Bringing it all together

 James 4:1-3

This week James brings his message out "success in godliness" full circle and scales back from the individual perspective to what this looks like in a collective group of  believers. The opening question in our reading today says it all, "What causes fights among you?" Two things should be noted here. First, James is addressing the plural group of Christians as a community. Second, there were apparently fights, discord, and disagreement in the group. I'm sure that sounds so hard for some of us to believe... Why are these two points so important. First, remember that James is not writing a private letter, but writing to all the believers who have been scattered by persecution. Second, what is held in the depths of each individual believers heart will ultimately affect the community as a whole. This is a fact! Just hang out in one church long enough and you will see it. Fleshly desires for power, influence, money, social status, titles, or positions will always rear their ugly heads and cause fights and division. James points out here that if we were truly "successful at godliness" then we would be bringing peace to our church communities. But, since there are fights and quarrels, then obviously, some of us still need to grow in "success". Just because there is a chapter division here doesn't mean James was done with one thought and moved onto the next. These verses should not be separated from the ones that came before them. If there are fights and discord in our Christian communities, then by extension we are not mature or "successful in godliness". If, we are the kind of believers that are sowing and bringing peace in our churches that we are mature and "successful in godliness". It's not hard to understanding, but making our hearts comply with the simple truth of it can take a lot longer. Where are you today? 

Prayer: 
Jesus my King, I know that You desire me to follow in Your example and be a peacemaker. Please help me to rid myself of all selfish ambition and desires and willingly be humble, submissive, and a peacemaker in my family, church, and community. Use me Lord, I am ready to serve. Amen. 

Reflection: 
On a scale from one to ten, how much of a peacemaker are you? 
What will you change this week?