This exposition of James 4:1-12 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday evening, April 28, 2019.
Intro:
One of the things that is characteristic of our age is a drive for “personal rights.” “I have my rights”, is a cry that is often heard. We are obsessed with self. Right and wrong seem to be determined by what is best for me and not what is “best” period.
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Everything must be determined from my point of view. Most of us are like granny Clampett. She was describes as one who only wanted one thing out of life – her way! Most folks are easy to get along with provided they always get what they want. A desire to possess, the pursuit of personal pleasure seems to be the driving force and philosophy of life. Unfortunately that description is not just of the “mean old world” out there, it is increasingly characteristic of the church.
In the pursuit to be “relevant” and “cutting edge” the church left behind the teaching of holiness and righteousness. We have all but forgotten that Jesus died not to make us happy but to make us holy. We are called to be different, set apart or distinct. Our lives are to provide a stark contrast to those of unbelievers. But this is not a new problem. The church has struggled with worldliness from the beginning. James, the half brother of the Lord Jesus, writing to believers in the first century dealt with the issue of worldliness within the church. In the fourth chapter he dealt with feuding and fighting within the church. If that’s not proof that the first church was a Baptist church, I don’t know what is!
Text: James 4:1-12
The book of James serves as a manual of Christian conduct.
James was a practical man and he spoke to practical issues.
It’s over-all theme is “maturity.”
It is a call for these early believers to “grow up.”
Chapter three dealt with curbing the tongue.
But the curbing of the tongue is just a part of gaining control.
It is about bringing your life into submission.
That theme is continued into the fourth chapter.
There is a chapter break in our text but there is no break in content. The fights and quarrels of chapter 4 flow from the worldly wisdom that permeated the church in chapter 3. The word “covet” in 4:2 is the same word, translated “jealousy” in 3:14, 16. In chapter 4 James is illustrating the “disorder” and evil resulting from envy and selfish ambition on chapter 3.
And James gets right to the heart of the matter in our text.
It seems to me James is saying we have one of two choices for our philosophy of life -
one of two approaches to the way in which we live.
Either we live according to the will of God or according to our own pleasure.
We choose to be friends with this world or we choose to be friends with God.
We can dress it up anyway we want.
But it comes down to one of these two.
Is my life going to conform to the will of God or my own pleasure?
Is my aim to please God or please myself?
In our text James warns of the inevitable consequences of the latter.
Thesis: Biblical faith resists attraction to this world while humbly submitting to God’s will and embracing His sovereignty over all things.
There are three things I want to note quickly from our text.
I. As those who wish to mature in the faith, we must steadfastly refuse the siren call of friendship with this world. (4:1-6)
A life driven by such passions have inevitable consequences 4:2-4.
It sets men at each other’s throat.
It drives men to shameful deeds.
The craving ultimately destroys our fellowship with God.
James comes to the heart of the matter in verse 4. This is the cause of the trouble. You cannot serve 2 masters. You cannot have 2 first loves!
II. Such steadfast resistance demands a lifestyle of repentance. (4:7-10)
Submit to God… put yourself under, line up, and get in your place
Resists the devil…stand up to, stand against – 1 Peter 5:8-9
Draw near to God…return to him
Cleanse your hands/purify your hearts…confess and purge
Be wretched/mourn/weep…reflect genuine sorrow for your selfish passions
Humble yourself…again submit to his will and allow him to exalt when he sees fit
See the contrast between these two friendships, these contending worldviews.
Friendship with the world:
- originates within the sinful desires of the flesh
- desires/motivated by a longing for earthly pleasure
- results in conflict with others, within, and with God
Friendship with God:
- originates in the gracious desire of God (but he gives)
- motivated by a longing for eternal satisfaction
- results in submission to the authority of God
There is one last thing I want us to note…
III. Such repentance produces humility which readily admits its place and humbly submits to God’s sovereignty over all His creation. (4:11-12)
Conclusion:
This passage calls for serious reflection.
Am I the cause of conflict within the church?
Do I contribute?
Do I actively seek to bring peace?
We must also ask, “How do my values, heroes and lifestyle differ from my neighbor’s or coworker’s who do not know Christ?”
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