The Be All, End All Solution for Fighting
The Bible is often referred to as the official “guidebook” or “manual” for the Christian living. Recognizing that God’s Holy Word is so much more than a simple guidebook, we must still admit that it provides absolute perfect guidance in handling all of life’s situations. In a world of social media, abortion, and terrorism, the Bible is just as relevant to us as it was to the 1st century churches. But can the Bible provide the be all and end all solution for fighting?
Put ‘Em Up!
Before we answer this question we’ve got to figure out exactly what we’re talking about. When I say that the Bible provides the solution for fighting, I am not meaning that minor disagreements won’t happen. Not everyone believes or wants the same things. Whether a fight occurs or not, however, depends on what you do with those differences. I'm also not talking about the phsical vilolence and war by extreamists or situations where you must practice self-defence. Fighting does not always consist of physical violence but can be the exchange of hateful words and attitudes that us Christians use against each other. Our focus today will be on the kind of fighting that we have between ourselves. We know that it’s wrong to fight with each other, but why do we keep on doing it? Do we really even know why we do it all?
Why do we fight?
The book of James is often called the “book of common sense” or “the book of practical Christian living." It has much to say about how we interact with others as well as how to address the internal problems within ourselves. Chapter 4 talks about fighting, why we do it, and how we can end it. Let’s see if we can find some answers.
“What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? 2 You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask. 3 You ask and do not receive,
because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions. 4 You adulterous people! Do you
not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a
friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. 5 Or do you suppose it is to no purpose that
the Scripture says, ‘He yearns jealously over the spirit that he has made to dwell in us’? 6 But
he gives more grace. Therefore it says, ‘God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the
humble.’” - James 4:1-6
Can you believe it! James narrows down the cause of fighting to one specific issue!
Selfishness.
Because of selfishness we allow our passions and desires to supersede other people. This one issue causes quarreling, fighting, pleasure seeking, war, lust, murder, covetousness, adultery, worldliness, and enmity with God. Think back now to any specific time you fought with someone. Why were you fighting? Was it not because you wanted your way, the other person wanted theirs, and you were both too self-seeking to consider the other person?
Let’s End the Fighting
One of the greatest things about God’s word is how practical and easy it is to understand. After explaining why we fight, the Spirit continues through James to tell us how to stop the fighting.
“Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to
God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts,
you double-minded. 9 Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you. 11 Do not speak evil against one another, brothers…” - James 4:7-11
Solutions
We saw previously the symptoms of selfishness and what causes fighting. Now James tells us what we can do to end it.
1. Submit to God - we must choose to live for God’s purposes and under his authority rather than our own.
2. Resist the devil - Satan is going to do everything he can to entice you to live selfishly. He is all about pleasure, fulfilling, lusts, and seeing to it that you always have your way. When we choose God Satan will flee.
3. Draw near to God - drawing closer to Him makes God closer to you. When you are more concerned about his wants you won’t be worried so much about your own desires.
4. Cleanse your hands - get rid of your sin, cleanse your life from sinfulness
5. Purify your hearts - take the evil thoughts and desires you have and sanctify yourself.
6. Lament, Mourn, and weep - be sorrowful for your sins. Weep because you have committed evil
7. Humble yourself - This is a difficult one. All of the previous solutions have something to do with humility. It’s hard to put yourself on the back burner while others are indulging themselves and are always getting your way. But consider the example Christ's humility. (Phil 2:3-8)
8. Do not speak evil against each other - Speaking evil is a symptom of selfishness derived from jealousy, hatred, and covetousness. Instead, we ought to look out for other people, show understanding, respect them, and love them regardless of what they do or who they are.
That’s all there is to it!
While we may know exactly what we ought to do, we recognize that it is easier said than done. These solutions can help us end the fighting. If we're going to get past our differences with each other, we need to heed these words. God’s challenge to you is to be doers of the word.
“But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves."
- James 1:22
Please don’t deceive yourself. Selfishness will bring about fighting with each other but even worse than that, it will make you God's enemy. Work through your struggles with selflessness and submit to God’s will.
Yours in Christ,
Zack