What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you? (James 4:1)
The reality of Satan’s attacks on the lives of God’s people is clear and present. Yet we must be careful not to blame our sins on Satan, practically echoing Flip Wilson’s comedic punch line, “The devil made me do it!” As James observed in our text for today, our primary concern must be what is going on within us, not what Satan is doing to us.
Jonathan Edwards said that when the church is revived, so too is Satan. Edwards was right, but we must always take time to examine our own hearts, just as James’ epistle exhorts us to do. James warns that fights and quarrels are a result of our desires that rage within, and we must be careful not to define “desires” only in a sinful and negative way. Many good desires can cause fights and quarrels and ultimately enslave us. The desire to be right is not bad, but when it rises above being loving, the enemy within is rearing its ugly head. The desire to be needed is not sinful, but when it rises above humble service, the enemy within is rearing its ugly head. The desire for financial gain is not wrong, but when it rises above being faithful to God, the enemy within is rearing its ugly head.
Satan is a sly and remorseless adversary, but our most dangerous enemy lies within our own heart, and this is the place where the battle must be fought. The only hope of winning this battle is for Jesus to supernaturally change and transform our hearts. Remember, until Jesus shows up, the sickness of the heart is both terminal and incurable. But when Jesus raises us from death to life, we are given a new heart (Jeremiah 31:33), and that new heart begins beating for something other than the self.
That “something” has a name: Jesus Christ. Jesus is on a mission to rescue us from the sea of self-absorption, self-centeredness, and self-rule, but this change happens daily, not in a day. We must be willing to fight the good fight of faith each and every day as we make our way into glory. As Jesus said, we are to deny ourselves, take up our cross, and follow Him wherever He leads.
What has your heart been beating for lately? A little self-examination can go a long way in helping you take sword to the enemy within, knowing that the good work Jesus began in you He will one day bring to completion. Our worst enemy is never outside of us; our enemy is always within; when we acknowledge this truth, we can go to work on winning the war within through the power of the Holy Spirit, “because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world” (1 John 4:4 NKJV).
This is the Gospel. This is grace for your race. NEVER FORGET THAT . . . AMEN!