James Chapter 4 — Commentary on Verse 1

    Whatcausesfightsandquarrelsamongyou?Don’ttheycomefromyourdesiresthatbattlewithin you?

    In the previous chapter James had spoken against fights, since they proceed from envy, and pressed his readers to a holy wisdom. Here he speaks against fights and quarrels as proceeding from other worldly desires, such as ambition, covetousness, etc., which make them annoy one another and break out into unseemly brawlings. He proceeds by way of questions, appealing to their consciences.

    Whatcausesfightsandquarrelsamongyou? These words, fightsandquarrels, are usually applied to private disagreements—either fights and arguments about riches, rank, and outward pomp, or else annoying lawsuits before unbelieving judges. And the reason given for this interpretation is that the Christians of those times did not dare openly attack one another in a hostile way; so they disturbed the peace of the places where they were scattered. However plausible this explanation may seem, to me it seems frivolous.

    (1)      It is harsh to render fights and quarrels as private differences, partly because these arguments the apostle is speaking about went as far as bloodshed—Youkillandcovet,butyoucannothave what you want. You quarrel and fight (verse 2).

    (2)      Histories speak of wars and civil unrest between Jew and Jew (as in Acts 5:37), and probably many of the pseudo-Christians were engaged in these.

    (3)      The apostle in this letter is writing not only to the believers but to the whole nation of Israel, as appears from many passages in the letter.

    Don’ttheycomefromyourdesires…? [Fromyourpleasures, KJV margin]. Desires and pleasures are often used interchangeably, and sometimes they are coupled, as in “enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures” (Titus 3:3). “Desire” strictly means the earnest motion of the soul after sin; “pleasure” means the contentment it finds in sin. Sin is a pleasure to the wicked; it takes up their desires or delights: “Their idea of pleasure is to carouse in broad daylight” (2 Peter 2:13); “delighted in wickedness” (2 Thessalonians 2:12). Pleasure is a sign of a habit that is difficult to give up. Beware of a delight in sin, when acts of uncleanness or thoughts of revenge are sweet to you, or when you take pleasure in proud reflections on your honor and greatness in the world. Lord, if ever sin overcomes me, let it be a burden and not a pleasure. It is sad to rejoice to do evil.

    Thatbattlewithinyou. There are several sorts of battles in the human heart. In the heart of the wicked there may be battles:

    (1)      Between a man and his conscience. Aristotle said, “their soul is in mutiny,” and elsewhere, speaking of a wicked man, “he is not friends with himself.” A wicked man and his conscience are at odds.

    (2)      Between conviction and corruption. Sin storms at the light that reveals it.

    (3)      Between corruption and corruption. Worldly desires are contrary to one another and therefore jostle for the throne and usually take it in turn.

    In a godly person the war is between sin and grace, between worldly counsel and enlightened reason. These battles are said to be inyourmembers [KJV]. By members are understood both inward and outward faculties, which are employed as instruments of sin. James means the strong inclination of the will and affections against the knowledge of the truth. Similarly, Romans 6:13 reads, “Do not offer the parts of your body to sin”—that is, your faculties, which are exercised in and by the parts of the body, because of the relationship they have to the external parts, such as the eye to the understanding, the will to the hand, etc.

    Notes on Verse 1

    Note 1. Worldly desire is what causes trouble in a community. Covetousness, pride, and ambition make people overbearing and hurtful.

    (1)      Covetousness makes us argue with those who have anything that we covet, as Ahab did with Naboth. Hence those injuries and annoying lawsuits between neighbor and neighbor; hence public arguments.

    (2)      Pride is the viper’s egg that breaks open to reveal the fiery cockatrice: “Pride only breeds quarrels” (Proverbs 13:10). Pride can endure no equals. Haman’s thirst for blood came from his haughtiness; the disciples argued about who would be the greatest. (3) Ambition. Diotrephes’ love of preeminence disturbed the churches of Asia (see 3 John 9).

    (4)      Envy. Abraham and Lot’s herdsmen fell out (Genesis 13:7). Two great ones cannot endure one another near them: “Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other” (Galatians 5:26).

    Note2. When evils abound in a place, it is good to look at their cause. People engage in an argument and do not know why. Usually worldly desire is at the bottom of it, and we will be ashamed when we see the cause. Is it not because I want to be greater than others? Grammarians talk of finding the root, and philosophers of finding the cause; and many Christians do this too. It is good to sift things to the bottom. Where does this come from? “Since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly?” (1 Corinthians 3:3).

    Note 3. Worldly desire is a tyrant that battles in the soul and against the soul.

    (1)      It battles in the soul; it abuses your affections, to carry on the rebellion against heaven: “the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit” (Galatians 5:17). The Spirit no sooner presents a good idea than the flesh rises up in defiance against it; there is pride and passion and earthly-mindedness, envy, sensuality, unbelief, self-seeking, worldly policy. As soon as you decide to repent, believe, pray, these are ready to hinder you, to distract you, so that you cannot do the things you want to do.

    (2)      It battles against the soul: “abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul” (1 Peter 2:11). You carry an enemy in your own hearts, which defaces the soul’s beauty, disturbs its order, and keeps its liberty in check. Instead of God’s image there is Satan’s likeness.

    Question. Do worldly desires battle in the heart of a godly man? The reason for asking is that James is writing to Christians and talks about yourdesiresthatbattlewithinyou. And Peter, also writing to Christians, says, “abstain from sinful desires” (1 Peter 2:11).

    Answer. Yes; the life of a Christian is a wrestling, conflicting state. There is a double nature in the best people—“the sinful nature” and “the Spirit” (Galatians 5:17). We carry an enemy in our hearts; the Canaanite is not wholly cast out. Lord,delivermefromoneevilpersonanditwillsuffice is a good prayer. The sinful nature and the Spirit, like the twins in Rebekah’s womb, battle and struggle. Indeed, worldly desires stir and rage more in a godly heart than in a wicked one. Conviction may sometimes awaken drowsy desires, when without it all is still and quiet. But usually there is more trouble with sin after conversion, especially immediately after conversion. Since the fall it is an evidence of grace to find this opposition; since the admission of sin, grace is more concerned with the combat than with the absolute victory.