“What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you?” James 4:1 NIV
Reflection: Why is submission to God essential as a follower of Christ, yet so difficult?
A friend asked the other day why the Israelites while in the desert seemed to always look for loopholes in the law, even adding their own laws and rules to what God had instructed them, instead of just doing what God had said? As I was thinking of his question, what came to me was simply that there was probably a lack of love for God in their hearts. They wanted to do things their way, on their terms. They simply did not want to submit to God. Almost like unruly, disobedient and defiant children.
Submission might be one of the hardest things we learn and do as human beings. Most first learn about submission from their parents, having to do what the parents say, to become “well behaved” children. It is an important step in the development of a child, as the child doesn’t have the knowledge, experience and wisdom yet to make good decisions. And the consequences of decisions. And most of us have seen what happens when parents don’t teach their children the important lesson of submission, becoming unruly, or “spoiled”, as many would say. Crying and screaming to get their way, their will. It might be endearing a few times, but if not dealt with, it becomes a huge problem. For the child themselves, but also for all around.
Learning submission doesn’t stop as a small child. The learning continues in school, into our jobs, and of course we all have to submit to laws and rules to have a functioning society. And at some point, most people will experience the joy of marriage, only to learn that there too, any functioning marriage also involves submission. Putting the other higher than ourselves. And finally, as a Christian, as a student and follower of Christ, might be the biggest lesson of submission. We learn from Jesus “In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross!” Philippians 2:5-8 NIV.
Jesus submitted himself fully to the will of his Father, even to the point of costing him everything. The shame, the sorrow and finally his own life. He trusted his Father, and knew that His will was only good. This is our example, as Paul says “the mindset” we should have in relationships with one another. So why is it so important? Just like a child having to submit to a parent who loves them and knows what is best for them, we too as Christians need to trust our heavenly Father. But, of course, this is not easy for anyone as we all feel our flesh is right there.
James gave us such deep insights here, for us to better understand what is actually going on. Let’s read a few verses. “What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you? You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures. You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God? Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. Or do you think Scripture says without reason that he jealously longs for the spirit he has caused to dwell in us? But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.”
Submit yourselves, then, to God.
Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.” James 4:1-10 NIV. There is so much wisdom here for a godly life first, but also for functioning human relationships. We could argue whether it is even possible to be a follower of Christ, without fully submitting to God.
Are you struggling in this area, like the Israelites, wanting to do things your way? On your terms only, trying to control everyone and everything around you? Perhaps even God? Re-read James 4:1-10, and pray honestly to God to search your heart, to show you his ways. To have the mindset of Christ Jesus, as James said, ” Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.” James 4:10 NIV.