By Don Bunting

James raises a question in chapter 4:  Where do all of your troubles come from?  While my typical response is to blame everything and everybody around me, James offers the real answer:  "Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members?  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.  You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures" (James 4:3-4).  

Most of our troubles are the result self-centered choices in a never-ending effort to satisfy our personal desires.  I think that if I can get what I want, do what I want, be what I want and enjoy what I want, then I will be happy, satisfied, content and at peace with the world.  NOT TRUE! Ironically, to seek God and His will is most satisfying.  Yeilding to God's will offers peace and contentment.  If you have tried doing things your way, what has that brought to your life.  Maybe it's time to try doing things God's way. But He gives more grace.  Therefore He says:  'God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.'" (James 4:6).  

This Book of James is full of practical instruction for daily living.  Would you like to study it more carefully?  Give us a call.   (570-228-2033).