SWORD OF THE SPIRIT                                                                                               1103

“Not My Friend”

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 4:4

Friendship transcends casual acquaintances and implies a close mutual bond between people.

The world and all its material appeal is not and should not be your friend. Our flesh is easily trapped in worldliness – that is a love for the things of this world that grew out of friendship with the world. This worldliness becomes a wedge that distances us from a close relationship with God the Father and His Son, Jesus. Our affections become divided and God calls us an adulterous people.

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. – 1 John 2:15

How many of us have neglected reading, meditating, and praying the Word of God choosing instead to work, play, or indulge in other worldly fleshly pursuits? How many times have we pushed our relationship with God aside as we clamored for more material wealth, and possessions?

For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? – Matthew 16:26 

We can learn from the account of Lot in the book of Genesis. Lot chose the best land when He and Abraham went different directions. Later we see that he has pitched his tent near the city of Sodom. (Genesis 13:11-12) Then we see that he was captured by an enemy as one of the residents of Sodom. (Genesis 14:11-12) Friendship with the things of this world drew him in deeper and deeper and his soul was tormented by the sinfulness of the area he was immersed in. (2 Peter 2:7-8)

God loves the world, which are the people of the world that He created in His own image. He loves us even steeped in our sin and He sent Jesus, His Son to bear the punishment for our sin and make a way for us to have eternal life with Him.

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. – John 3:16

We are to love the world as Jesus loved the world – He loved the people of the world and abhorred worldliness. He loved the people enough to die for them but reserved the intimacy of friendship for those who repented and accepted Him as Lord and Savior.

You are my friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. – John 15:14-15

We are to live in this world as Jesus did, loving others, caring for them, We are to impact the world for Christ and not allow the world to impact and corrupt us to the exclusion of our friendship with God.

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. – Romans 12:2

May you walk in this world as a citizen of Heaven avoiding the trap of worldliness. May you enjoy the close friendship, love, and abiding presence of Jesus continually.