Quit Dabbling In Sin

James 4

It's your desires within you that get you into trouble. Desires are dangerous, they are always there, and they are central to what it means to be human. Desires are powerful, yet neutral. It's what you desire that gets you in trouble. 

You desire to get your own way at the expense of someone else's welfare. You desire pleasure despite the pain it will cause another. You desire recognition or reward unaware of others contributions. "Where do you think these appalling wars and quarrels come from? Do you think they just happen? Think again. They come about because you want your own way, and fight for it deep inside yourselves."

The desires cannot be suppressed and they won't go away. Evil desires will stay with you. But you can desire what is good. You can desire to love others as God has loved you. You can love out of humility instead of lust out of pride. You can desire mercy. You can desire courage. You can desire sacrifice. You can desire joy.

Desire can be used for good, if you desire to enter into that struggle. "So let God work his will in you. Yell a loud NO to the Devil and watch him scamper. Say a quiet YES to God and he'll be there in no time. Quite dabbling in sin. Purify your inner life. Quit playing the field."

We tend to think that acting out according to our desires is living out of our true selves, it is being authentic, it is just being us. But the you who God wants you to be isn't someone who effortlessly lives according to your desires. You must master your desires.

God gives you commands that you must obey, even if you don't desire it. In doing what is right out of obedience, the rewards will become desirable. Someday you will do what is right because you desire it, but for a long time you must do what is right even if you don't desire it. As it is, you are full of your grandiose selves. All such vaunting self-importance is evil. In fact, if you know the right thing to do and don't do it, that, for you, is evil.