For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. (17) But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. (18) Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace. (4:1) Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members? (2) You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. Yet you do not have because you do not ask. (3). You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures.
Thie letter was written by James, half brother of Jesus and head of the church at Jerusalem. James was writing to Christian communities addressing problems of conflict in the early church – not unlike relational problems in the church today. Basically James is saying that the faithful can’t resolve conflict until the source of that conflict is found – and that source is within us. The enemy isn’t other people, it’s within us. Conflict arises among Christians when they stray from God’s wisdom to the “wisdom” of the world – and worldly wisdom is always rooted in pride leading to selfishness, ambition and jealousies.
God is not the source of worldly wisdom which comes from human emphasis on self and results in confusion, disorder and relational contentions – war and fights. Spiritual peace of the Lord is not accidental and the faithful must be deliberate in effort and attention to God’s wisdom. The solution to this unholy state is discernment – an honest examination of our motivation when we are in conflict with others – and an avoidance of judgment of others. Men/women are born with a depraved nature and are born again, made right again with God in faith in Christ alone; we are to live in the world but not of the world. Conflict dims our connection to God and the peace of Christ
Our prayer life will focus us and help us examine our true motives. And don’t pray selfishly as God cannot be used. It is God’s will on earth as it is in heaven. All else leads to sadness, frustration and alienation from God. Salvation is always of the Lord and the peace of Christ is precious behind all understanding.