What is James’s solution? The turnaround in this passage is very interesting. You would think that his first counsel would be to go the people we have sinned against and confess it. But James’s turnaround is first vertical (with respect to God) and then horizontal (with respect to people). James’s first call is for us to “humble ourselves before God.” This is a direct plea to deal with the idolatry (spiritual adultery) of our hearts. If human conflict is rooted in spiritual adultery, change must begin by bowing before God in humble repentance for the idols that have replaced him in our hearts.
