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James 4:5–6
“Do you suppose it is to no purpose that the Scripture says, ‘He yearns jealously over the spirit that he has made to dwell in us’? But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, ‘God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.’”
Friendship with God is incompatible with friendship with the fallen order of the world, a point that James 4:4 makes quite plainly (see also 1 John 2:15). Believers, therefore, cannot expect to enjoy close fellowship with our Creator if we live according to the ways of the world in misusing our tongues, showing sinful partiality, neglecting the widow and orphan, and fighting with one another because we cannot keep our passions under control (James 2:1–13; 3:1–4:3). Such behavior is no minor transgression; it actually demonstrates spiritual adultery, the abandonment of God our Husband for lesser things that we love more than Him (4:4).
If we fall into such sin, we need to be reminded of the Lord’s deep affection for us and His willingness to receive us back when we turn from our spiritually adulterous ways. James provides this in today’s passage. The Apostle points us to the truth that “he yearns jealously over the spirit that he has made to dwell within us” (v. 5). This is a difficult passage, and many commentators believe that James’ point is that life according to God’s Holy Spirit within us is incompatible with our giving in to our sinful yearnings. While this idea no doubt reflects biblical teaching, it seems more likely that James is making a point about God’s jealousy for His covenant people. Like any good and loving husband, God is jealous to protect His relationship with His wife—that is, believers (see Ex. 20:4–6). He will not tolerate our showing affection to other things that is due to Him alone, and He will lovingly chastise us if necessary to remind us that we are to love Him above all else (see Heb. 12:3–11).
This reminder that God will do what it takes to rescue us from wallowing in our sin should encourage us to develop a healthy and holy respect for Him, a reverent fear that encourages those of us who have trusted in Christ to draw close to Him and not to run away from Him. After all, James 4:6 tells us, the Lord “gives more grace.” Even the most faithful Christian can fall into patterns of sin that evidence spiritual adultery. Yet thanks be to God that, though we may be expert sinners at times, our Creator is much better at saving us than we are at sinning. He always has grace for us that is greater than all our sin. We cannot exhaust His infinite stores of grace.
His grace is for all who are humble. God firmly opposes the proud who refuse to recognize their need for His aid, but He always gives His grace to those who ask for it through Christ (v. 6).
Coram Deo Living before the face of God
Scripture has many warnings for those who pridefully rely on themselves and do not seek the gracious help of the Lord. Ultimately, only the proud refusal to admit our sin and rest in Christ will keep us out of the kingdom of God. Rejecting Jesus is no insignificant matter; it makes us enemies of the Lord, who is so kind in giving us a Savior. The church father Jerome writes, “One who holds his head high in arrogance hates God.”
For further study
- Proverbs 3:33–34
- Nahum 1:2
- Zephaniah 3:9–13
- 1 Peter 5:5
The bible in a year
- Numbers 35–36
- Mark 11:1–14