James 4:1 says, From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members? James asks where wars and fighting come from and gives us the answer. They come from our lusts that war within us. When we begin to believe that we are better than other people and desire to have or keep everything for ourselves based on physical or material things, we begin to lust for what they have. Sometimes, we even lust for their death. This is not what a Christian should do or even believe.
Verse two adds, Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not. James then said when we lust after what someone else has and can't have it peaceably that we begin to fight with those who own whatever it is that they have and that we desire. James said we don't have because we do not ask, and I believe this refers to asking God and being content with His answer, even if His answer is no.
Verse three continues, Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts. James then clarifies that if we ask something of God out of lust instead of faith in His supplying for our needs, that we ask amiss. If we are asking for things to satisfy our lusts instead of asking God to provide for our needs, then we should not expect God to give us what we desire out of envy or greed.
Verse four concludes, Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God. James then said that we are adulterers and adulteresses if we profess to believe in God but do not show this by how we live our lives. He added that if we are friends of the world, or worldly beliefs instead of Godly faith, then we are enemies of God.
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