Battling Desires
I just had a frustrating experience with our dog, Pepsi, due to his battling desires. Picture this: I'm walking in the backyard and Pepsi comes up to me with a dog toy in his mouth. He eagerly nudges the toy towards my hand because he wants me to play fetch with him. So I reach out to grab the toy but he won't let go of it because he loves having it so much. I tell him to drop it. He won't. I start to walk away but there is his at my side pushing the toy towards my hand. After a few more attempts to get him to drop the toy, I give up and walk back to the house irritated with my double-minded dog (and my lack of skill in training him)! But all is not lost as it gave me the motivation to sit down and re-write this week's blog!
Now, in James 4 we come across some serious battling of desires.... between people and within people. James 4:1 asks the question: "What causes fights and quarrels among you?" and answers with a rhetorical question: "Don't they come from your desires that battle within you?"
Another type of conflict that we need to address as we purify our heart from being double-minded (James 4:8) is the war between our self-centered desires. Ultimately, we want to be humble people who wholeheartedly want God's way. On that journey, we need to face what drives us down the road of self-indulgence and self-serving behaviour. The word for "desires" used in NIV is also translated "passions" (ESV) and "pleasures" (NASB). We can ask ourselves: What passions or pleasures are we seeking after? Why do we want them? What do we think they will give us if we had them satisfied? If we do get our own way, what is the result? Then we need to consider how driving for these desires affects our relationship with God and others. Do we like what we find? Maybe it's time to consider how the Lord could be the one to bring us the contentment we long for.
I'll share a personal example. Often the reason I get in conflict with those around me is that I am driving towards two things that are battling within me: efficiency and perfectionism. I want things done quickly and smoothly but I also want them down thoroughly and well. I don't get either which makes me mad at those around me who I view as blocking my goals. God won't work with me on this because my motivation behind these desires is one of living independently of Him in a world where we can overcome sin if we would just try hard enough. (This sort of resembles James 4:2-3).
Well, I sure don't like what I find when I consider these desires I have. I see fear, pride, and the need to solve the sin problem on my own motivating me. The result is anger, hurt feelings, frustration and distance from God not the security and peace I'm longing for.
So, what can I do? Maybe the solution is to get single-minded about my desires - pick efficiency OR perfectionism so there is no battle? You know, figure out what I really want and just go for it, letting nothing stop me. Well, that may bring me a certain level of success in the world's eyes because I may perform better. But where does that leave me since I'm still independent of God? James 4:4: "You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God? Therefore, anyone who choses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God." Again, I don't like what I find.
It's time to consider God. There is only one place to go with these conflicting desires: the throne of grace. There we can humbly submit ourselves to God, repent, grieve, be transformed as our hearts are purified, and be lifted up into life - real, satisfying, joyful life with God and others (James 4:6-10).
Now, in James 4 we come across some serious battling of desires.... between people and within people. James 4:1 asks the question: "What causes fights and quarrels among you?" and answers with a rhetorical question: "Don't they come from your desires that battle within you?"
Another type of conflict that we need to address as we purify our heart from being double-minded (James 4:8) is the war between our self-centered desires. Ultimately, we want to be humble people who wholeheartedly want God's way. On that journey, we need to face what drives us down the road of self-indulgence and self-serving behaviour. The word for "desires" used in NIV is also translated "passions" (ESV) and "pleasures" (NASB). We can ask ourselves: What passions or pleasures are we seeking after? Why do we want them? What do we think they will give us if we had them satisfied? If we do get our own way, what is the result? Then we need to consider how driving for these desires affects our relationship with God and others. Do we like what we find? Maybe it's time to consider how the Lord could be the one to bring us the contentment we long for.
I'll share a personal example. Often the reason I get in conflict with those around me is that I am driving towards two things that are battling within me: efficiency and perfectionism. I want things done quickly and smoothly but I also want them down thoroughly and well. I don't get either which makes me mad at those around me who I view as blocking my goals. God won't work with me on this because my motivation behind these desires is one of living independently of Him in a world where we can overcome sin if we would just try hard enough. (This sort of resembles James 4:2-3).
Well, I sure don't like what I find when I consider these desires I have. I see fear, pride, and the need to solve the sin problem on my own motivating me. The result is anger, hurt feelings, frustration and distance from God not the security and peace I'm longing for.
So, what can I do? Maybe the solution is to get single-minded about my desires - pick efficiency OR perfectionism so there is no battle? You know, figure out what I really want and just go for it, letting nothing stop me. Well, that may bring me a certain level of success in the world's eyes because I may perform better. But where does that leave me since I'm still independent of God? James 4:4: "You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God? Therefore, anyone who choses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God." Again, I don't like what I find.
It's time to consider God. There is only one place to go with these conflicting desires: the throne of grace. There we can humbly submit ourselves to God, repent, grieve, be transformed as our hearts are purified, and be lifted up into life - real, satisfying, joyful life with God and others (James 4:6-10).
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