James 4:1-10 “How To Deal with One’s Own Double-Mindedness”

1. Background

James has begun his letter with a theme of faith without hypocrisy that will run through the book into our fourth chapter. Reviewing chapter one again to notice James’ use of the words “faith worketh patience…perfect and entire…wanting nothing”, “ask in faith, nothing wavering,” “a double mind man is unstable,” “be doers of the word.” By the time we reach the fourth chapter, James has already discussed the hypocrisy of desiring riches, faith without works, and unbridled tongue. In other words, these are all clear indications of a double-minded man that James is exhorting.  

James 3:16-17 opens up chapter four by saying,

“For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be interested, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.”

2. What can we observe about God?

God wants to deal with our lingering hypocrisy wherever it may hide.

Opening up chapter four, I believe we are at the end of James’ argument that sets up his call to believers to submit and humble themselves before God. The last indication of hypocrisy James’ lists is quarreling and infighting amongst believers (v1a). It may be common to see the world fighting amongst themselves, but why do we see believers doing it? James sees it. He says it’s because of worldly lusts still in your heart (v1b-2). 

“Even of your lusts that war..” Verse 1

“Ye lust, and have not..” Verse 2

Remember in chapter one, James said, “Let him ask in faith, nothing wavering”? Perhaps someone would say, “I asked in faith, but I still didn’t get what I want.” James heads off the possible objector to his point by adding, “Ye ask and receive not because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts (verse 3).”

The answer to such lust problems is not simply asking according to one’s lusts, but instead seeking the godly wisdom as James defined it in chapter one (cf. 1:5). Wisdom knows that God gives good and perfect gifts, such as what every man needs. God does not waver as we do but is always constant in His goodness. Therefore, would it not be wise to seek what God desires to give?

“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.” (1:17)

Therefore, merely asking according to one’s lust isn’t faith at all, but instead likened to the idolatry of the world, which God hates. “Know ye not that friendship with the world is enmity with God?” Even though James addresses Jewish believers, he can refer to them in the same way Jeremiah did, “ye adulterers and adulteresses!” (cf. Jeremiah 3:20). 

Jeremiah 3:20

“Surely as a wife treacherously departeth from her husband, so have ye dealt treacherously with me, O house of Israel, saith the Lord.”  

Not Jeremiah only, but the book of Hosea was wholly written exposing Israel’s adultery insomuch they found friendship with the world. James has picked up on the language all Jewish would have quickly understood. They believe, yet they possess a degree of double-mindedness in their faith. The quarreling and pagan-like prayer requests reveal it.

So what then is Jame’s great solution to the double-minded wavering he has outlined throughout the book? I believe James summarizes it all in verse ten, “Humble yourself in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.” 

James shares his answer using the exact wording as Peter, derived from the Proverbs, “God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble (V6; cf. 1 Pet. 5:5 & Prov. 3:34). “James expounds further what he means by humbling yourself with five commanding verbs.

Submit. “Submit yourselves therefore to God…” (v6a).

Resist. “..Resist the devil (v6b).”

Draw nigh to God. “Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you (v8a).”

Cleanse your hands. “Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded (v8b).” 

Be afflicted. “Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness (v9).”

James describes the degree of humility one must strive to have, coming before the Lord. There must be an element of submission before God (v7). There must be a tangible resistance to the things that displease God. There must be a conscious effort to purify away the blatant sin that is a source of our hypocrisy or “double-mindedness” (v8). There must be a degree of mourning over the sin for which Christ gave His life. For James, words alone do not satisfy the responsibilities of the born again by His word (cf. 1:18, 22). If those believers who find themselves fighting amongst each other would only come before God, humbly, God will do a work through the Spirit He gives to believers (v5).  

3. How does this passage point to Jesus and the Gospel?

Jesus dealt with sin in its entirety on the cross, His Spirit teaches us to deal with it where it lingers.

What Jesus and other authors called repentance, here Jame’s refers to it as submitting and humbling oneself. James uses words that recall what the Lord Himself said on the mount, “Blessed are they that mourn, for they shall be comforted,” and also in the Lord’s commencement speech, as he cited Isaiah 62 in the synagogue in Nazareth. In other words, James’ teaching on humility is rooted in the OT and points to the Gospel and unwavering faith in Jesus.  

James is speaking to those who are “begat with the word of truth” already presupposes the intended readers are believers. James sees double-mindedness and other concerns in saved Christians. As we know, the acts of submitting, resisting, drawing, cleansing, and afflicting done in the flesh cannot avail oneself to salvation. However, these are actions of believers concerned about elements in their lives that do not please the Lord who bought them.

We have the Lord Jesus as our ultimate example of humbling Himself before God, mourning for sin, and being afflicted so that God’s work would be perfected in us. It is His spirit that now dwells in us, who are born of His word.

4. How can I apply this passage?

“Go to now” and remember the spirit of Him that bought you and resides in you.  

Exercise the wisdom we are to ask God for, knowing what sort of temptations will come our way.  

Remember the Spirit of He who is in you.  Before getting into situations (that you know will arise), pray and ask the Lord to help you. You have studied and meditated on what Jesus’ humility is like, now ask Him to perfect Christ in you in the trial you know that is waiting just around the corner.

Be moved in the heart at sin knowing the anguish of our Lord who died to pay for it.  Being sorry for one’s sin may begin with a genuine attempt to try and confess it. Rather than ignoring it or hiding it, confess it according to the conviction that God gives you. Tears may or may not come, but a quiet moment with the Lord is necessary to cultivate a broken heart over the sin you know displeases Him. A broken heart over sin is a sign that one loves the Lord Jesus who died to cleanse it.

Take real steps to draw night to God and wait for Him to lift you up.  “Real Steps” might sound like “At 10:30 AM, I am going to sit down and memorize this verse.” Or perhaps, “At 2:00 PM tomorrow, I’m going to go and ask that person for forgiveness.” These steps are what you and a mentor might come up with. Whatever the steps are, submit to them in the spirit of Christ as He submitted to the cross. “Do and not hear only.”