Week 4 Day 1 When People Let You Down

James 4:1-10 (NAS) What is the source of quarrels and conflicts among you? Is not the source your pleasures that wage war in your members? You lust and do not have; so you commit murder. You are envious and cannot obtain; so you fight and quarrel. You do not have because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures. You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. Or do you think that the Scripture speaks to no purpose: "He jealously desires the Spirit which He has made to dwell in us"? But He gives a greater grace Therefore it says, "GOD IS OPPOSED TO THE PROUD, BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE." Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Be miserable and mourn and weep; let your laughter be turned into mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you.


This lesson...WOW! When you are involved in a quarrel...be it with your spouse, your friend, a family member...; are you asking him/her to read your mind? Are you asking that person to be considerate of your thoughts and feelings? Are you asking that person to love you no matter what you do? Are you asking them to behave in a way that you want them to (controlling their behavior)? Are trying to be God? or... are you wanting them to be God?

These questions penetrate my heart. Have I put my marital relationships, my family relationships, my Christian relationships on a test that can't be passed? There is only one who can meet the test of a perfect soul mate...that's the one who gave His life for my soul! Putting anyone else in that place might be considered idolatry. OUCH!





Earthly relationships can't take the place of our Heavenly relationship! Have you ever considered this? Honestly, until today...I hadn't really put it in perspective!