Warning Against Worldliness

What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions[a] are (A)at war within you?[b] You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet 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 (B)wrongly, to spend it on your passions. (C)You adulterous people![c] Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? (D)Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. Or do you suppose it is to no purpose that the Scripture says, “He yearns jealously over the spirit (E)that he has made to dwell in us”?

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. James 4:1 Greek pleasures; also verse 3
  2. James 4:1 Greek in your members
  3. James 4:4 Or You adulteresses!

Bible Gateway Recommends

ESV Holy Bible, Dyslexia-Friendly Edition--hardcover, blue
ESV Holy Bible, Dyslexia-Friendly Edition--hardcover, blue
Retail: $39.99
Our Price: $14.61
Save: $25.38 (63%)
5.0 of 5.0 stars
ESV Study Bible, Black Genuine  Leather with Thumb Index
ESV Study Bible, Black Genuine Leather with Thumb Index
Retail: $124.99
Our Price: $65.67
Save: $59.32 (47%)
4.5 of 5.0 stars
John, ESV Illuminated Scripture Journal
John, ESV Illuminated Scripture Journal
Retail: $6.99
Our Price: $3.07
Save: $3.92 (56%)
5.0 of 5.0 stars
ESV Student Study Bible, Hardcover, Gray
ESV Student Study Bible, Hardcover, Gray
Retail: $34.99
Our Price: $15.09
Save: $19.90 (57%)
4.5 of 5.0 stars
ESV Thinline Bible--full grain leather, dark brown
ESV Thinline Bible--full grain leather, dark brown
Retail: $79.99
Our Price: $38.86
Save: $41.13 (51%)
4.5 of 5.0 stars
ESV MacArthur Study Bible, 2nd Edition--soft leather-look, black
ESV MacArthur Study Bible, 2nd Edition--soft leather-look, black
Retail: $79.99
Our Price: $38.86
Save: $41.13 (51%)
5.0 of 5.0 stars