James 4:4 You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God? Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy to God.
You may be wondering why this verse is included in this month’s verses on friendship. At a glance it seems to be completely out of place amongst the various Scriptures that demonstrate to us how to be a friend. But it is important to remember that we cannot serve God while living a worldly life. We cannot be friends to the world and still be a friend with God.
What does it mean to be friends with the world? James tells us friendship with the world means enmity against God. That means living in opposition to God. The world, as viewed Biblically, consists of the beliefs, values, behaviors, and morals that are in direct opposition to God. When we do not follow God and His commands and continue to live a life of selfish ambition and personal pursuits we are saying we are more important than God. And this is wrong.
James points out that it is our choice. Anyone who chooses the world instead of God is rebelling against Him. We become enemies of God when we act as friends to the world. Don’t let the enemy trick you into believing you can be friends with God while continuing to seek worldly pleasure. That is simply not true. Jesus tells us in Matthew 6:24 that no one can serve two masters. We cannot serve God while serving self.
So how do you know if you are a friend to the world? Ask yourself this simple question. Are my actions and behaviors more important than my walk with God? If yes, it is time to make some changes.
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