1你 們當中的衝突爭吵是哪裏來的呢？
1What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don't they come from your desires that battle within you? 2You want something but don't get it. You kill and covet, but you cannot have what you want. You quarrel and fight. You do not have, because you do not ask God. 3When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures. 4You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. 5Or do you think Scripture says without reason that the spirit he caused to live in us envies intensely? 6But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble." 7Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up. 11Brothers, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against his brother or judges him speaks against the law and judges it. When you judge the law, you are not keeping it, but sitting in judgment on it. 12There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy. But you—who are you to judge your neighbor?
一、中心內容：
內容： Content:
1>教會紛爭的原因。（v1-2）The reasons that cause fights and quarrels at church
2>彼此鬥爭阻斷了禱告。（v2-3）Quarrel acts as a stumbling block from prayers
3>與世俗為友，就是與上帝為敵。（v4）Friendship with the world is hatred toward God
4>避免紛爭的作為。（v6-12）Flee from the act of dispute
主題：Theme:
1>屬世信徒與教會紛爭。Worldly believers and the quarrels of church
2>不要與世界為友。Do not be friends with the world
二、上帝、耶穌基督、聖靈是誰？
1>垂聽禱告的上帝。（v2）The God that listens to prayers
2>察看動機的上帝。（v3） The God that observes motives
3>與世界有別的上帝。（v4） The God that is an enemy toward the world
4>賜下豐富恩典的上帝。（v6） The God that gives abundant grace
5>與魔鬼對立的上帝。（v7） The God that is an enemy toward evil
6>喜愛與人親近的上帝。（v8） The God that likes to come near his people
7>使人高昇的耶穌基督。（v10） Jesus Christ who allows people to be raised
8>頒佈律法的上帝。（v12） The God that proposes the Law
9>施行審判的上帝。（v12） The God that judges
三、給我的教訓（命令、應允、榜樣、責備、警告）是什麼？
1>爭吵衝突的原因 The reasons that cause fights and quarrels
你們當中的衝突爭吵是哪裏來的呢？
雅各提到教會中有爭吵，甚至有衝突，這些爭吵與衝突，
雅各表示：這些都是來自個人的私慾，也就是所謂「貪愛世界」或「
反省：我是一個什麼樣的人呢？是否善於爭鬥？善於搶奪？
1What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don't they come from your desires that battle within you? 2You want something but don't get it. You kill and covet, but you cannot have what you want. You quarrel and fight. (v1-2a)
James mentions that there are quarrels, even fights among people in a church, and that all of these come from greed and desire. Perhaps, it is a quarrel to gain more money, or to receive a higher position thus more power, or even to gain more appreciation. Therefore, quarrels, or even physical fights occurred among brothers and sisters. James assures that “all of these come from inner desire.” That is – “to greed for the world,” or “befriended with the world.” Although people are selfish and cause quarrels and fights among one another, but in end, they gain nothing.
Reflection: What kind of person am I? Am I someone who seeks for quarrel? Do I snatch what belongs to others? Why do I quarrel? Why am I so busy? What makes me feel that life is rich? What makes me feel the completeness of my spiritual level? Is it due to power, position, prestige, money? Or due to faith, hope, joy, and love?
2>一無所得的原因 The reason for gaining nothing
你們得不到所要的，是因為你們沒有向上帝求。你們求仍然得不到，
雅各接著又談到有關「祈禱」與「動機」的問題。他說：
然而，你們即便向上帝祈求了，還是一樣也得不著，
因為這樣的動機、這樣的目的，上帝當然不會垂聽你們的禱告，
反省：我常常向上帝祈求嗎？我通常都為何事而求？
You do not have, because you do not ask God. 3When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures (2b-3).
James later discusses about the question of prayer and motives. He said, “You do not receive because you do not ask God, and only try to use your own ways (quarreling, fighting, stealing) to gain. Yet, when you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures; that is – to profligate for worldly happiness. Because of this kind of motives and goals, God surely do not listen to your prayers, and do not provide your needs.
Reflection: Do I pray to God a lot? And usually is for what reason? Is it for my own desire? Or is it for the glory and work (justice) of God? That is to pray for the soon coming of God’s Kingdome? Do my prayers usually end up with nothing? Or do I experience grace and satisfaction?
