“What causes fights and quarrels among you?

Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you?

You desire but you do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight.

You do not have because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.

You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God?

Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.

Or do you think Scripture says without reason that he jealously longs for the spirit he has caused to dwell in us? But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says:”

“God opposes the proud

but shows favor to the humble.”

“Submit yourselves, then, to God.

Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

Come near to God and he will come near to you.

Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double minded, Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.

Brothers and sisters, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against a brother or sister or judges them speaks against the law and judges it. When you judge the law, you are not keeping it, but sitting in judgement on it. There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy. But you — who are you to judge your neighbor?

“Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow.

What is your life?

You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.” As it is, you boast in your arrogant schemes. All such boasting is evil. If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them.”

-James 4 : 1 - 17

quarrels - unnecessary, sinful and contentious fighting, often arising from pride selfishness or folly. A verbal brawl, dispute, or discord that disrupts peace, harms relationships, and divides communities.

covet - having an intense, inordinate or selfish desire for something that belongs to another person. It represents a heart level sin of discontentment and envy that drives action such as theft, greed, idolatry, murder and placing material things above God. Strictly forbidden as a violation of the 9th & 10th Commandment; do not covet neighbor’s wife or their possessions.

adulterous - a person that has voluntary sexual intercourse by a married person with someone other than their spouse. A grave sin against the marriage covenant before God. Jesus expanded this to include lustful intent/ desire in the heart. Strictly forbidden as a violation of the 6th Commandment; do not commit adultery.

enmity - signifies intense, deep rooted hatred, hostility, and active oppression. It describes a broken relationship between humanity and God due to sin or the spiritual conflict between the followers of Jesus and the forces of the devil.

God’s jealously - It does not mean petty, envious, or insecure human jealousy. Instead it refers to a righteous, intense, and protective zeal for the exclusive worship, affection and loyalty of God’s people. Similar to a husband’s rightful desire for faithfulness in marriage. This divine jealously signifies that Jesus deeply Loves humanity, cares for them, and rightfully demands that no false god or idol takes the place of devotion meant for him alone

double-minded - refers to a person with divided loyalties, wavering between faith in God and worldly desires or doubt.

slander - malicious, deceitful, or false spoken defamation of another persons character. Strictly forbidden as a violation of the 8th Commandment; do not bear false witness.

humble - a heart attitude of lowliness, recognizing ones dependence on God instead of self-exaltation. It involves an accurate, modest view of oneself, often described as “poor in spirit”. It is marked by serving others, submission to God’s will, and lack of arrogance.

arrogant - an inflated, overbearing sense of self importance and pride that disregards God and looks down on others. It is considered a root sin that brings destruction; pride comes before destruction. The opposite of Christian humility.

2-18-26

XI