Where Does It Come From?

“Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires [lusts] that war in your members?” Jas. 4:1-3.

All those who are fighting and are engaged in a conflict think that they are fighting for the truth and for righteousness. However, the expert, James, knows something completely different. He was an expert in peaceableness as in so much else. He writes very radically. All wars and all fighting are caused by the same thing. In other words, there are no exceptions! Most people lack this light; otherwise there would not have been any fights.

The desire to fight and love of argument are deeply ingrained in every human being. However, it is not more firmly attached to us than that we can be completely set free from it. The Lord be highly praised! Not only do people fall into fighting and arguing; they have a desire for it; they like it; they actually love it.

This judgment should be passed on it, for it is true. From verses 2 and 3 we see that it is even useless for a person to pray when he is in such a state, for then he prays amiss in order to spend it on his lust for fighting. Then the person is in such darkness that he hopes to get God’s help in his lust to fight!

This is written in context with what it says previously about the wisdom that is from below and the wisdom that is from above. The wisdom that is from below is quarrelsome whereas the wisdom that is from above is peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy, and meek, and is known by its good works and good conduct.

By this true judgment, the wisdom that is from below must have led to discord and strife. All those who are upright acquiesce in this judgment with the result that things proceed well so that they die to their lust to fight!

It is of the utmost importance to annihilate the lust to fight completely. Good success to each and every one!