3>敵我分明的立場 To make clear the enemy position
你們這班不忠不信的人哪，
在國度裏沒有所謂左右逢源的中間地帶，乃是界線明確、敵我分明、
4You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.
In God’s Kingdom, there is no such thing as the middle ground. The lines are always clearly drawn between the enemies of God from the double-minded from the friends of God. There is no such thing as the intersection in between. James points out, “Friendship with the word is hatred toward God.” That is – whoever greed for the world, ministers Mammon, pursuits continuously for wealth, are all “friends of the world” and at the same time “enemies of God.”
Reflection: Since the lines between enemies and friends of God are clearly drawn, which side do I lean to? Is it toward God? Or toward the world?
4>避免紛爭的作為 Flee from the act of dispute
然而，上帝所賜的恩典更為豐富，正如聖經所說：「
有罪的人哪，要潔淨你們的手！偽善的人哪，要潔淨你們的心！
雅各接著提出，基督徒要避免紛爭，過得勝生活，
a.順服上帝：順服上帝的旨意、遵行上帝的律例，
b.抵 擋魔鬼：不讓魔鬼的慫恿、誘惑得逞，應用上帝的話語抵擋、
c.親 近上帝：要常常親近上帝，就是常常讀經、禱告、
d.生 活聖潔：洗淨自己的手，潔淨自己的心，過著遠離罪惡，
e.為 罪悲痛：為自己所犯下的罪，深深的感到悲哀、憂愁、痛苦。
f.主 前謙卑：除去驕傲的心，謙卑在主面前。（v10）
g.不 相批評：不互相批評論斷，
反省：以上這七項信仰功課，在我身上成就了幾項？請逐一檢視：
6But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble." 7Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up. 11Brothers, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against his brother or judges him speaks against the law and judges it. When you judge the law, you are not keeping it, but sitting in judgment on it. 12There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy. But you—who are you to judge your neighbor? (v6-12).
James later proposes that in order for Christians to flee from quarrel, to live a triumphant life, they must work on the seven following:
- Submit yourself to God: submit yourself to God’s will, follow his Law, give your life to Him, and allow him to be the center of your life (v7).
- Resist the evil: do not be encouraged or tempted by evil. Use God’s words to resist and defeat it (v7).
- Come near to God: come near to God always. That is to read the Bible, pray, and praise Him frequently (v8).
- Holy life: wash your hands and purify your hearts, live a life free from evil, a holy life.
- Grieve for sins: experience sincerely the grieving, mourning, and wailing for the sins that you have done (v9).
- Humble yourself: be free from any proud, and humble yourself before the Lord (v10).
- Do not judge: do not speak or judge one another, because this act is trying to take on the character of God (v11-12).
Reflection: From the above seven homework of a Christian, how many do I have? Please carefully examine each.
5>不可論斷的理由 The reasons to not speak against others
弟兄姊妹們，不要互相批評。誰批評或評斷弟兄姊妹，
擁有信心的好行為，就是不會隨便論斷別人。
a.既然對方是弟兄姊妹，就是一家人了。既然是一家人，
b.只有上帝所頒佈的律法才是唯一標準，才有資格判斷人。
c.唯有上帝有資格審判人，因為唯有上帝是在律法之上，
反省：我是否經常論斷他人，甚至審判他人、定他人的罪呢？
11Brothers, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against his brother or judges him speaks against the law and judges it. When you judge the law, you are not keeping it, but sitting in judgment on it. 12There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy. But you—who are you to judge your neighbor? (v11-12).
The good habit of having faith is to not speak against others. The reasons to not speak against others are as follow:
- Since they are your brothers and sisters, we are a family. Since we are a family, we should not speak against each other and destroy the relationship.
- Only the Law that God commands is the correct standard for He is the only one who is qualified. If brothers and sisters speak against one another, he/she disobeys the Law and is like replacing the position of the Law. Disobeying the Law is like speaking against the Law, and of course this act breaks the Law.
- God is the only qualified one to judge because he is above the Law. Everyone else is below the Law. And all who is below the law are sinners, everyone is equal. Thus, no one should and no one can speak against one other and judge others.
Reflection: Have I ever speak against others and/or judge others?
