Regional Synod of Canada - Reformed Church in America

Pioneer Christian Monthly

Date - Feb/80

Contributor - J. Moerman

Title - Part Of The Problem? Or Part Of The Solution?

Topic - Conflict

JAMES 4:1-10

In the Letter of James we read that wars (and that includes feuds and conflicts as well) are caused by selfish desires. The Bible says that it is the passions of the flesh that cause wars, small ones, big ones, short ones, , long ones. Passions of the flesh also ' wage war against our soul" (1 Pet. 2:11).

How sinfully ironic that God often gets the blame for troubles and wars, this while the root cause lies elsewhere. It is men's selfish motives that are the causes of feuds and discords. The Word of God says, "You desire and do not have, so you kill. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and wage war". God is speaking here to you and to me. He further says, "You do not have because you do not ask". How foolish to not begin each day with God, setting time aside for meditation and prayer. God is so rich and I am so poor; He is so mighty and I am so weak; He is so wise and I am so short sighted; He is so willing and I sometimes am so unwilling. Would this cause me to be part of the world's problem instead of its solution?

Here is another possibility: I pray all right, but I "ask wrongly", i.e., selfishly. Such prayers of course do not get me anywhere either. Also, you and I must be scrupulously careful to stand in the right relationship with God and our fellow men. Read a few Scripture passages on this point: Ps. 34: 15, 145: 18, Matt. 6: 14-15, Luke 18: 14, I Pet. 3: 7, 1 John 5: 14, etc.

God forbid that we are "unfaithful creatures". By-passing God's instructions makes us part of the world's problems instead of part of the world's solution. Also, the person who is the world's friend, is God's enemy. There is no such a thing as divided loyalty between God and the world. I am either God's follower and servant, or I am the world's follower and servant. And who would want to be the world's friend at the cost of being God's enemy? Worldliness is the world's curse.

Something else, worldliness is also the church's curse. Yes, I am saying that it is possible to be a member of the church and yet be worldly. When a church member is concerned to have Jesus as the "forgiver" of sin, while not giving much attention to Jesus as the "controller" of life, this person is very much a friend of the world. A church member must be equally eager to know Jesus as Lord of life and Master of soul. Christ is not only our Saviour, He is also our King. A church member must be all out to give evidence of the fact that this Deliverer and Redeemer controls his life.

Selfishness even as moral and spiritual pride is the life-style of a worldly pers n. This is why the Bible is so emphatic on the fact that "God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble". Pride and selfishness causes untold troubles and miseries, daily.

Conversely, humbleness and sacrificial love is from God! Therefore, placing material interests before spiritual pursuits is like being an enemy of God. Let no one ignore what the Bible says, namely, that "God yearns jealously over the spirit He has made to dwell in. us".

This brings us to the guaranteed and proven solution. Read vss. 7-10. Repentance is the solution. An active relationship with God through Jesus Christ is the world's, the nation's, the church's answer to its unsolvable and insurmountable problems and miseries. A hopeful sign is that more and more people begin to realize and admit that the world's problems are beyond men's capabilities to solve.

Please, read the above mentioned verses through several times, with a humble heart and an open mind, prayerfully meditating upon them. Moreover, if you accept this divine remedy, you are going to be part of the overall solution. And that is great, greater than I can express. In vs. 6 we read, "But He gives more grace". This means that God's grace will make you strong, wise, and victorious. It comes down to this: if you want it, you can have it; it is up to you, but it is available in abundance, grace abounding and grace unending; "strength for today, and bright hope for tomorrow".

The Christian is a realist. And such realists are eager to have God take over in and through those who are victorious in Christ Jesus. Christ is men's hope and strength. He makes you and me a new creation. And when that takes place, "the old has passed away and the new has come". (11 Cor. 5: 17)

This means that God has equipped me to be part of the world's solution of the problems. Hallelujah! Praise God for His great Gift in Christ Jesus. Praise Him for His Word. Praise Him for His Spirit. Praise Him for His peace. Praise Him for His power. Praise Him for His victory.

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