Worldliness
James 4:4
[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.
James broken into C’s
James 1 is Confidence – What a Christian has (maturity, the word, good influence)
James 2 is Compassion – What a Christian does
James 3 is Careful – What a Christian says
James 4 is Contrite – What a Christian feels
James 5 is Concerned – What a Christian gives
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James 3 tells us about wisdom from above
James 3:17-18
[17] But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. [18] And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.
………then here in James 4 we get a warning about worldly “wisdom” and how to get beyond it
A reminder of context here. The earth is God’s creation. It is not bad. It is now cursed due to the fall in Genesis 3, but when we talk about the world today (and often in a biblical context) we are talking about this invisible evil system that exists. Yes, Satan is stirring the pot and he and his minions exist and do their best to create havoc and death for countries and world leaders and for you personally.
1 John 2:15-17
[15] Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. [16] For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. [17] And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.
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James 4:1-12
[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.
[11] Do not speak evil against one another, brothers. The one who speaks against a brother or judges his brother, speaks evil against the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge. [12] There is only one lawgiver and judge, he who is able to save and to destroy. But who are you to judge your neighbor?
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What is James addressing here? Worldliness, its symptoms and its cure.
V1 Quarrels and fights
What causes it?
Passions, desire & covetousness
Is passion bad? Not if it’s pointed in the right direction. Passion for your Lord, your spouse, your family. …..as long as those are in the right order.
But he’s not talking about it that way. James is talking about passionate desires for worldly things….squandering our lives on things that don’t last or matter. It’s where we get the word hedonism from. It’s an unreasonable unrealistic view of what will fulfill and you see where it leads if we don’t get what we want? (V2) Murders, fights, quarrels, pride
Worldly people do this.
Immature or worldly people cause trouble
Just watch the news. Gives you all the examples you’d ever need.
Immature or worldly people cause trouble in the church
Ever witnessed arguing at church? Makes you feel sick to your stomach? Uncomfortable? That’s because it has no place here. I didn’t say that it’s wrong to have differing opinions or even to disagree but it should be with grace and humility. Or it shames the name of Jesus and His church.
Notice here in verse 3 that it’s not wrong to ask for something we might need, but if we’re asking to satisfy our passions or covetousness or desires then we are asking wrongly. Always asking for ourselves.
Then this huge warning….
James 4:4
[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.
Don’t be friends with the world!!!! Don’t act like the world!!! Don’t be like the world!!!!
What’s the world again? (Practically)
In a year’s time:
1.4 million ER visits for assault in the US
26,031 murders in the US
620,000 abortions in the US
Over 600,000 children abused or neglected last year in the US
27.6 million trafficking victims in the world at any one time
The world is telling our children they were born with a different gender.
The world is telling us and our children that it’s okay to sleep around with anyone of any gender, married or not.
The world tells you no one cares
The world tells you you don’t matter
The world tells you that you can’t make a difference
The world tells you that you deserve more recognition and if you don’t get it then you will have to step on others to get it or brag until you’re recognized
The world tells you everyone else is happy or has it better than you
The world tells you to lie about things because it’s easier sometimes
The world tells you to just lay in bed and call in sick because you just don’t feel like it today
The world is telling you that you can’t change
The world tells you it’s okay to lie or steal or cheat
The world tells you that you are alone and the only one going through hard things
The world tells you to worry over things you can’t control
The world is saying if you’re tired of your spouse, you deserve better, just find a new one.
The world is saying it’s okay to take drugs and abuse alcohol
The world is saying just medicate all pain that you experience, don’t learn from mistakes and even awful life events, just dilute them out of your mind so you just forget everything.
The world is saying take the easy way out…..but there’s not an easy way out. It’s a lie.
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Then how do I “not” be friends with the world? Be a friend of God! …I’m glad you asked.
There’s two key words in this entire passage and they are repeated.
Grace & Humble.
James 4:6
[6] But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”
Be humble. Don’t be prideful.
Our answers are all here verses 7-12
- Submit yourselves therefore to God.
- Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
- Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you.
- Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts,
- you double-minded. (Don’t be double minded)
- Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom.
- Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.
- Do not speak evil against one another, brothers.
- But who are you to judge your neighbor?
Ephesians 6:11-18
[11] Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. [12] For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. [13] Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. [14] Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, [15] and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. [16] In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; [17] and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, [18] praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints,
Practically
Get saved
Get baptized
Join the church
Read your bible
Pray
Come to Sunday school
Develop friendships with strong Christians
get rid of bad relationships
Stop living by your passions and pride
Drop the bad habits
Forgive yourself and others
Come to prayer meetings & singings
Serve others, check on the sick, take someone a meal, send someone a card, call someone you haven’t in a long time
Tell someone you love them
The world told you all that stuff above and more….Jesus will tell you
I love you
I came for you
I died for you
I can save you
I can forgive you
I’m changing you into my likeness
I’m preparing a place for you
I will never leave nor forsake you
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John 16:33
[33] I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”