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James 4:4-6

⁴You adulterers! Don’t you realize that friendship with this world makes you an enemy of God? I say it again, that if your aim is to enjoy this world, you can’t be a friend of God. ⁵What do you think the Scriptures mean when they say that the Holy Spirit, whom God has placed within us, jealously longs for us to be faithful? ⁶He gives us more and more strength to stand against such evil desires. As the Scriptures say,

“God sets himself against the proud,
but he shows favor to the humble.”

Reflect

Have you ever heard the saying, “With friends like that, who needs enemies?” It usually refers to someone who calls himself a friend but doesn’t treat you like a friend. Usually, it’s a one-sided friendship and you’re on the losing end of the deal.

That’s what God must feel like when we call ourselves Christ-followers but still want to be “friends” with the world. We want to be Christians but we don’t want to live our life any different than we did before we were Christians. James tells us that if we love the world, we are an enemy of God. That is not someone I would want to call enemy.

Seek first His will and He will give you everything that you need.

Respond

Can we still enjoy the pleasures of the world and be a follower of Jesus Christ?

What does James mean when he say that the Holy Spirit jealously longs for us to be faithful?

When the temptation to give in to the world seems too great, what promise does God give us?

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