Why do we fight? James 4:1-6 Part 7
Read James 4:1-6 In the end of chapter 3 James told us that peacemakers sow a harvest of righteousness; true wisdom is seen in peace, humility, mercy, love and submission to God. Thus, what follows in today’s passage, is behavior that is not in line with true wisdom, in fact, it is the opposite. James goes right to the heart of the problem and asks us – What causes fights and quarrels among you? He doesn’t go into detail about what they were fighting and quarreling about, but instead, he nails the source of the problem immediately – our heart’s desires. Fights and quarrels come from a hedonistic attitude. Hedonism is the theory that we should seek pleasure and satisfaction of our desires above all else. It says this is the aim of human life and the highest good, however, the Bible says, “Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world to abstain from sinful desires which war against your soul.” (1 Peter 2:11). Restlessness and unfulfilled desires cause us to fight and a