What Causes Fussin’ and Fightin’?
Text: James 4:1-10
I’m sure most of you have heard of the Hatfields and McCoys, two famous (or infamous) feuding families from the hills of Pikesville, Kentucky. Now, what you might not know is this famous family feud lasted for a decade—and it started over a pig!
I’m not sure what aspect of the pig they disagreed about, but I do know both of these families were serious about their pork. The feud began with words and blows and eventually the battle line was drawn between the two families.
Eventually, the feud went to court over timber rights and the tension escalated between the clans until bullets began flying in 1888. Before it was all over, at least 12 people were dead.
Sometimes, when you think this fussin’ and fightin’ is over, you find out it’s not—it’s never over!
In January of this year there was a news story, which reported the descendants of the Hatfields and McCoys are at it again—and this time, it’s over “tourism”. You see, the McCoy family wants to run paid tours of the “feud sites”. And to do this, they need public access to a graveyard where 3 of their bullet-ridden ancestors are buried.
The problem is, in order to get to this particular cemetery, tourists would have to walk or drive over Hatfield land—and this is something the Hatfields don’t want!
I don’t think this feud will come to shooting; but, both sides are sure to exchange costly legal volleys in the courts of Pikeville, KY.
Now, when we hear about incidents like this, we kinda say “Boy, that’s silly to fight like that…especially in this day and age!” You know what? I don’t believe that many people will shoot you over a pork loin….but, we might engage in some verbal battles. It almost seems natural to fight first and ask questions later. We can watch little kids as they grow up and see that fact.
If we trace the history of mankind through the Bible, we see that fussin’, fightin’, and even killin’ ain’t new! We all know Cain got mad at his brother and killed him in a bitter fit of jealousy.
Then there was Lamech, who bragged about his fussin’, fightin’, and killin’.
Genesis 4:23 & 24
---23 ---“Lamech said to his wives,
‘Adah and Zillah, listen to my voice,
you wives of Lamech,
Give heed to my speech,
For I have killed a man for wounding me;
And a boy for striking me;
---24---If Cain is avenged sevenfold,
Then Lamech seventy-sevenfold.”
Then there was the Nation of Israel…and we can read about their history throughout the OT and the NT. If those boys weren’t fussin’, fightin’, and killin’….well, then they weren’t breathing. Even the NT tells us about their quarreling with each other, or else, wanting to fight with the Romans.
They were always wanting to fight the 1st century Christians….especially the apostles preaching the Gospel of their salvation. They tried to kill Paul several times, because they didn’t like what he was saying.
It seems that fussin’, fightin’, and even killin’ has been going for a long, long time. The question comes up—“Isn’t there anything that might stop this?”
Well, the world we live in sure hasn’t stopped. We can read about fussin’, fightin’, and killin’ and see it on television every day! We all know people who would rather fuss and fight than eat.
We might say, “Well surely, with the coming of Christ, the Gospel, and the Lord’s Church, this problem has stopped….especially among Christians.”
But, was the problem solved? The Apostle Paul didn’t think so. Listen to some of the things he wrote to the Christians during the 1st century.
1st Corinthians 3:3
---3---“…for you are still fleshly. For since there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not fleshly, and are you not walking like mere men?”
2nd Corinthians 12:20
---20---“For I am afraid that perhaps when I come I may find you to be not what I wish and may be found by you to be not what you wish; that perhaps there will be strife, jealousy, angry tempers, disputes, slanders, gossip, arrogance, disturbances…”
Galatians 5:19-20
---19---“Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality,
---20---idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions…”
This morning we go back to our series in the little Book of James, and, so far in our study, we’ve learned about what authentic Christianity is all about.
We’ve already studied 3 of the 5 chapters of the book and we’ve discovered how a Christian should deal with the inevitable trials of life and how to handle temptation when it comes….and it will come.
James has told us if we’re “authentic Christians”, we will be changed. Being a Christian will
· change our view of the Creator,
· change our character,
· change our view of God’s commandments, and
· it will even change how we care about other people.
In Chapter 2, James taught us to not show favoritism in the Lord’s Church, because it is contrary to the character of God. It violates the Law of God and it denies the Grace of God. In the latter part of Chapter 2, James tells us if we truly have Faith in our Lord, Jesus Christ, then Faith will lead us to do good works.
In Chapter 3, James gave us a course in the “proper speech for the Authentic Christian” and, in the latter part of James, Chapter 3, we’re told to follow the wisdom of God and not the wisdom of the world.
