James 4:4
Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God. (James 4:4)
Who are you calling
ADULTERER?
I’m not a cheater!
I’m not a cheater!
The Bible is plain here. We can’t have it both ways. We cannot be a friend of the world and also a friend of God. Professing Believers are warned to not form intimate relationships with people (or philosophies) of the world. Scripture tells us that the friendship of the world is in direct opposition to God.
It may be easy to recognize some as worldly if they blatantly reject God and biblical principles, but there are also those who are “of the world” which may not be identified as easily.
They include stiff-necked, rebellious people, many who attend churches or other ‘spiritual’ assemblies, who worship the creature more than the Creator (Rom. 1:25).
Some worship with their mouths but their hearts are far from God (Matt. 15:8, Mark 7:6).
Others travel land and sea to make just one convert but end up making him twice the child of hell as they are themselves (Matt. 23:15).
Still others, by their traditions, make the word of God ineffective (Mark 7:13).
According to Scripture, Believers are like cheating spouses, adulterers, when they befriend those “of the world". Sometimes we make excuses and try to rationalize our involvement with ungodly people and ungodly actions.
We tell ourselves, “It’s not so bad.”, “But I can be an example to those people.”, “They’re my family.”, “I need SOMEBODY!”, or any version of the belief that the ends justify the means—that we can do whatever we desire or feel we need to do to get what we want, even when the behavior is against God.
We tell ourselves, “It’s not so bad.”, “But I can be an example to those people.”, “They’re my family.”, “I need SOMEBODY!”, or any version of the belief that the ends justify the means—that we can do whatever we desire or feel we need to do to get what we want, even when the behavior is against God.
In rationalizing and trying to 'fit in', have we become disloyal enemies of God?
The godly-to-ungodly bond won’t work. The lack of unity and the discord will again and again be seen until there is an irreconcilable breakdown in the relationship. Can two walk together without being in agreement (Amos 3:3)?
Spiritual relationships fail whenever Christians personally connect with any who do not also attempt to walk righteously by the Bible’s standards. The clashing, hostile spirits will fight and that spiritual battle will be revealed in physical human lives. The unequal yoke will cause great discomfort, hurt, misery, and loss (Prov. 14:12).
In this climate of worldliness where we’re taught tolerance of sin, self-esteem, social climbing, "chasing paper", and the like, the Bible still stands. Its continuing message is there must be a separation. There must be a difference. Holy God will not be connected to wickedness through anyone. We must decide, “Are we really friends of God or are we seeking friendship of the world?”
