James 4:1-10 Loco 'motives' and other things that drive us

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=james%204:1-10;&version=51;


This is one tough passage of Scripture. I’ve been back at school taking courses and one of them is early church history. We are reading the documents from that time. I know that it’s hard to believe but James is writing to an early church that was quarreling and fighting with each other. They were fighting about: Who deserved the most honour? Who carried the authority? Whose place was where? Who had the right perspective and ‘insight’ as to what should be done? and who should do it? They were fighting about who was really committed to the church, and who was there for their own agenda? They were struggling over who should be ‘kicked out’ and who were the one’s that should be forgiven? Some people were offended because they weren’t part of the inside circle and felt they should, others were defensive because they just felt like they were being ‘attacked’ all the time and they were trying to preserve the faith. Some were causing dissension from the outside by sabotaging the work of the leaders, and some leaders were wielding their authority unfairly.

Are you not glad that we’ve grown and matured beyond all this trouble as followers of Christ, that we don’t deal with such ‘petty’ issues anymore? However, we have to remember, we’ve had two thousand years to figure it out. It’s the old adage isn’t it “the more things change, the more they remain the same”.

For a 2000-year-old letter, James is amazing insightful in the human character.

James 4:1-2 http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=james%204:1-2;&version=51;

Most of the struggles that I find myself whether personally or professionally, come from the ‘the desires that battle with me, and I don’t get something I wanted. My feelings get hurt, or my way doesn’t happen, or I’m not as valued or consider the way I think that I should be. Isn’t it amazing how strong we believe that our opinion, our view, our perspective, is the right one? Most of us do it much more frequently than we willing to admit. We draw opinions, make conclusions and set judgments on those around us, and the stronger the opinion or perception, the deeper the fight or quarrel but when it comes down to the core its, it’s the desires that battle within us, and we want something, we don’t get.

James goes on to say that when we don’t get want we want we covet and kill. Remember Jesus spin on “kill”. “I tell you whenever you hate a person in your heart you have committed murder”

“I don’t hate anyone” you might say.

Who have you put someone ‘on the hook’ that you won’t let off?
Who has ‘offended’ you and you will not forgive or trust again?
Who have you set an opinion about that you will not change?
Who have you spoken unkindly about to others?
Whom do you avoid and will not talk to?
Who do you talk about with others that tears down and does not build up?
Who do you make fun of at the expense of the other person?

Whenever we engage in any of these things, we are assassins – we may not kill the body, but we murder the character and wound the soul. These wounds are deep, and can ‘kill’ a persons dignity, respect, self-worth , character and reputation.

Our Motives:

“We do not have because we do not ask with right motives”

Our motives are tricky fellows. Wise is the person who understands and wrestles with their motives. Why we do, or don’t do, things. What is the gain or the positioning that occurs – who are we seeking to ‘please’ for our benefit.

“We should often be ashamed of our finest actions if the world understood our motives.”
Francois de La Rochefoucauld (French author and moralist) (1613 - 1680)

Scripture warns us numerous times of how deceptive our hearts can be.

All a man's ways seem innocent to him, but motives are weighed by the LORD. (Prov 16:2)

1 Corinthians 4:5 http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20corinthians%204:5;&version=51;

If motives are so deceitful and can deceive even our own mind what are we to do?

Admit, and assume our personal motives are suspect and examine them.
We begin with the prayer “Search me, try me, see if there be any wicked way in me”

(re-read James 4:7-10 http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=james%204:7-10;&version=51; )

We need to bring our motives under obedience:

Phil 4:8 http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=phillipians%204:8;&version=51;


And most importantly, ‘Submit yourselves to God’. The promise is as we submit ourselves to God, and resist evil, the enemy will flee. We are called, commanded, urged to resist and flee from evil; these are our fights, quarrels and wrong motives.

We can only do this if we place our trust in God. He has called us to be ‘right’ in Him in our relationships with one another. The stakes are high. They are as high as when James pleads with the Christians of the early church to stop fighting and quarreling and battling. Because the stakes eternally high. When we permit this to be among us, we are distracted and weakened personally and as a body. We lose our focus and the passion of vision that we have been called to. God has called us to achieve something great, and we are part of something significant together.

We’ve likely heard it said that the Christian Church is the only army that shoots it own wounded. I’m not sure this is completely true – we’ve all heard the term “friendly fire” –an oxymoron if I ever heard one -- but it is true that too often, we shoot at each other – and we wound each other. Perhaps unintentionally – a careless word, and cutting jab, a joke – or laughing at the expense of another – solidifying our opinion of a person or their character, judging and assuming motives – these are all bullets that are fired – and sink into the flesh of their intended targets.

If we could see with the eyes of Christ about this room this morning, how many ‘bullet wounds’ are there, how many have bleeding wounds from being ‘shot in the back’ – how many of us have a smoking loaded gun in our hands.

Painfully, I have to admit, perhaps without my awareness I have ‘pulled the trigger’ and wounded another – because I have spoke too quick, or unthinkingly, or callously or judgmentally. As I hold my gun, I must hear the words of Jesus “Hands up! Surrender” – Not words of law enforcement – but words of gentleness and compassion, calling me to lift my hands in worship before the throne of God and utter the words of Issac Newton

"Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound,
That saved a wretch like me....
I once was lost but now am found,
Was blind, but now, I see.

Neil