James 4
Our Bible study topic the last couple weeks has been on relationships. I’ve always felt that I’m pretty independent and confident, but the more I study the more I’m convicted. Convicted that I often use people, family or friends, to fill me instead of going to the true source.
Here is something else I found. Check out this verse from James 4: 1-2.
“What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don't they come from your desires that battle within you? You want something but don't get it.”
This isn’t a very pretty verse, and it is easy to apply it to others, but wow it is hitting home with me. This truth is obvious in small children—they fight because someone has something they wanted, or their parents refuse a privilege. They don’t get what they want.
How about adults? What desires battle within me? A need to feel secure or wanted or accepted? A need to feel appreciated or respected or loved? Aren’t those feelings that cause me to fight with my spouse or other family members? Aren’t those desires that battle within me the reason I feel resentment toward my friend?
It is crazy that it all comes back to God and my relationship with him???? Why would we put such high expectations on the people in our life? How quickly I forget that they are depraved and broken just like me! God is the only one who will not disappoint! And if they happen to get it right every once in a while, as Cindy Hawks said last week, that is just a gift from God.
There are two action steps James 4 gives us. These are the two things I want to do the next time I feel myself quarreling from the desire that battles within me (even if the quarrel is in my head and not noticeable to others.)
1) Verse 7, submit yourselves, then, to God!
2) Verse 10; humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.
It’s his job to lift us up, not our spouse or friend or ministry leader or parent or ourselves. It’s his job! I think he’s up for the challenge, don’t you?
Here is something else I found. Check out this verse from James 4: 1-2.
“What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don't they come from your desires that battle within you? You want something but don't get it.”
This isn’t a very pretty verse, and it is easy to apply it to others, but wow it is hitting home with me. This truth is obvious in small children—they fight because someone has something they wanted, or their parents refuse a privilege. They don’t get what they want.
How about adults? What desires battle within me? A need to feel secure or wanted or accepted? A need to feel appreciated or respected or loved? Aren’t those feelings that cause me to fight with my spouse or other family members? Aren’t those desires that battle within me the reason I feel resentment toward my friend?
It is crazy that it all comes back to God and my relationship with him???? Why would we put such high expectations on the people in our life? How quickly I forget that they are depraved and broken just like me! God is the only one who will not disappoint! And if they happen to get it right every once in a while, as Cindy Hawks said last week, that is just a gift from God.
There are two action steps James 4 gives us. These are the two things I want to do the next time I feel myself quarreling from the desire that battles within me (even if the quarrel is in my head and not noticeable to others.)
1) Verse 7, submit yourselves, then, to God!
2) Verse 10; humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.
It’s his job to lift us up, not our spouse or friend or ministry leader or parent or ourselves. It’s his job! I think he’s up for the challenge, don’t you?
posted by Heather @ 7:07 AM
1 Comments:
At 7:37 PM,
Tam said…
Heather,
I just read day 16. It reminds me of a comment Jessica said one day many years ago. "Mom I wish you would do more with me than doing so many things for me." At the time I think I was starting a childen's library at my church. I had so much energy then.
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