James 4:4 You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.
As James proceeds through this letter he holds back no punches. He goes from discussing the source of quarrels and fights among us into calling the believers an adulterous people. He isn’t talking about committing the act of adultery, rather, he is saying that when you and I devote ourselves to the things of the world rather than the things of Christ we become an adulterer.
These are harsh words coming from James. As with many areas of our life, we often believe that the Bible is talking about “everyone else” and not specifically me. So as I pray and ponder over this verse today I have to ask myself, “What am I doing that would make me an enemy of God and an adulterous person?”
Friendship with the world is when we find our thoughts and affections are mainly concerned with worldly pursuits. Rather than pursuing God and allowing Him to move us in this or that direction, we pursue our own dreams and desires without any regard for the things of the Lord. Just as a wife should walk with and have all her affections for her husband, so too should we, as the bride of Christ, desire what he desires for us.
There are several ways in which being a friend of the world and an enemy of God displays itself in our lives. First it displays itself in our affections. What do we love? It is said that we go after the things we love. If you love a girl you pursue her. If you love television or sports you spend hours watching them. If you love good food and culture you eat, drink, and are spending time being merry. Whatever we love we pursue. James says that we are an enemy pf God when are a friend of the world. Do you find yourself in front of the TV more than being in front of the Bible and praying? Are you at the movies more than you are at church? Do you love good food to the point that you think about your next meal more than you care about those who wont eat tonight? Where are your affections, in God or in the things of the world?
Who we hang out with is another way friendship with the world displays itself. We all live in the world. Many of us have jobs, go to school, and have family members that are not in the church. We are called to reach these people with the Gospel and doing so is a good thing. But there is a phrase that holds true from the book of 1 Corinthians, “Bad company corrupts good character.” Having friends outside the body of Christ is not a bad thing, but when we find ourselves associating with non-believers to a point that our character and witness becomes compromised then we are becoming an enemy of God.
Paul tells us in the book of Romans not to be conformed to this world but to be transformed to the renewing of our minds. When we see the world promoted amongst believers in the church we should be very concerned. Superbowl parties, pop-culture references, movies and entertainment being discussed as positive sermon illustrations should be a red flag for the discerning believer to say, “Stop, it looks like we are conforming to the world here!” The word conform means to “fashion ones self to look alike”. When the church and the people of the church look just like the world they have conformed to the world and are in jeopardy of becoming an enemy of God.
As the bride of Christ we are to look like His bride. Our affection and dedication are to be of the things of God and the desires of His heart. James strong correction is not to be read over and directed at “the other guy.” It is pointing at you and me when we forsake Christ and spend our limited time here on earth looking like and pursuing friendship with the world. Turn off the TV and open your Bible. Sell half your stuff and free up your resources to help people who need it. Our jobs, good health, and resources were given to us for a purpose and it isn’t for us to be more comfortable and live a life of leisure. It is so we can share the love of Christ with everyone we encounter in such a way that on the last day we will hear, “Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.”
Prayer
Lord, I don’t want to be your enemy. Help me today to give up my friendship with the world and walk as your bride in a manner in which you have called me. Give me the strength I need to change and the wisdom moving forward as I seek after you for all things. Amen.