Have you ever wondered how some people can fight with each
other all year and then enjoy the Christmas season together? You know what I
mean they are forever complaining about or bagging someone out. Then when
Christmas comes around you would not know that they are always fighting. Then
they start again after Christmas. What is that all about?
I have wondered why they
cannot be like that the year through? Well, if we turn
to the letter of James, he does give some insight regarding our interactions
that may shed some light here. He said that,
1 “What is causing the quarrels and fights among you? Don’t
they come from the evil desires at war within you? 2 You want what
you don’t have, so you scheme and kill to get it. You are jealous of what
others have, but you can’t get it, so you fight and wage war to take it away
from them. Yet you don’t have what you want because you don’t ask God for it. 3
And even when you ask, you don’t get it because your motives are all wrong—you
want only what will give you pleasure” (Jas 4:1-3 NLT).
The whole matter of selfishness can drive us on to do untold damage to
others. Why are we like this killing and destroying others for self-gain? It is
because of our pride and desire to be first and have more.
James goes on to point
out the antidote to the matter. That is,
7 “So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he
will flee from you. 8 Come close to God, and God will come close to
you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty, is
divided between God and the world” (Jas 4:7-8 NLT).
So, why can’t we live
from a humble place, resisting the devil and close to God all the year-round?
If we are a Christ-follower, then we need to live like this all the time and
not just at Christmas.
Pause
in His presence for a moment and think this over…
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