One thing I will say about James: he doesn’t pull any punches. He speaks wisdom and truth, and he isn’t worried about stomping on someone’s toes. This particular verse can make a person draw back in consternation because it feels a bit like an accusation. But when we really look at it with honest eyes, we see its reality. Generally, when wars break out it’s because someone wants what someone else has. Humans have many wants—power, wealth, prestige, material belongings… Our deep want for the things of the world can lead us to engage in ungodly behaviors to attain those things. It’s easy to get caught up in the world’s ideas of “filling” ourselves.

Years ago, a song called “Blessings” released. Written by Laura Story and inspired by her husband’s cancer journey, some of the lyrics were very powerful. One line, “What if my greatest disappointments or the aching of this life is the revealing of a greater thirst this world can’t satisfy?” That question resonates with me. There is nothing in this world that will fill us the way a relationship with God through Jesus Christ can do. Seeking Him never leads us astray; seeking Him always leads us to peace and contentment.