JAMES 4
Of the early church, it was said, “Behold how they love one another!” Today, people might say, “Behold how they compete with one another!” Why is it sometimes so difficult for God’s people to get along?
Selfishness (1–3). The wars among us are caused by the wars within us. We want to please ourselves, even if it hurts somebody else. If we are not careful, even our prayers can become selfish!
Worldliness (4). Because Abraham was separated from sin, he was the friend of God (
Pride (5–10). Satan knows how to use pride to defeat you as he defeated Eve (
Criticism (11–12). One of the easiest ways to hide our sins is to expose the sins of others. Gossip and slander grieve the Spirit and divide the family. God called us to be witnesses, not judges!
Boasting (13–17). Life is short and the future unknown, so do the will of God today. When you make plans, always say, “If the Lord wills” (
“It is right for the church to be in the world; it is wrong for the world to be in the church. A boat in water is good; that is what boats are for. However, water inside the boat causes it to sink.”
Harold Lindsell
“A whole new generation of Christians has come up believing that it is possible to “accept’ Christ without forsaking the world.”
A. W. Tozer