Devotional Day 22
What is the source of quarrels and conflicts among you? Is not the source your pleasures that wage war in your members? You lust and do not have; so you commit murder. You are envious and cannot obtain; so you fight and quarrel. You do not have because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures.
James 4:1-3
“pleasures that wage war”
We’ve already seen the differentiation between heavenly and earthly “wisdom” by the presence of bitter jealousy and selfish ambition—wanting more for ourselves, seeking a higher status than our neighbor. These selfish tendencies, these pleasures, also seem to be a danger to relationships with people and with God. We all want our way, though our desires are not all blatantly expressed… that would look selfish. Whether board meetings for the church, differences in non-essential doctrines, or polar politics, we still see quarrels in the church where we want to be right, we want things to work in our favor.
James uses some strong words describing the consequences of seeking pleasures. While committing murder is a very unlikely event, look what happened to King David, the “man after God’s own heart” (1 Samuel 13:14). His lust after a woman who was out of his reach led him to get her husband (the man he envied) killed. “I’d never do that!!” Perhaps not, but James brings it from the extreme outcome down to the everyday level: desires and disagreements.
Desires: Feeling Envy and Filling Needs
Sometimes it’s hard to feel compassion and empathy toward the one who seems to have everything going in their favor. But much of what we envy lies on a superficial level—the worldly things, the comforts, the good job, the new car, the status, the popularity, the way they seem to “have it all together.” Meanwhile, in our own lives we see all the fractures, the failures, the fears and doubts that linger below the surface. More often than not, those who look good on the outside have their own set of struggles; if we get real with each other, focusing less on ourselves, constant friction gets easier to dissolve.
Prioritizing our worldly pleasures also directly impacts our relationship with God. These pleasures may essentially be coping mechanisms, attempts to fill our deepest needs and overcome our deepest fears. We want to escape loneliness, grief, feelings of incompetence, and fear of rejection. So we rely on things that distract us (for a little while) or give us a greater sense of control. Those methods quickly give way—they don’t bring any resolution to the deeper issues.
Asking God
It is God who is always present, Immanuel, even when we feel lonely. God is the one who can bring fulfillment. It’s God’s love that overcomes fear, His grace that surpasses our incompetence. Yet how often do we fail to ask, to run to Him with our deepest problems instead of trying to escape them? Instead, we go with our superficial requests, what we want for immediate relief. Please help me get this job, this opportunity, this acceptance to a program, the lottery, a parking space. (Note that if there are multiple people asking for the same thing, not everyone is going to get a “yes.”)
What if what we want in the here and now isn’t what is best for us in the long run? I picture a young child pestering his parents for candy—it’s so yummy that it must be a good thing! But constantly fulfilling that desire would be damaging to the child’s health. Usually the parents understand that the child might perceive them as being mean for saying no in the short run, but true love and responsible parenting make long-term health a greater priority than immediate gratification.
I wonder how often we don’t get what we want (or consider a need) and perceive God as not listening, or caring. Instead He wants us to go past our pleasures to supply our deeper needs. What would happen if we ask what He wants for us? What if we started to look for the ways to learn from what is lacking, to grow when our faith is being stretched, and to depend on God when we realize we can’t do it on our own? When we ask what He wants to give us, we can start to see our true needs and how He wants to meet them.
Living Simply
On El Camino we put aside abundance and enjoy simplicity. All we have is what we carry on our backs, and I never found myself envying those carrying a heavier load. Having more is a direct burden; some pilgrims start with more than they really need, and early on discard the extras for the sake of the strained back and knees.
When packing, we pared it down to two or three sets of clothing, wearing one, washing the other, and having an extra in case of rain or some other hindrance for washing. For many of us that meant washing clothes daily in a sink outside the albergue and hanging them up to dry, right next to a stranger’s underwear. There’s a certain level of vulnerability and trust (not that I was ever worried about someone stealing my underwear!). But being in the same boat brings comradery, even fellowship.
Looks aren’t a priority; no one is going to be showing off new outfits and the appropriate fit of a pair of shoes matters far more than what they look like. Minimizing hair and beauty products reduces weight, and the less time needed when getting ready in the morning the better. (Not to mention the lack of sink and mirror space to facilitate morning rituals). As a result, the many details that complicate life are gone, contributing to the peace we can find with having less. Suddenly we see that getting more isn’t always better and often doesn’t facilitate contentment for more than a short time.
Try it out!
I would challenge you to try out a simple life. Maybe you can start with a short window of time, a week of only wearing a couple sets of clothes, limiting mirror time, and putting all the things you haven’t used in the past month out of sight. Such an experience shows how little we really need, as well as highlighting what we often take for granted.
Prayer
Thank You, Lord, that we can always trust that You know what is best for us. Help us put aside our selfish desires and requests, and seek Your will for our lives. Teach us to be satisfied in simplicity, and grateful for the many gifts we’ve been given.
Reflective Response
- Consider trying out a life of simplicity. What sounds appealing? What would hold you back?
- When praying to God, where do your requests come from?
- Spend time with Jesus, asking what He wants to give you. Surrender to Him what fleshly desires hold too much value.
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