[:en]SUBMIT YOURSELVES TO GOD (vs. 1-12)
Conflicts and dispuites amogt believers arise because of evil desires battling within us. We want more possessions, more money, more recognition and high status. And If we can not get it, we fight and quarrel. Instead of grabbing what we want, we should ask from the Lord. We should submit ourselves to God. Ask him to get rid of our selfish desires and trust him to give us what we really need.
When we pray with wrong motives – asking the wrong things and asking for the wrong reasons – our prayers will not be heard. Allow God to change your desires to correspond to His will.
Friendship with the world is hatred with God. A friend of the wolrd becomes an enemy of God. Pleasure that keeps us from pleasing God is sinful.
The cure for evil desires is humility. Pride makes us self-centered and creates greedy appetite beyond what we need which causes people to quarrel.
Submit to God. Resist the devil and he wil flee from you. Draw near to God by yielding to His authoirty and follow Him. Wash your hands, purify your heart from your sins. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will lift you up. Do not judge or criticize your neighbor. Be at peace with one another.
BOASTING ABOUT TOMORROW (vs. 13-17)
It is good to make plans but seek God’s will and ask for His guidance. Life is short, so live for Christ today.
There are two kinds of sins – sins of commission and sins of omission. James told us that not doing right is sin. It is sin to lie, but knowing the truth and not telling it also sins. It is sin to speak evil of someone. It is also sin if you avoid a person who needs your help.
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