Fleshly Man vs. Spiritual Man (James 4) When pleasure means everything! When Pleasing God Means Everything!

The characteristics of Fleshly Living

Seeks out earthly pleasure and earthly things V. 1, (NAS) What is the source of quarrels and conflicts among you? Is not the source your pleasures that wage war in your members? The fleshly person makes pleasure and earthly things the primary passion of life. These things make life happy; the absence of them brings misery; the loss of them, despair.

Has a competitive spirit toward others V. 2, You lust and do not have; so you commit murder. And you are envious and cannot obtain; so you fight and quarrel. Do not speak against one another, brethren. He who speaks against a brother, or judges his brother, speaks against the law, and judges the law; but if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law, but a judge of it.

Courts the world’s favor V. 4, Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.

Lives in prideful self-sufficiency V. 2, You do not have because you do not ask. V. 13, Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow, we shall go to such and such a city, and spend a year there and engage in business and make a profit.”

Consequences of Fleshly Living

Causes quarrels and conflicts among God's people! Pleasures wage war in members. Envy and lust result in antagonism and violence toward others. It did when James wrote this and it still does today!

Results in enmity with God! Selfish pride prevents the fleshly man from asking. Evil motives keep God from giving!

James calls such a person a spiritual adulterer! V. 5, He jealously desires the spirit He has made to dwell in us”. “Then those of you who escape will remember Me among the nations to which they will be carried captive, how I have been hurt by their adulterous hearts which turned away from Me, and by their eyes, which played the harlot after their idols..” (Eze. 6:9)

There may not be any thing that is harder to see in ourselves than fleshly living or worldliness. We cannot afford to be blind to our own vulnerability to it. There is too much at stake—the peace of God’s people, the blessings of God’s grace. Let’s search our hearts and repent if needed.

Fleshly Man vs. Spiritual Man (James 4) When pleasure means everything! When Pleasing God Means Everything!

The characteristics of spirituality

Seeks God and Spiritual Things Submits to God, v. 7 Resists the devil, v. 7 Draws near to God, v. 8 Cleanses his hands, v. 8 Purifies his heart, v. 8 Turns laughter into mourning, v. 9 Humbles himself before God, v. 10 When we seek God, He allows us to find Him and He blesses us.

Helpful spirit toward others He does not want to be a judge of others, but an example of obedience for others. The spiritual man is not quick to condemn; but eager to show love in providing help to the wayward and the lost.

Realizes his daily dependence upon God The spiritual man recognizes that everything depends upon the will of God! He says, V. 15, If the Lord wills, we shall do this or that”.

Recognizes the need to live by the knowledge he possesses. V. 17, Therefore, to one who knows the right thing to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin. True spirituality requires nothing less of us than to do what we know is right.

As spiritual people, we ensure the peaceable existence of God’s people together. And, when we seek God, we open up the storehouse of God’s grace and receive of His abundance. Let us seek to be spiritual people!