Now, as we come to Chapter 4, James sees the same problem that the Apostle Paul saw in the 1st century church. And, just remember….he was writing to Christians—not those who had rejected Christ. In James’ course in “Authentic Christianity”, he now comes to the problem of fussin’ and fightin’! Read with me….
James 4:1-10
---1---“What is the source of quarrels and conflicts among you? Is not the source your pleasures that wage war in your members?
---2---You lust and do not have; so you commit murder. You are envious 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 with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures.
---4---You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore, whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.
---5---Or do you think that the Scripture speaks to no purpose: ‘He jealously desires the Spirit which He has made to dwell in us’?
---6---But He gives a greater grace. Therefore it says, ‘GOD IS OPPOSED TO THE PROUD, BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE.’
---7---Submit 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 miserable and mourn and weep; let your laughter be turned into mourning and your joy to gloom.
---10---Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you.”
Now…we might read these scriptures from James and pass them off by saying, “Well, that was then…and this is now”. I’d hesitate to do that myself, because I’m afraid this age-old problem is still with us. The old problem of fussin’ and fightin’ still raises its ugly head, and we can still find it right in the Lord’s Church.
Church Fights and Splits.
There’s a story about a church that was split over the translation of the Lord’s Prayer. One group said the Bible says “forgive our transgressions” and the other group said the Bible says “forgive our debts”. The Church ended up splitting and going in different directions. A young man asked the preacher, “Well, what happened?” The preacher replied, “One group ended up with their transgressions and the other group ended up with their debts!”
What causes all of this fussin’ and fightin’? Well, it’s still the same as it was in the 1st century—the same for James as it was for Paul. That’s why James, speaking by the inspiration of God, is talking to the Lord’s Church in his time; but also to the Church for all ages.
When we read the first verse, as the NIV puts it, “What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you?”
Did you catch James’ comment about the “cause” or “reason” behind our feuding? It’s really very simple.
First—It is because we don’t get what we want!
Now, notice verse 2 again. “You want something but don’t get it. You cannot have what you want—so you covet and quarrel and fight and kill!”
I guess it’s like the time President Abe Lincoln was walking down the street with his two sons, both of whom were crying.
A passerby asked, “What’s the matter with your boys, Mr. President?”
Lincoln replied,
“Exactly what’is wrong with the whole world. I have three walnuts…and each boy wants two.”
Well, sometimes people can become just as selfish as Lincoln’s two sons; but, today, we want much more than a couple of walnuts.
According to a survey taken back in 1900, Americans wanted 72 things, but considered 19 of those things “important”. A similar survey in 1950 revealed Americans wanted 496 things and considered 96 of them to be “essential”.
There hasn’t been a survey of this nature taken in recent years; however, I’m sure you can visualize what it would be like! The survey probably couldn’t list all the things we want—and what we consider essential to life would include
· cell phones,
· a television in every room,
· answering machines,
· computers,
· e-mail,
· credit cards,
· a DVD player,
· a VCR,
· 2 or more cars, and
· a bigger house!
Question: Do you think they build houses bigger because families are larger?
Answer: No, families are smaller, but we need bigger houses to keep all our “Stuff” out of the rain.
By the way, this self-centered “Wanting” doesn’t just include material things….it also includes non-material things like prestige and power.
And when we don’t get what we want, then…just as James says…quarrels and disputes ensue and people get hurt!
Like the song lyrics from an old B.J. Thomas song went—
Using things and loving people,
that’s the way it’s meant to be…
because loving things and using people
only leads to misery.”
Maybe there are times we need to stop and ask ourselves, “Am I upset because I didn’t get what I wanted?”
Now, this might have been something foolish…
Or, it might have been something important—
Something we though we deserved….
But, the truth is this: We are all wanters, cravers, and desirers. From Bagdad to the board room—from the highchair to the High Court—from the nuclear family to nuclear war….the principle is still the same.
Quarrels arise because we “Want” something
and we don’t “Get” it!
James says one of the worst consequences of this attitude is it brings our spiritual growth to a standstill by polluting our prayer life.
Now look at verse 3—
---3---“You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures.”
James knows that this selfishness can warp our understanding of the purpose of prayer….and we begin to look at it as merely a way to get the things we want.
We’re much like the little boy going upstairs to bed. His mother says, “Remember to pray”. He turns around and asks, “Does anyone “Want” anything?”
Sometimes we might approach prayer like talking to a sign down at McDonald’s. We tell the sign, “I want a hamburger, coke, and a large order of fries with that.”
Now some might ask, “Aren’t we supposed to pray?” The answer is, yes….we can pray for our needs and our wants, but we should do it with the right attitude. The right attitude is one that’s honestly seeking God’s will for our life.
