In this second lesson from James 4 James continued in verse two to further explain why these members are at odds with one another. He said, “You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and [b]war. . .” (James 4:2a). You lust, you murder? Is James saying that the early saints are murdering one another literally? Not at all. Just as he used strong language in verse one, he does so here. There are terrible consequences to the souls of others and our own when we lust and cannot have, when we war and fight with selfishness in our hearts. The truth is that when our focus is on self, others are often victims. Precious souls can be made to stumble when all we care about is self. Jesus warned against this kind of faith. Remember Matthew 18 when the disciples asked Jesus “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” Verse 4 Jesus said, “Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven”. But then verse 6, “But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea.” How far should we go to avoid causing another to stumble, how far should we go to end disputes, quarrels, wars and fightings? How about, cutting off your foot, your hand or plucking out your eye?
"God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth." (John 4:24)
