“What is causing the quarrels and fights among you? Don’t they come from the evil desires at war within you? You want what you don’t have, so you scheme and kill to get it. You are jealous of what others have, but you can’t get it, so you fight and wage war to take it away from them. Yet you don’t have what you want because you don’t ask God for it. And even when you ask, you don’t get it because your motives are all wrong—you want only what will give you pleasure.”
We’ve all experienced inner conflict. But have you ever thought about the fact that your insides are trapped in a constant war? Paul wrote about this in Romans 7 (and we may jump over to Romans when we finish with our James series!). We make up our mind to live in certain right ways — anyone ever made a New Year’s Resolution?? Usually we lose before we even get a tiny win. There seems to be this giant force defeating us all the time. Some call it the “devil on your shoulder.” The Bible calls it your flesh, which is the part of you that carries evil desires around and acts without your permission sometimes when you least expect it.
Today’s verses are all about those evil desires that none of us want to admit we have. When was the last time you wanted something you couldn’t have? How often do you experience jealousy? Our American culture and economy is almost entirely based on climbing to the top of a ladder often driven by greed and competition. Here James points out that this is not at all how the kingdom of God works. God’s system starts with aligning your desires and motives to his, seeking what he wants for you, asking him for that, and receiving it.
Consider Galatians 5. The fruit of the Spirit is what God has for you. Love. Joy. Peace. Patience. Kindness. Goodness. Faithfulness. Gentleness. Self-control. Want more of these and you will always get them. It is the most clear and comprehensive list of the good gifts God has for you. They are yours. Anytime. Everything you think you want or need doesn’t compare to the free life you can have with these gardens of the Spirit growing in your soul.