Friendship With the World
“You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God” (James 4:4-5). When James uses the word “world” he is not speaking of the physical earth on which we walk. James is talking about the sinful pleasure of the world. The pull of the world is strong! It is all around us. It offers momentary passing pleasure (Hebrews 11:25) because it appeals to our physical and sinful nature. Everyone has this spiritual battle between his or her fleshly and spiritual desires.
Notice that James said that “friendship with the world is hostility toward God?” Do you want to be at odds with God? Notice also, those who are friends with the sinful pleasures of the world are enemies with God. Do you really want to be God's enemy? It is no wonder that Paul exhorts “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed” (Romans 12:2). If we are participating in the sinful activities of the world we are conforming. If we resist the activities of the world we are transforming. Thermometers conform to their surroundings; thermostats transform their surroundings. Spiritually speaking, are you a “thermometer” or a “thermostat?”
The apostle John teaches the same truths that James expressed. He said, “Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life is not from the Father, but is from the world. The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God lives forever” (I John 2:15-17). We manifest love by participation. If we love something we are going to participate in it. If we do not love something we will not participate in it.
James and other New Testament writers are warning against participating in the sinful pleasures that the world has to offer. Remember, he is not writing these exhortations to alien sinners – to those who do not know God, but to those of us who are God's children. Isn't it strange that God has to warm Christians with such strong language about participating in the sinful pleasures of the world? Why? Because man's fleshly nature craves those sinful pleasures. God knows they are not good for us and thus sinful. Participating in these activities shows that we are friends with the world and an enemy of God.