Avoid Self-justification

James 4:1 ¶ From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members?

Tear yourself away from self-justification.  Fights are bottomline personal desires
James 1:14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. 15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death. 16 Do not err, my beloved brethren.

We get into fights because we have pleasures we desire for ourselves.  An important question we should ask in conflict is: "What personal desire am I trying to gain or protect?"

It could refer to: conflict in group relationships, inflexibility about issues (from a desire to have one's way), manipulative maneuvers for position of authority/position, criticizing others (to look good).
In marital conflicts it could refer to: use of hurtful words (to get even), infidelity for selfish pleasure.

These desires battle within you - it is a continuing problem.  Listen to Peters admonition in 1 Peter 2:11. This battle wages a war against the Christian's own soul.  Those who wage such wars do so at their own peril - their own self-destruction.

So what is going wrong?  Let us see this in the next post.