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ARE YOU A FOE OR A FRIEND?
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 1
James 4:4

1 John 2:15-17

 

“…If any man love the world,
the love of the Father

is not in him.”

 

ARE YOU A FOE OR A FRIEND?
 
When James calls the believers “adulterers and adulteresses,” (James 4:4) he speaks figuratively concerning what they have done lusting after the things of this world. Because they are unfaithful to God, they are thus spiritual adulterers. The Old Testament prophets used similar language for those who forsook the Jehovah God of the Scriptures and went after idols. The Greek word philia, translated as “friendship,” is used only here in the whole New Testament. The verb form, phileo, is often rendered as “love” in other passages (eg. Matt 6:5, 10:37; 1 Cor 16:22) and is even used for the Father’s love for His Son (John 5:20) and of the Father’s and Jesus’ love for those who have saving faith (John 11:3). James’ readers have a deep affection for the corrupt world system.
 
A foe of God: James warns his readers of the evil of their affections by describing their actions as enmity with God. The true nature of their friendship of the world resulted in their hostility against the Lord their God. They became traitors to God by turning to the world’s pleasures. Such was the gravity of their sin. Indeed, James rightly counts them as “adulterers and adulteresses”! What about us?
 
A friend of the world: Whosoever, therefore, is the world’s friend is the enemy of God. The original word “friend” is a derivative of the word for “friendship.” It describes a continual relationship with the world, leaving God out of the picture, and abiding by the principles and philosophies of this world. Read what Jesus said in Matthew 6:24.
 
Our covetous and idolatrous love of the world makes us spiritual adulterers! The outcome will be our enmity towards God, we become enemies of God. Who can fight against God and win? Dear reader, do not allow the lusts and allurements of this earth drive your mind and heart. Let not the ideas and ambitions of this age corrupt your actions. Do not be a friend of the world lest you become a foe of God!
 
THOUGHT: Am I a Christian who is an enemy of the God of the Bible?
PRAYER: Father, hear me when I pray and teach me to pray aright that I may seek only after the things that are according to Thy holy will.

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