James 4

James wants to contrast worldliness and Christian life in this chapter. Quarrels and conflicts in us (en humin) is out of pleasures that wage war in our bodyparts (v. 1). They desire and do not have, murder [with the tongue], is seeking and cannot obtain, fight and quarrel (v. 2). They do not have because they do not ask [God]. This is a Hebraism. We should learn to ask God if we need something. But, the problem goes deeper. They do ask and do not receive because they ask with wrong motives, namely that they only want to spend it in entertainment (v. 3). Their excuse is that they drink, dance and do all strange things because God wants them to enjoy their lives and not walking with a long face. They are adulterating through this with the world or worldliness, as it says “brotherly love [philia] of the world”. “Do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility towards God?” (v. 4). Alliances with the world are enmity with God. “Or do you think that in vain the Scripture says: ‘He jealously desires the spirit that dwells in us’” (v. 5). It is not in the Old Testament. The sentence was cited from a well-known book by them but which the Holy Spirit decided is not necessary to be a rule of faith. Even Ellen White would cite sometimes correct information from books but the rest of the book is not included. The Spirit is interested in the limited correct information. God caused the Spirit to live in us and as Owner of our souls He has the right to be jealous of maintaining our souls against the Great Deceiver and Thief, Satan. But God gives a greater grace and then James used a diatribe comparison dio legei meaning “therefore says:” “God is opposed to the proud but He gives grace to the humble”. The secret in this Great Controversy of the theft of our soul is to submit to God, resist the devil and he will flee from you (v. 7). If we draw near to God He will draw near to us (v. 8). James is using a Hebraism here. “You cleanse hands, sinners, and you purify hearts, double soulish people”. They do religion and they do worship but it is empty ritual since they keep to their sins and live double lives. In that condition of arrogance the only solution is verse 9. They need to be miserable and mourn and weep (about their condition), their laughter need to turn into mourning and joy into gloom (v. 9). Of course God is a God of joy and rejoicing. But these people had serious problems. If they humble themselves in the presence of the Lord, He will exalt them (v. 10). Again James relies on a Hebraism here which was expressed also by Peter in 1 Peter 5:6 in a similar formulation. One needs to humble oneself in God’s presence and not just anywhere. It needs to be the covenant God of the Old Testament and Saving Jesus of the New and not just any god or idol of any religion. It is not humbleness that is the mark of correctness here, it is humbleness in the presence of God, the Owner of our souls. They are not to speak one against another. If one speaks against a brother or judges a brother then one speaks against the Law and judges the Law and in so doing the faithful person is not a doer of the Law but a judge of it. The faithful person has the law of God written on their hearts for they are keepers of the Law and to criticize them is to criticize the Law of God (v. 11). There is only one Lawgiver and Judge and that is the Savior Jesus and the Warrior Messiah, Jesus, Who will destroy the evil in Hell after the millennium (v. 12). James wants to end the paragraph with an elaboration about boasting in business successes. Business people in their table talk explain how they will go to a certain city and spend a year there and make money (v. 13). They do not know what their life will be the next day. They are like vapor that appears a short time and then vanishes (v. 14). The key to a successful Christian business is to say: “If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that” (v. 15). However, right now they are boasting and boasting is evil (v. 16). If a person knows to do the right thing and does not do it, for him/her that is sin (v. 17).

Dear God

James provides us with the key for successful living: recognize our Owner, knowing what is right and doing it, and not to criticize keepers of the Law. Also us O Lord, belong to You. Amen.

Koot van Wyk, (DLitt et Phil; ThD) Kyungpook National University, Department of Liberal Education, Sangju, South Korea; conjoint lecturer of Avondale College, Australia