四、我的禱告 / 實際應用 James 04:01-12
1你 們當中的衝突爭吵是哪裏來的呢？
1What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don't they come from your desires that battle within you? 2You want something but don't get it. You kill and covet, but you cannot have what you want. You quarrel and fight. You do not have, because you do not ask God. 3When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures. 4You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. 5Or do you think Scripture says without reason that the spirit he caused to live in us envies intensely? 6But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble." 7Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up. 11Brothers, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against his brother or judges him speaks against the law and judges it. When you judge the law, you are not keeping it, but sitting in judgment on it. 12There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy. But you—who are you to judge your neighbor?
一、中心內容：
內容： Content:
1>教會紛爭的原因。（v1-2）The reasons that cause fights and quarrels at church
2>彼此鬥爭阻斷了禱告。（v2-3）Quarrel acts as a stumbling block from prayers
3>與世俗為友，就是與上帝為敵。（v4）Friendship with the world is hatred toward God
4>避免紛爭的作為。（v6-12）Flee from the act of dispute
主題：Theme:
1>屬世信徒與教會紛爭。Worldly believers and the quarrels of church
2>不要與世界為友。Do not be friends with the world
二、上帝、耶穌基督、聖靈是誰？
1>垂聽禱告的上帝。（v2）The God that listens to prayers
2>察看動機的上帝。（v3） The God that observes motives
3>與世界有別的上帝。（v4） The God that is an enemy toward the world
4>賜下豐富恩典的上帝。（v6） The God that gives abundant grace
5>與魔鬼對立的上帝。（v7） The God that is an enemy toward evil
6>喜愛與人親近的上帝。（v8） The God that likes to come near his people
7>使人高昇的耶穌基督。（v10） Jesus Christ who allows people to be raised
8>頒佈律法的上帝。（v12） The God that proposes the Law
9>施行審判的上帝。（v12） The God that judges
三、給我的教訓（命令、應允、榜樣、責備、警告）是什麼？
1>爭吵衝突的原因 The reasons that cause fights and quarrels
你們當中的衝突爭吵是哪裏來的呢？
雅各提到教會中有爭吵，甚至有衝突，這些爭吵與衝突，
雅各表示：這些都是來自個人的私慾，也就是所謂「貪愛世界」或「
反省：我是一個什麼樣的人呢？是否善於爭鬥？善於搶奪？
1What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don't they come from your desires that battle within you? 2You want something but don't get it. You kill and covet, but you cannot have what you want. You quarrel and fight. (v1-2a)
James mentions that there are quarrels, even fights among people in a church, and that all of these come from greed and desire. Perhaps, it is a quarrel to gain more money, or to receive a higher position thus more power, or even to gain more appreciation. Therefore, quarrels, or even physical fights occurred among brothers and sisters. James assures that “all of these come from inner desire.” That is – “to greed for the world,” or “befriended with the world.” Although people are selfish and cause quarrels and fights among one another, but in end, they gain nothing.
Reflection: What kind of person am I? Am I someone who seeks for quarrel? Do I snatch what belongs to others? Why do I quarrel? Why am I so busy? What makes me feel that life is rich? What makes me feel the completeness of my spiritual level? Is it due to power, position, prestige, money? Or due to faith, hope, joy, and love?
2>一無所得的原因 The reason for gaining nothing
你們得不到所要的，是因為你們沒有向上帝求。你們求仍然得不到，
雅各接著又談到有關「祈禱」與「動機」的問題。他說：
然而，你們即便向上帝祈求了，還是一樣也得不著，
因為這樣的動機、這樣的目的，上帝當然不會垂聽你們的禱告，
反省：我常常向上帝祈求嗎？我通常都為何事而求？
You do not have, because you do not ask God. 3When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures (2b-3).
James later discusses about the question of prayer and motives. He said, “You do not receive because you do not ask God, and only try to use your own ways (quarreling, fighting, stealing) to gain. Yet, when you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures; that is – to profligate for worldly happiness. Because of this kind of motives and goals, God surely do not listen to your prayers, and do not provide your needs.
Reflection: Do I pray to God a lot? And usually is for what reason? Is it for my own desire? Or is it for the glory and work (justice) of God? That is to pray for the soon coming of God’s Kingdome? Do my prayers usually end up with nothing? Or do I experience grace and satisfaction?
