James 4:4: Adulteresses! Don’t you know that friendship with the World is hostility toward God? So whoever wants to be the World’s friend becomes God’s enemy.
James begins this verse with a strong word, one that will get attention quickly. In some translations, both Adulterers and Adulteresses are used. James uses a metaphorical description of spiritual unfaithfulness, which his Jewish readers would have been very familiar with. But do we understand what Spiritual unfaithfulness is?
Unfaithfulness defined: Not adhering to promises, obligations, or allegiances; disloyal. When we made a faith profession, we promised to God that we live by His principles. Breaking that promise is spiritual unfaithfulness.
What is friendship with the World?
As an immature Christian, this concept of being God’s enemy because I was friends with the World was so confusing to me. I didn’t think the World was so bad, so why would it be God’s enemy. But the more I study and look at the qualities that God desires us to have, the more I understand. Our World is driven by selfishness. Especially at this time, worldliness is self-promotion and personal advancement. Take care of number one because no one else will. Interestingly, the Greek word for friendship only appears here in the New Testament and describes love to the sense of a strong emotional attachment. Having a secure emotional attachment to the things of the World makes us enemies with God.
Jesus is speaking in John 15:19:
If you were of the World, the World would love you as its own. However, because you are not of the World, but I have chosen you out of it, the World hates you.
You are not of this World because God chose YOU! What a sweet sound to my ears! I don’t have to be friends with the World because I was chosen and can choose to follow Jesus.
Dear Lord, Help me to follow you today and not the World. Help me to want the things that You want for me. Lord, this can be a minute by minute struggle, But I trust that You will help me prevail. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
The Holy Bible: Holman Christian standard version. (2009). (Jas 4:4). (Jn 15:19).Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers.
