James 4:1

Memory Verse

From where are wars and quarrels among you? Do they not come out from your pleasures waging war in your members (James 4:1)?

Wars and quarrels directly result from the pleasures within us waging war against our members. This is the strong desire for delight that we have, which drives us to war against others. These strong desires may produce senseless slaughter or covetousness, but the wars and quarrels they produce do not satisfy the pleasures within us; therefore, we continually wage war against each other. 

Among the saints of the Church, there should be no wars or quarrels. We are given a promise by God. If we ask according to His will, we will receive what we requested (1 John 3:22). If we are not obtaining what we requested, it is because we are asking in an evil manner, so that we may consume what we ask for with our pleasures (James 4:3). 

In God there is no darkness; therefore, He has no fellowship with the desires or works from our sin nature (1 John 1:5). When we ask to fulfill our own desires, we are not asking according to His will. Therefore, we will not receive what we seek. 

Let us learn to ask correctly, not out from that which lacks in character (wrong) to get something for our pleasures. When we ask properly, we can have confidence that we will receive what we have asked (1 John 5:14). In order to ask correctly, we must first know the desirous will of God. To know His will for our lives, we start with what He has revealed for the grace believer. If we will not violate any aspect of His desirous will, then let us ask in love (seeking the best for others), using the freedom we have in Christ, while properly discerning each situation for what is good and what is wrong, so that we are continually living out the righteousness we have in Christ according to God’s will.