AVBC - Sunday - 11/15/26 - Sermon Title: “Wisdom from Above” - Dealing with conflict and submission to God” - James 4:1-17 - “The Book of James” – Sermon Series – (Part 5 of 6)

 Sunday 11/15/26 – Adams Village Baptist Church 

Sermon Title: “Wisdom from Above” - Dealing with conflict and submission to God” - James 4:1-17 - “The Book of James” – Sermon Series – (Part 5 of 6)

 

(Cover Picture – James 4:1-17- “Wisdom from Above” - Dealing with conflict and submission to God” - Picture)  

 

          For the past five weeks, we have been walking together through the Book of James in the New Testament of our Bibles. James is known as, “The brother of the Lord,” or the brother of Jesus. This book of scripture is a great book, but also a challenging book of scripture. The Book of James challenges us in many ways, to be holy, righteous, and to be more and more like Jesus. It is also a book of scripture that pushes us to be our very best as Christians, as followers of Christ. It is a book of scripture that makes us look at how we live, how we love, and what we do with our faith in Jesus Christ. As we continue working through the Book of James, this morning we will walk through James chapter 4 together.

          In talking about James 4, let us look again at this morning’s scripture reading. Starting in James 4:1-10, we hear, once again:

(AVBC – 1 - James 4:1-10 – Friendship with the World - Picture) 

 

Friendship with the World

4 What causes wars, and what causes fightings among you? Is it not your passions that are at war in your members? ² You desire and do not have; so you kill. And you covet and cannot obtain; so you fight and wage war. You do not have, because you do not ask. ³ You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions (Jas. 4:1-3, RSV).

 

In James 4:1-3, we hear, once again, about what causes wars and fighting in the world. Or to ask it another way, why have we and do we still have wars and fighting amongst ourselves? Further, what is the cause of human war and fighting with each other? I would say that some wars are defensive and protective, but I would also say that some wars include profit motives and other motives. Do we desire what we don’t have, and do we sometimes just “take it?” James is telling us in James 4 this morning, what sometimes motives us. Further, what are willing to do to get what we think we want?

          Don’t miss understand me, there is real danger and real corruption in this world, but the question is do we covet or desire? If we do, which probably everyone has had thoughts about things that they might want, what are we willing do get those things? Are some people willing to kill, lie, cheat, etc.? I think protecting the innocent, trusting God, and being a good man or woman is one of the most noble callings on this earth. You see, those who tried and then crucified Jesus were worried about his power and influence. Due to this, they did not want to lose what they had, so they crucified Him. Yet Jesus did not covet or desire and try to take away any of there power, there influence, or their money.

          To this point, we pick up in James 4:4, saying, once again:  

⁴ Unfaithful creatures! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. ⁵ Or do you suppose it is in vain that the scripture says, “He yearns jealously over the spirit which he has made to dwell in us”? ⁶ But he gives more grace; therefore it says, “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” ⁷ Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you    (Jas. 4:4-7, RSV).

          From the beginning of human history, there has always been temptation, the idea of wanting more, the idea of taking from someone else. James is telling us all to resist this. In part, it is because how much is enough? Further will that increase really satisfy us long term? We all need to basics to live but are willing to do ungodly and bad things to advance ourselves. Are we willing to steal, are we willing to trick, and do whatever it takes to get more and more for ourselves. If we have done this in the past, have we asked God for forgiveness, have we forgiven ourselves, and do we seek to live more like what it says in James 4. We are all under construction by God, and it we can always to turn to Him and be better.

          I remember when I was young, I was obsessed with video games. In fact, they were almost an idol to me. I would save up to get the latest game, and sometimes I would look at that game or that video game system as the most amazing thing in the world. I was really young, but I realize now that those video games and other hobbies sometimes took over too much of my time, my life, and the very limited financial resources that most kids have. I should have given more to charitable causes, but I was caught up in the excitement of something that I liked. Then there were cars! Do not get me wrong, I always had old vehicles that were not turning heads, but then I needed a CD player, car speakers, etc. It is not that God does not want us to take some of our resources to enjoy the life He has given us, but we have to be careful to not lose God in doing this. Not to lose God so much, that we are willing to do things that compromise us. When we do the right thing, when we work hard, when we are honest, I believe, life might not always be easy, but at least we can look at ourselves in the mirror and know that are doing are best to be like Jesus. I say this, as a person that when I was younger seemed to on some level lose sight of some of this at times.

          When I came to Christ at thirteen years old, I felt the great love and Holy Spirit of God, but it still took time for me to really get it. Time to push out the things of this world, and to more focus on things on God. I learned slowly as a teenager and a young adult what James 4:8-10 says, once again:

⁸ Draw near to God and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you men of double mind. ⁹ Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to dejection. ¹⁰ Humble yourselves before the Lord and he will exalt you                                     (Jas. 4:8-10, RSV).

          James is telling us in chapter 4 then, to avoid the allures, the traps, and temptations of this world. Instead draw near to God, not to passions, possessions, etc. Pursue Jesus and focus on Him. If we humble ourselves before God, He will exalt and lift us up. I know for me, humility has been a much better teacher to me than ego or being overconfident.

