Good Morning.

James 4.4-6, followed by some cool insight. You adulterers! Don't you realize that friendship with this world makes you an enemy of God? I say it again, that if your aim is to enjoy this world, you can't be a friend of God. What do you think the Scriptures mean when they say that the Holy Spirit whom God has placed within us, jealously longs for us to be faithful? He gives us more and more strength to stand against such evil desires. As the Scriptures say, God sets Himself against the proud but He shows favor to the humble.

phew! Can we go back to talking about prayer? This passage is confusing--but only at first glance. A little digging and we find out more about the character of God.

James uses the term "world" to mean the system of evil present in the world that is influenced by Satan. James warns that friendship with the world brings the temptation of falling into the world's values rather than upholding God's. In one word, James is talking about COMPROMISE. So often compromise in our values happens gradually, and then we look back and ask ourselves, how did I get all the way over here? Ah, the slippery slope.

God's plan has never been to give us religion; no, indeed, He gives us relationship--mano a mano, one on one. He didn't place Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden and say, 'okay, you will be Baptist. . . or Catholic. . .' No, instead, He came down and walked in the garden with them in the cool part of the day. (don't you wish you could have been there?) He offered Adam and Eve intimate relationship with Him, and He desires the same with us. So much so, that He gave us Jesus--the most costly gift ever. Therefore when we give ourselves over to the world's values or when we subtly move that direction, it is hurtful to Him. (do you and I ever think about God's feelings? hmmm. . . ) But here's the compassionate heart of God--He will strengthen us--'Child, you don't have to 'go it' alone. Come to Me--I'll give you strength in the face of temptation, and grace when you fall. But, keep Me as the apple of your eye; do not be lured by the world's offerings--they will only disappoint.'

Why the strong statement about the proud vs. the humble? Because the proud don't see a need to curb self-will, foolish desires to satisfy the flesh. . . whereas the humble are willing to look in the mirror, and consider their ways, wanting to subjugate their will to that of God's.

So again--James is not suggesting that God wants His children to refrain from friendship with unbelievers--we are to be salt and light--in our neighborhoods, on the ball field, in the workplace, at the grocery store, at the gym. Let us desire to be light, and influence our culture with godly values such as mercy, kindness, compassion, upright living, honesty rather than being influenced by the culture ourselves. It is our choice.

Grace and Peace to you today,

Christine