You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. — JAMES 4:4
When we find ourselves becoming friends with the world, we must repent. We are no longer slaves to sin, but sin hinders our relationship with God. Rather than being friends with the world, we must love God with all our heart, with all our soul and with all our might.
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How committed are we to our friendships? There are some friends that we would do anything for, while with others we just enjoy their company. The more time we spend with a friend, the more influence they will have on us. What type of influence have your friends had on you recently?
James is direct and serious with his readers. Adultery is a very strong accusation and should not be taken lightly. Although adultery is defined as cheating (sexually) on your spouse, James speaks of a different kind of adultery that is also serious. This adultery occurs when we desire the world and what it offers more than desiring God. James uses the imagery of friendship to describe our relationship with the world. We are not to be friends with the world; for if we are, we make ourselves enemies of God. We must fight against the desire to be friends with the world. When we are tempted to enjoy and desire what the world offers, when we desire to be accepted by the world, we must fight. Because we were bought with a price (1 Cor. 6:20), we are to live in such a way that reflects who we are in Christ; we are to reflect God’s glory.
When we find ourselves becoming friends with the world, we must repent. We are no longer slaves to sin, but sin hinders our relationship with God. Rather than being friends with the world, we must love God with all our heart, with all our soul and with all our might. Remember— if you are the world’s friend, you are God’s foe.