James, 4

This chapter addresses the inner struggle between the desires of the flesh and the desires of the spirit. The author encourages readers to submit to God and resist the devil.

James, 4

17
verses
2
min

Bible version

The Battle Within

1 From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members?
2 Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not.
3 Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.
4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.
5 Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy?
6 But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.
7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.
9 Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness.
10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.
11 Speak not evil one of another, brethren. He that speaketh evil of his brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the law: but if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge.
12 There is one lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy: who art thou that judgest another?
13 Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain:
14 Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.
15 For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that.
16 But now ye rejoice in your boastings: all such rejoicing is evil.
17 Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.

Commentary

James 4 is a powerful chapter that speaks to the power of humility and the importance of submitting to God. In verse 1, James warns against the sin of pride, which he says is the source of all conflict and strife. He then goes on to explain that when we humble ourselves before God, He will lift us up. This is a powerful reminder that God is in control and that we should not try to take matters into our own hands. In verses 7-10, James encourages us to draw near to God and to resist the devil. He reminds us that God is the one who gives us strength and that we should not rely on our own power. He also warns us against judging others, as this is a sign of pride. Finally, in verses 11-12, James reminds us that the Lord is the one who judges us and that we should not be quick to judge others. He encourages us to be humble and to submit to God's will. Overall, James 4 is a powerful reminder of the importance of humility and submission to God. It is a reminder that God is in control and that we should not rely on our own power. It is also a reminder that we should not be quick to judge others, but instead should be humble and submit to God's will.

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FAQ

Assuming a reader with an average reading speed of 300 WPM reads the James, chapter 4 it would take approximately 2 minutes to finish.

There are 17 verses in James, chapter 4.