Off the Shelf Sunday School--James

Reject Worldly Behavior (4:1-10)

What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you? You want something but don’t get it. You kill and covet, but you cannot have what you want. You quarrel and fight. You do not have, because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures. ?You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. Or do you think Scripture says without reason that the spirit he caused to live in us envies intensely? But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.

1.????Why are there so many unhappy people living in unhappy homes and going to work and church where divisions and conflicts abound? ?James says that these things are the result of evil desires within. Humans kill and steal, quarrel and fight to get what they want. The lust for prestige, power, fame, sex and other pleasures are the root causes of evil behaviors.

2.????Those who become rich, powerful and famous should be the most satisfied and happy people. However, many times these people turn to drugs and commit suicide because they are disillusioned and unhappy. ?Why is this? (1 Tim 6:6-10)

3.????Prayers that come from our desires are many times not answered. Why is this? Some people become disillusioned with prayer and think that it is a waste of time because they don’t get what they pray for. The purpose of prayer is for God to be glorified, his will and not ours to be done, and for us to live in humble dependence upon him.?(Mt 6:9-13)

4.????James says that to live in friendship or according to the ways of the world is to be at odds with God. James uses the word adulterous living and being an enemy of God. The world tries to absorb our time, talents and energy in pursuits that diminish our time with God and his importance. What are some examples of worldly things that can become the focus of our lives??

5.????Scholars have debated the meaning of the reference to the Scripture that speaks of envy and the Holy Spirit. To me, this verse recalls the zealous nature of God demanding absolute devotion to himself and not other gods or idolatrous pursuits. (Ex 20:4-6)

6.????It is when we humble ourselves in dependence upon God and seek his will that he provides the grace that is needed. Repentance (which is changing your mind about sin), submission and obedience to God are required for us to overcome evil. It is through the process of recognizing sin, realizing our helpless condition and asking for God’s grace to change us that we overcome evil. (Prov 15:33; 22:4) How does pride prevent us from getting the help we need from God?

7.????We need the armor of God to help us resist the devil who attacks us through evil physical, mental and spiritual desires. The armor of God is discussed in Ephesians 6: 12-17. How do the different types of armor enable us to defeat evil? ?