1. Yesterday, we learned that "where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice" (3:16). In other words, envy and selfishness will damage and strain relationships and communities.
Today, we read that "fights and quarrels" are the result of interior personal struggles: "Don't they come from your desires that battle within you?" (4:1).
Think about this for a second. In both verses, we see that personal (interior) sinful desire works itself out in damaged relationships - in this case, arguing and fighting. How, then, can we address this matter of the heart?
2. In 4:3, we find that we sometimes pray with the wrong motives. Have you done this before? Be reminded that, when you pray, God knows exactly what you need (and what you don't need), how you need it, and when. Therefore, we begin to pray more and more that his will would be done in our lives, because that's the best possible thing for us. It seems this sort of prayer and perspective will counter our sometimes selfish and envious desires.
3. In 4:4-5, we learn that we must make a choice: close friendship with God or close friendships with "the world." We can't choose both - friendship with one, excludes the other. Reflect on this for a minute or two.
4. There is a remarkable short statement in 4:6, "But he gives more grace." It's amazing that, even through our disobedience and selfishness, God gives yet more grace. How gracious is he??!?
5. Notice in 4:11, similar to yesterday (James 3), that we are not to slander other people, for the simple but profound reason - they are made in God's image.
6. In the mini section 4:13-16, James talks about when we makes plans - as if we are in control of our lives and in control of the future. Regarding the future, what does he say we should do instead?
7. The final verse (v. 17) talks about sin in a way that we sometimes ignore. Often we think, I did something which is sinful. Here, however, we learn that it is sin to know we should do a good thing, but then we don't do it. Does this resonate with you? Take a moment to pray and ask God for forgiveness for when you have known a good thing to do, but you failed to do it.