Pastor Chris’ Corona Quarantine Epistles to the Flock of AIC Ngong Road, in Dispersion and Isolation. 57th. Edition.
Dear People who Are a Holy Nation,
People Belonging to God, In our passage today (James 4:1-3) we see how the attitudes James has warned us about affect our relationships. Conflict with others can be linked to, Desire for Pleasure (vv. 1-2a). In our selfishness, we focus on what we want that we think can make us happy. We are so driven by the lust for what we want, that will kill to get it. We demonize people who stand in our way of getting what we lust after and do whatever it takes to get them out of the way. In Kenya, many honest people have been framed, threatened, and attacked for refusing to abet corruption. And those who do ill to them often claim to be Christians.
Deficient Prayer (v. 2b). We often try everything, except what we ought to be doing. Many who seek after things and pleasure fail in their quest. Sometimes the failure is ironic. One gets what one seeks, only for one to find that the emptiness one was trying to fill remains. Lust is deceitful. Whether one gets the object of one’s lust or fails to get it, the result is the same – no satisfaction.
Deviant Purpose (v. 3). We often do not receive what we ask for, because the motives are wrong. This is the tragedy of our times. Preachers are exploiting the covetousness of Christians, making promises of wealth and prosperity, and we buy the lie, because of our selfishness. In the end, frustration builds up and we begin to envy others what God has given them. Our envy leads to malice and we begin to plot to hurt those we envy. All this is because we have forgotten the purpose of our existence.
We are not here to enjoy life! We are here to glorify God – that is what we should enjoy doing.
Your loving Pastor Chris.