James tells us the “Reason” we have this tendency to quarrel and fight. The reason we have this tendency is because we’re selfish “wanters”—“We wants what we wants when we wants it!”
That’s the way our fallen world operates.
James tells us that when Christians live that way—when we constantly quarrel as we seek to satisfy our wants—we change! Instead of people who seek the Kingdom of God, we become people who seek first the kingdom of the world. And when that happens….
Second—We become involved in a feud with God Himself.
Look at verse 4—“…you adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore, whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.”
· You see, the world says “Get”—but God says “Give”.
· The world says, “Focus on your wants—but God says to focus on the Needs of Others.
· The world says we’re to store up treasures that moth and rust corrupt—God says to invest in things that last forever.
· The world tells us to “Hate”—God says “Love”.
We could go on and on quoting opposites, because the Truth is our fallen world and its purposes are contradictory to the things of God. So when we center our days around getting and wanting and hating when we don’t get what we want—when we conform to the ways of the world—our Loving God is offended.
To God, it is as we are cheating on Him….as if we are collaborating with the enemy. That’s why James called those Christians adulterous….because when they lived like the world, they broke their vow to God.
When we fight and quarrel and feud, we are putting ourselves into opposition with God. We are disobeying His commands and living according to the desires of the Devil. God has called us to be peacemakers and to live holy lives.
Do we remember what Jesus said?
Matthew 5:43-44
---43---“You have heard that it was said, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AND HATE YOUR ENEMY.’
---44---“But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you…”
Luke 6:27-29
---27---“But I say to you who hear, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,
---28---bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.
---29---Whoever hits you on the cheek, offer him the other also; and whoever takes away your coat, do not withhold your shirt from him either.”
How Can We Stop Fighting?
First, James says we must Submit to God. The term “submit” is a military term and it means to “give someone with superior rank the respect and authority that is due them”. It carries the connotation of staying in rank with God. In this text, James is ALSO saying that we need to walk in CLOSE relationship with God, so we can HEAR orders and directives.
There’s a story about a young man hired by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation. His job was to paint the white lines on a nearby highway, because the machines were temporarily out of order.
The first day he painted 8 miles.
The second day he painted 4 miles.
The third day he painted 2 miles.
The fourth day, he only painted 1 mile.
The supervisor couldn’t figure out what was happening concerning the performance of the man’s job and asked him, “Hey! What’s the problem?”
The young man replied, “I’m painting less and less, because the paint can is getting farther and farther away!”
The young man would have done a much better job if he had carried the paint can with him. The truth is, we will do better living the Christian life if we walk NEAR to God….in close daily communion with Him.
In verse 8, James says when we draw close to God, He will draw close to us. As Psalm 145:18 says, “The Lord is near to all who call on Him, to all who call on Him in truth.”
So—the first step to overcoming our quarrelsome nature is to take God up on this and DRAW NEAR to Him. And then James says that at the same time, we must also PULL AWAY FROM the adversary.
Second, James says the next step must be to RESIST the Devil.
When we’re fussin’ and fightin’, we are pleasing the adversary, the Devil. That’s because we’re furthering his purposes.
We have to understand that, when we become Christians we receive a new Savior; however, we also receive a new enemy.
But this new enemy is vulnerable. When we stand on the Word of God and make it the pattern of our lives, Satan will flee from us.
· In order to RESIST the Devil we must first accept the fact that Satan is REAL. His existence may be a mystery, but the reality of his presence is no mystery. The Bible teaches us that Satan is a real and powerful force in this world.
· If we’re going to resist the Devil, we must realize that he is rebellious. He is in opposition to God and works daily to defeat the Lord’s work.
· Satan hates us as Christians. He hates righteousness. He hates God. He hates the Bible and everything it stands for. He is out to defeat us!
We should know that the Devil is RELENTLESS. Peter tells us the Devil constantly “…prowls about like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.”
The Devil is strong, but not as strong as God. As 1st John 4:4 says, “Greater is He who is in you, than he who is in the world.”
Third, James says what we must do to overcome our tendency to quarrel and fight is to REPENT of our sinful selfishness.
In verses 8-10, James says, “…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.”
James tells us there is a way out of these situations—submit to God, resist the Devil and repent of our sins…then we will experience God’s peace. This peace is a peace with God, peace with ourselves, and peace with others.
Philippians 2:14
---14---“Do all things without grumbling or disputing…”
Colossians 3:13
---13---“…bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you…”
Invitation.
