Conflict

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.

James 4:1-2

Conflict is inevitable in life. Sometimes fights cannot be avoided. Human beings need to learn to deal with conflict as it doesn’t go away for long.

James here identifies certain desires that lead to conflict in the home and in the church. He teaches that the desire for pleasure, lust, character assassination, and covetousness are some of the factors that lead to constant infighting and stress. God’s people ought to examine themselves regularly to make sure these foibles are not at work in their lives. If they are, Christians should repent and turn from these foolish argument starters.

Conflict will happen under the best of circumstances. Let us resolve not to add to it by living in ungodly attitudes and mindsets.

Tony French