3>敵我分明的立場 To make clear the enemy position
你們這班不忠不信的人哪，
在國度裏沒有所謂左右逢源的中間地帶，乃是界線明確、敵我分明、
4You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.
In God’s Kingdom, there is no such thing as the middle ground. The lines are always clearly drawn between the enemies of God from the double-minded from the friends of God. There is no such thing as the intersection in between. James points out, “Friendship with the word is hatred toward God.” That is – whoever greed for the world, ministers Mammon, pursuits continuously for wealth, are all “friends of the world” and at the same time “enemies of God.”
Reflection: Since the lines between enemies and friends of God are clearly drawn, which side do I lean to? Is it toward God? Or toward the world?
4>避免紛爭的作為 Flee from the act of dispute
然而，上帝所賜的恩典更為豐富，正如聖經所說：「
有罪的人哪，要潔淨你們的手！偽善的人哪，要潔淨你們的心！
雅各接著提出，基督徒要避免紛爭，過得勝生活，
a.順服上帝：順服上帝的旨意、遵行上帝的律例，
b.抵 擋魔鬼：不讓魔鬼的慫恿、誘惑得逞，應用上帝的話語抵擋、
c.親 近上帝：要常常親近上帝，就是常常讀經、禱告、
d.生 活聖潔：洗淨自己的手，潔淨自己的心，過著遠離罪惡，
e.為 罪悲痛：為自己所犯下的罪，深深的感到悲哀、憂愁、痛苦。
f.主 前謙卑：除去驕傲的心，謙卑在主面前。（v10）
g.不 相批評：不互相批評論斷，
反省：以上這七項信仰功課，在我身上成就了幾項？請逐一檢視：
6But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble." 7Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up. 11Brothers, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against his brother or judges him speaks against the law and judges it. When you judge the law, you are not keeping it, but sitting in judgment on it. 12There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy. But you—who are you to judge your neighbor? (v6-12).
James later proposes that in order for Christians to flee from quarrel, to live a triumphant life, they must work on the seven following:
- Submit yourself to God: submit yourself to God’s will, follow his Law, give your life to Him, and allow him to be the center of your life (v7).
- Resist the evil: do not be encouraged or tempted by evil. Use God’s words to resist and defeat it (v7).
- Come near to God: come near to God always. That is to read the Bible, pray, and praise Him frequently (v8).
- Holy life: wash your hands and purify your hearts, live a life free from evil, a holy life.
- Grieve for sins: experience sincerely the grieving, mourning, and wailing for the sins that you have done (v9).
- Humble yourself: be free from any proud, and humble yourself before the Lord (v10).
- Do not judge: do not speak or judge one another, because this act is trying to take on the character of God (v11-12).
Reflection: From the above seven homework of a Christian, how many do I have? Please carefully examine each.
5>不可論斷的理由 The reasons to not speak against others
弟兄姊妹們，不要互相批評。誰批評或評斷弟兄姊妹，
擁有信心的好行為，就是不會隨便論斷別人。
a.既然對方是弟兄姊妹，就是一家人了。既然是一家人，
b.只有上帝所頒佈的律法才是唯一標準，才有資格判斷人。
c.唯有上帝有資格審判人，因為唯有上帝是在律法之上，
反省：我是否經常論斷他人，甚至審判他人、定他人的罪呢？
11Brothers, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against his brother or judges him speaks against the law and judges it. When you judge the law, you are not keeping it, but sitting in judgment on it. 12There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy. But you—who are you to judge your neighbor? (v11-12).
The good habit of having faith is to not speak against others. The reasons to not speak against others are as follow:
- Since they are your brothers and sisters, we are a family. Since we are a family, we should not speak against each other and destroy the relationship.
- Only the Law that God commands is the correct standard for He is the only one who is qualified. If brothers and sisters speak against one another, he/she disobeys the Law and is like replacing the position of the Law. Disobeying the Law is like speaking against the Law, and of course this act breaks the Law.
- God is the only qualified one to judge because he is above the Law. Everyone else is below the Law. And all who is below the law are sinners, everyone is equal. Thus, no one should and no one can speak against one other and judge others.
Reflection: Have I ever speak against others and/or judge others?
四、我的禱告 / 實際應用
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