Strife is an ugly thing. It divides, it wounds, and it dishonors the name of Christ. And yet, it is as old as the church itself. Many imagine that the early church was a golden age of unity and love, but Scripture tells a different story.
Even while the apostles still walked the earth, even while some believers had seen the Lord Jesus with their own eyes, the church was filled with conflicts, factions, and bitter disputes. James, the brother of our Lord, addresses this head-on in the fourth chapter of his epistle.
He does not soften his words. He calls the divisions among believers what they truly are—wars and fights, the fruit of selfish desire. And he does more than merely point out the problem. He diagnoses its cause, exposes its foolishness, warns of its dangers, and—most importantly—prescribes its cure. If we would guard our churches against the rot of strife, we must give our full attention to James 4:1-10.
The Source of Strife
James begins with a piercing question: “What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you?” (James 4:1). The source of conflict in the church is not external. It is not the culture, the government, or even theological differences. The enemy is within. It is within the church, yes, but even more specifically, it is within each of us. The true battleground is the heart.
Inside every Christian, there exists a contradiction. We are new creatures in Christ, yet we carry within us the remnants of our old sinful nature. And that old nature still desires what pleases self, often at the expense of others. James uses strong language here. He describes these inward desires as “lusts” or “pleasures”—a reference to self-indulgent cravings that put personal satisfaction above God’s will.
It is when these unchecked desires are given free rein that conflict arises. One believer insists on his way. Another does the same. And so, strife begins. The church is divided. Friendships are broken. Ministries are derailed. James paints a grim picture: “You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel” (James 4:2).
Murder? Surely, James is being extreme. Yet, we recall the words of Christ: “Everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment” (Matthew 5:22). The seed of murder is planted long before the act. It begins with bitterness, with resentment, with a heart that refuses to submit to God’s way.
The Folly of Strife
Not only is strife sinful, but it is also foolish. James points this out with devastating simplicity: “You do not have, because you do not ask” (James 4:2).
The desires that lead to strife—whether for recognition, influence, success, or even spiritual blessings—are not evil in themselves. But the means by which we seek them often are. Rather than fighting, rather than maneuvering and manipulating, James reminds us that there is another way: the way of prayer.
God is not reluctant to bless His children. He is not withholding good things from us out of malice. Yet, too often, we fail to ask Him. And when we do ask, we do so with selfish motives: “You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions” (James 4:3).
The Christian life is not about getting our own way. It is about seeking God’s way. And when our prayers are driven by self-interest rather than a desire for His glory, they go unanswered. This is the folly of strife—it seeks through human effort what God would freely give if only we sought Him rightly.
The Danger of Strife
If the foolishness of strife does not wake us up, its dangers should. James does not mince words: “You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God?” (James 4:4). Strife in the church is not a minor issue. It is spiritual adultery.
To persist in self-seeking conflict is to align oneself with the world rather than with God. It is to choose pride over humility, self-will over submission, bitterness over grace. And such a choice places one in direct opposition to God Himself. “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble” (James 4:6). To be at odds with fellow believers is dangerous enough. To be at odds with God is unthinkable.
The Cure for Strife
How then do we escape this deadly trap? James gives us the answer in a series of urgent commands:
- “Submit yourselves therefore to God.” Strife is a battle for control. The first step in ending it is surrender—to lay down our demands and submit to God’s will.
- “Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” Strife is not merely a human issue; it has a demonic element. Satan delights in division. To resist him is to refuse to be a pawn in his schemes.
- “Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you.” The closer we are to God, the less room there is for selfish ambition. Intimacy with Christ produces a heart of peace, not of conflict.
- “Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.” Repentance is key. If we have been the source of strife, we must confess it, turn from it, and seek reconciliation.
- “Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will exalt you.” The root of strife is pride. The cure is humility. When we lower ourselves before God, He lifts us up in His time and in His way.
A Call to Vigilance
Church unity is not something to be taken for granted. It is not enough to say, “We have no divisions here.” The moment a church assumes it is immune to strife, it has already begun to fall into it. As long as sin remains in the human heart, as long as the devil prowls, as long as self-interest exists, the seeds of division are always present.
The only safeguard is constant vigilance—a continual return to the truths of James 4. Do we see the enemy within? Are we willing to forsake self-will for God’s will? Are we walking in humility, seeking peace rather than conflict?
May God grant us the wisdom to recognize the roots of strife, the discernment to see its folly, the fear to heed its dangers, and the grace to apply its cure. For only in humility, submission, and prayer can the church truly reflect the unity and love of Christ.
Strife is an awful thing. But it does not have to define us. Let’s choose a better way.
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