WORLD

James 4:4—You adulterous people don’t you know that friendship with the world is hatred towards God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.

I am sure James’ readers must have been mildly offended by his strong words in the verse above. My jaw would definitely tighten if someone called me an adulterous person. So what is it that James wants us to understand?

First, we should know that when Scripture speaks of the world in this context it is not referring to the earth but rather human society and its evil influences (see 1:27). James admonishes his readers for being unfaithful to God by embracing the practices of a corrupt civilization.

Second, we should remember that the Bible teaches that God is a jealous God. Moses wrote, “Do not worship any other god, for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God” (Exodus 34:14). Jealously indicates the true depth of one’s love! What if God didn’t’ care about our values or friendships? He would treat us capriciously and our damnation would be of little consequence to Him. If He condoned our rebellious natures and our corrupt systems His holiness would be irrelevant and His love would never have suffered the sacrifice of Jesus.

In the book Gold Fears No Fire, Ralph Toliver writes about a Christian Chinese family that suffered much persecution in communist China. The authorities determined to prove that their wisdom negated the need for anyone to follow some ancient outmoded Deity. The more the government attempts to stamp out Christianity the more the church flourishes. A Chinese believer understands that friendship with the world is hatred towards God. But what about those Christians who live where only subtle opposition to God exists?

Here’s what happens to Christians who like what the world has to offer. We are slowly anesthetized to evil because life is good. Materialism fills our hearts till we disdain becoming living sacrifices. We become more concerned about how people will view us than in what God tells us to do. How we look replaces who we are. We accept busyness over worship and justify intention to excuse negligence. We search for happiness unaware of why our joy is robbed. We find fault with others and make use of labels to avoid our own responsibility. Can you see why James was concerned? The sooner we recognize this and repent, the sooner we shall find again our longing for God and reap the blessings He bestows on a faithful people. There is no peace where love is betrayed.

Inspiration

The world is a net; the more we stir in it, the more we are entangled.—Proverb

If within us we find nothing over us we succumb to what is around us.—P.T. Forsyth