Why Do We Fail So Often?

James 4:1-4

Years ago, I heard preachers brag of being “Fighting Fundamentalists.” In reality, a fundamentalist is one who believes in the basics, the fundamentals, not just someone trying to impose his own beliefs, as is often portrayed. Since II Timothy 2:24-25 states, “And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves,” the term ‘fighting fundamentalists’ seems like an oxymoron. It is like the preacher who claimed God must have wanted him to have a hot temper since he gave him such a bad one, Ignoring God’s command to put away all anger and wrath in Ephesians 4:31. As we saw in chapter 3, the very attitude is Satanic. James now goes to the very heart of the issue.

"From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members?” (James 4:1)

James 1:13-15 makes it very clear that God doesn’t cause the lust, and Satan doesn’t force us to yield. “Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.” Satan offers man an attractive choice, and man decides whether to take it or not. Conflict is a choice to sin. The Biblical solution, even when called for, is separation, not conflict. The conflict is the result of our pride, our desires for power, prestige, wealth, and physical gratification.

Thousands of books, courses, and seminars are available to help you obtain the things you want. There are courses to teach salesmen to sell more, pastors to build bigger churches, writers to produce books that people buy. There are seminars in how to pray to get God to give you the things you want, and to teach politicians how to get votes. There are probably seminars on how to succeed at almost anything you might wish to do. Much of modern religion is devoted to such programs. Despite the many programs, most people do not obtain what they are seeking. Their experience is like that described in Haggai 1:6. “Ye have sown much, and bring in little; ye eat, but ye have not enough; ye drink, but ye are not filled with drink; ye clothe you, but there is none warm; and he that earneth wages earneth wages to put it into a bag with holes.” James explains several reasons for this in the next few verses.

The first reason most efforts fail is the motive behind them. We selfishly focus on our own benefits. Perhaps the best illustration of this comes from the field of sales. Almost no one buys so you can make money. They buy because they receive a benefit from ownership. If they perceive that the benefit didn’t outweigh the cost, they probably will not buy again, or recommend the product. Even prayer produces little benefit when the purpose is for gratification of fleshly or sinful desires.

“Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not. Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.” (James 4:2-3)

Charlatans often insist that if you say “in Jesus Name” or pray is some prescribed manner, God has to give what you asked. They often quote John 14:14 as proof. “If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.” They apparently have no understanding of what it means to pray in Jesus name. As plumber, I was authorized to buy materials in the company name. That did not give me authority to buy personal items. I could only purchase what I needed to accomplish the company’s goal. John 5:14-15 explains, “and this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.”

A second thing that keeps us from benefiting from our efforts is a goal of pleasing the world. We desire to attain things so the world will notice and reward us, with popularity, fame, or wealth. We are like the adulterous husband who tells his wife how much he loves her while conducting an affair and planning to divorce her. We have to choose which we want. We can’t have both.

“Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.” (James 4:4)

Just as the adulterous husband doesn’t love his wife, as shown by his infidelity, the person who is in love with what the world offers doesn’t love God. I John 2:15-17 warns that what the world offers is temporary, while what God offers is eternal. “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.” The world has limited resources, and can only give to one by depriving another, placing everyone in competition. There is no reason for God to give to those who do not love him.

The final and most important reason human efforts fail is that God actively opposes those who reject his authority and power. Acts 17:24-28 describes man’s total dependence on God. “God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands; Neither is worshipped with men's hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things; And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation; That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us: For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.”

It is pretty arrogant to refuse to acknowledge him when our very existence is dependent on him. Most people understand that initially, an injured wild animal will attack in fear when first caught. After he has been in captivity for a while, they expect him to accept overtures of friendliness. If he continues to attack every time they approach to help, eventually most will become frustrated and stop trying. God does all these things for us to enable us to survive. Such unappreciative behavior will eventually result in his no longer giving what we desire.

“Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy? But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.” (James 4:5-6)

By acknowledging our dependence and being thankful, we can receive more from God. Refusal to do so will only reduce his willingness to give.