(AVBC – 2 - James 4:11-12- Warning Against Judging Another - Picture) 

 

          James then reminds us in 4:11-12 not to judge each other, as it says, once again:

Warning against Judging Another

 

¹¹ Do not speak evil against one another, brethren. He that speaks evil against a brother or judges his brother, speaks evil against the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge. ¹² There is one lawgiver and judge, he who is able to save and to destroy. But who are you that you judge your neighbor? (Jas. 4:11-12, RSV).

Part of the temptation of being earthly is to compare ourselves to each other, and sometimes not say bad things about someone else. I have been guilty of judging people before, and I am sure we all have. Some judgements are not bad judgements either. For example, you find out someone you know is a master chef, yet you would never imagine such a thing. You might say, “I be he can’t cook well,” when you find out otherwise. When people hurt us, hurt others, or do sinful and evil things, many times we want to say bad things about them. This, however, just throws more gasoline on the fire, as we heard last Sunday when we talked about “taming our tongues,” our judgements, and what we say about each other. None of us are perfect, but we do have a perfect God. If leaders, high up people in business decide that they think it is ok to say horrible things about other people, we get to decide to be like Christ. We get to decide not to play a name game, and to rise above that. It is hard to do this sometimes.

For example, on Thursday, when the terrible bus accident happened, at first, I was really angry at the driver that hit that school bus. They were speeding, and I thought to myself they should have been safer. The accident was awful and horrific, but I do not know what was going on with that driver. I really wanted to be angry and judgmental, but I had to surrender that to Jesus. Especially since I was thinking of the children, the bus driver, and the countless other people involved. Ultimately God is our judge, in the end we answer to Jesus, through the Holy Spirit. This being said, once again, it is hard sometimes not to judge evil and wrongdoing. Even so, we are all fallen, we are all in need of the grace of God, through Jesus Christ, and power of the Holy Spirit. We can say that maybe we are holier and less sinful than some others, but none of us are perfect and sinless. The goal of the Christian life is to become like Jesus, who on earth was the embodiment of perfection itself.

(AVBC – 3 - James 4:13-17- Boasting about Tomorrow - Picture)  

          James 4 then ends, once again, talking about boasting and tomorrow, or the future. As we hear in 4:13-17, once again:

Boasting about Tomorrow

¹³ Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and get gain”; ¹⁴ whereas you do not know about tomorrow. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. ¹⁵ Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we shall live and we shall do this or that.” ¹⁶ As it is, you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil. ¹⁷ Whoever knows what is right to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin         (Jas. 4:13-17, RSV).

These final verses of James 4 warn us against arrogance and self-sufficiency. God designed to love and help each other. It is hard to live life all by ourselves. It is true then to say that if we plan for one year from now, we truly do not know what a new year will bring. I certainly did not expect or welcome the bus accident this past Thursday. In this way, God is in control. For those of us who sometimes like to feel in control, one of the best things we can do is surrender to Christ. Sometimes we spend so much time overthinking and worrying that we forget this moment right here and right now. Friends, we will never be here again on Sunday November 15, 2026, ever again. I heard a saying a long time ago, “We make plans and God laughs.” Planning and thinking ahead are good things to do but let us not feel like we can see the future.

For example, some people are constantly trying to figure out when the next recession in United States markets will happen. I have talked to people that have 401k’s through work, and some of them want to know the exact day to change their retirement account to not lose money in a recession. When will the next United States recession be? I am not sure, and I do not want to lose sleep over it, as well!

(AVBC – 4 - James 4:1-17- Picture Summary)

 

          I have a couple of pictures that summarize James 4 well. Here is a picture summary of this chapter of scripture:

 

In James 4 this morning, he heard about the conflicts that come from our desire, that we need to draw near to God, to not be a friend of the world, to humble ourselves before God, to not slander or judge others, to not boast about tomorrow or the future, and to strive to do what is right today. In fact, the great Protestant Reformer, Martin Luther, was asked what he would do if he knew that world would end tomorrow. Here is what he said:

“Even if I knew that tomorrow the world would go to pieces, I would still plant my apple tree" (https://reformedjournal.com/2015/04/30/plant-a-tree/).

We have right now, we have today to serve God, to make the world better, and offer people the hope of Jesus Christ. Maybe in different ways then, we should all be striving more, myself, included, to plant whatever the “apple trees” in our lives are. Today is opportunity to bring people closer to Christ, and closer to each other.

(AVBC – 5 - James 4:1-17- The Main Point - Humility and Submission to God - Picture Summary – Picture).

 

          I also have another picture that helps to summarize James 4, as well. Here it is:

We are shown in this picture the problems that James 4 pointed out in the world of humans, and the correct response to these things. This main point or overview of James 4:1-17 encourage us to have humility and submit to God. In fact, this also says,

 

“Instead of striving, controlling, and boasting, we are called to humble ourselves, draw near to od, and trust His will for our lives”

 

(AVBC – 6 - James 4- The Main Question “Whose Will Are You Following” – Picture)

 

          To tie this whole message on James 4 together then, let us ask this final overarching question:

 

I think, I hope, we all want to do God’s will, even with the realities of our flesh, and the realities of this world. Let us all this day and always, strive towards holiness, righteousness, and to do the will of God, in Jesus Christ, through the power of the Holy Spirit, above all else. Amen.