Day #2814

September 14, 2021 

Tuesday’s Thoughts on Scripture this week comes from James 4:1: Those conflicts and disputes among you, where do they come from? Do they not come from your cravings that are at war within you? (NRSV)

James is an interesting book in the Bible. The focus seems to be on works, or at least that our lives should reflect who we follow or whose we are (God’s). It contains many reminders that what we do does matter. 

The above verse is a good example. Where do our arguments and fights come from (and there seem to be many at this time in our world)? James says our human cravings are at war within us. We desire something we do not have and are willing to do whatever it takes to get it, even commit murder. Wow! That is severe.

Yet, do we not know of examples in our world? Or maybe even in our own lives. Jealousy, for example, can lead to a break in a family. Perhaps murder is not committed, but relationships are certainly killed. 

My own father had many cousins, some who even lived near his parents, that we never visited or were in contact with. It was explained to me a split happened in the family years before, in his father's era, over inheritance. I did not understand then, and really do not today, that there were whole parts of our family we were not in relationship with over what someone thought they should have received. 

Maybe realizing what caused an argument, thanks to our reminder from James, could help bring it to an end. Well, at least keep it from escalating and lasting for generations. Maybe!

Blessings. And prayers.