1-3). According to James, we have a big problem ... our primary concern and, also, our quarrels and conflicts, are all centered on ... self. "I want." "I'm concerned about my own pleasures." "I am the important one, and even when I talk to God about it, I'm asking for ... me."

James says it's "adultery" ... the Bride of Christ worshiping self rather than her Husband. By seeking our own desires over everyone else, we are giving our affection to ourselves, not Him. James says it is "friendship with the world" and it is "hostility toward God" (James 4:4). James says that God "jealously desires the Spirit which He has made to dwell in us" (James 4:5). Interesting. The concept of God as "jealous" isn't just here. God says it (Exo 20:5) and it is repeated (e.g., Exo 34:14; Deut 4:24; Josh 24:19; Nahum 1:2). Linked to His holiness and His love, God claims to be jealous and ... He's serious.

Understand ... "jealousy" is not necessarily bad. Jealousy, contrasted with envy, is the fear or anger over the loss of something that is yours (or you believe to be yours). Envy, on the other hand, is the desire to possess what someone else possesses. In this sense, God ... owns us ... and He is righteously angry if anyone, us included, tries to take us from Him. It's part of His love and holiness. And when we spend our prayers trying to obtain for ourselves the pleasures we seek for ourselves, we make Him our enemy. I would think that people who classify themselves as believers would prefer to avoid that status of being God's enemy. Our standard, human approach to life of "me first" is antithetical to a living, breathing relationship with God. We must, then, "Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded" (James 4:7-8). Repeatedly.