As a Christian, I have the radical belief that the cure for all the world’s problems is Christ. While disease and famine present many problems, one of the worst plagues in the world is humans. We kill each other, destroy, and exploit each other along with the resources God has given us. Even more tragic is that humanity is meant to love one another, care for creation, and walk with God. Christ remedies this ailment through his blood, his grace, and his Spirit. When we put our faith in Christ, we become a new creation (2 Cor 5:17). We are whole. We are vivified and animated by the Holy Spirit and no longer by mere flesh.

As Christians, we live to Christ (Gal 2:20; Phil 1:21). By conforming ourselves to his image, we are conforming ourselves to the image of God (Col 1:15; Rom 8:29). James explains how conforming to Christ’s example of humility will cure inter-human conflict and intra-human conflict in Jam 4:1–10. In v. 1, James says, “What is the source of quarrels and conflicts among you? Is not the source your pleasures that wage war in your members?” Our external conflicts with other humans arise from an internal struggle with pleasure. We want more pleasure, more power, more possessions. We attain our goal by taking from our brother and exploiting them. Furthermore, this conflict within ourselves and with other humans eventually turns into a conflict with God (v. 4).

However, James readily provides the solution. First, the solution begins with God who extends grace to us (v. 6a). Without God’s grace, we have no hope of redemption from our vices. However, the solution continues with our role: we must humble ourselves before God and others. When we humble ourselves and submit fully to God we are following Christ’s example (Phil 2:5–11). Just as Christ was exalted after his self-humiliation, so also will God exalt us in the last day when Christ returns if we humble ourselves. We will no longer have conflict with each other because we will not be at war with ourselves. We will attain peace through grace and humility.