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James 4:1–10 (ESV)
1 What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? 2 You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask. 3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions. 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. 5 Or do you suppose it is to no purpose that the Scripture says, “He yearns jealously over the spirit that he has made to dwell in us”? 6 But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” 7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.
This passage is overflowing with several things that I would love to explore more deeply, but our space here will only allow me to touch on a couple of them.
One of those is what James says regarding being a friend of the world versus being a friend of God. James says that to be a friend of the world puts one at odds with God. So what exactly does James mean by “the world?”
What James means by “the world” are the values and standards of our culture which people are expected to adopt, promote, and pursue. These include attitudes and behaviors towards things such as material possessions, status, relationships, wealth, and beauty just to name a few.
If we’re to be friends of the world, we’re expected to follow what our culture says is “normal,” to go with the flow, and not rock the boat. To do otherwise takes courage, patience, wisdom, and understanding, and it may require one to be longsuffering.
Push back against any of our cultural narratives and assumptions, and you’ll soon find that you’re tested and in need of wisdom from the Lord (James 3:17-18).
To be a friend of God is completely different from being a friend of the world. To be a friend of God means to pursue the richest, deepest, most intimate relationship that you and I were created to enjoy. One that isn’t ruled by passions and desires, which, if unchecked, leads to brokenness, disaster, double-mindedness, and enslavement.
By the way, did you notice the two promises in this passage as we pursue a relationship with the Lord? They are amazing!
First, in verse 7, the promise that if we resist the devil, he will flee from us. The devil is a coward; when he is resisted, with the prayer that claims the victory of Jesus on the cross, he knows he is beaten. His trick is to whisper that we know we can’t resist; he’s got us before and he’ll get us again, so why not just given in straight away and save all that bother?
It’s a lie. Resist him and he will run.—N.T. Wright
The second in verse 8 is just as awesome, “Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you.”
Do you get it? The Creator, Maker, and Sustainer of the universe wants you to have a rich, deep, and personal relationship with Him. This is a relationship that will change and transform your life and give you the life that Jesus promised: life to the fullest (John 10:10).
Can you imagine how that relationship will transform you? Can you imagine how this relationship will transform your relationships with others: your spouse, your children, co-workers, or classmates?
Can you even begin to imagine how your growing relationship with the Lord will transform the world?
That’s good, good stuff for us to consider. So what will it be? Friendship with the world or friendship with the Lord? Remember, Jesus never wants to be a part of your life…, He wants it all. He won’t settle for anything less for our God is jealous for you!
God bless you, and know that you are constantly in my prayers.
Scott
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