Draw Near to God

KEY VERSE: “Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you.” —James 4:8

SELECTED SCRIPTURE: James 4:1-10, 13-17

THE last verse of this chapter of James’ epistle reads, “To him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.” (vs. 17) It is evident that the apostle is reminding his readers of their responsibilities, because they were privileged to know something of the character of God and his laws. He begins his admonition with a general condemnation of their spirit. “From whence come wars and fightings among you? Come they not hence, even of your lusts that was in your members? Ye lust and have not: ye kill and desire to have, and cannot attain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not.” (James 4:1,2) This is a worldly and carnal spirit motivated by a lust for material things. The carnal spirit had subverted or supplanted the Spirit of Christ which was so beautifully described by James in the previous chapter. This was what should have been desired, and they received it not because they did not ask for it.

In the third verse, James tells why their petitions concerning worldly things have not been heard. “Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.” This is an important lesson for all those who are endeavoring to walk in the footsteps of Jesus. James was saying that when they made a consecration to the Lord, they agreed to be dead to the world and the things of the world. The Apostle Paul expressed the matter in these words, “If ye then be risen [or spirit-begotten to a new spiritual life] with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affections on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead [that is, we have no will of our own, having accepted instead the will of the Heavenly Father], and your life is hid with Christ in God.” (Col. 3:1-3) If these things be so in our lives, the prayers to God for material things will not be answered when they are not in harmony with our vow of consecration.

In verse four, the Apostle James calls those who are so involved with worldly things, adulterers and adulteresses. This is an apt simile because those consecrated brethren were involved in illicit activities from the viewpoint of the Lord. James continues, “Know ye not that friendship of the world is enmity with God? Whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.” We must remember the context of these words, that they were directed to those who had made a full and unreserved consecration to God, and whose conduct was not compatible with their vow. But God is not an enemy of the world, for “God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16) This same attitude should be in the hearts of all the consecrated also. Both the Heavenly Father and his church will love mankind at the end of the kingdom, when man in his perfection will reflect God’s character. In fact, it is the prospect of being associated with Jesus in the great mediatorial work of the kingdom that motivates the church to endeavor to walk in the footsteps of Jesus during this Gospel Age.

The Apostle James then gives some helpful admonitions: “God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double-minded.” (James 4:6-8) Humility has been defined as the proper attitude of mind when we compare ourselves, with all our imperfections, with the perfection of our pattern, Jesus. How can anyone manifest pride and self-righteousness under these circumstances? It is the humble-minded with whom the Lord can deal, and whom he can instruct. The temptations of the world will not be victorious over those who have fully submitted themselves to God, for as the Apostle Paul has said, “God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” (I Cor. 10:13) And in Romans 8:29, “For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.”

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