Wednesday: Friendship With the World
Read James 4:2-4. Why does James call his readers adulterers and adulteresses
? See Jer. 3:6-10, Jer. 3:20; Isa. 54:5; Jer. 2:2; Luke 16:13.
Image © Jeff Preston from GoodSalt.com
Alluding to the biblical concept of Israel as God’s bride, James likens believers’ going along with worldly customs and being influenced by worldly attitudes as spiritual adultery. In reality, they are choosing a different master and lord.
The next verse, James 4:5, is not easy to understand. Some have called it the most difficult verse in the New Testament. The ambiguity of the Greek text is reflected in the major translations. Some consider thespirit
to be the Holy Spirit (the Spirit . . . in us yearns jealously,
NKJV, HCSB; He jealously desires the Spirit . . . ,
NASB). Others consider it to be the human spirit (God yearns jealously for the spirit that he has made to dwell in us,
NRSV; he jealously longs for the spirit he has caused to dwell in us,
NIV). The latter rendering by the NIV fits the grammar and context best, but regardless of the translation, the meaning of the verse is not very clear. Based on a careful study of the verse’s syntax and the immediate context, verses 5 and 6 could be translated as follows: Or do you think that the Scripture speaks in vain against envy? The spirit which He has caused to dwell in us yearns, but He gives more grace. Therefore He says,
(James 4:5-6, author’s translation).God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble
As verses 1-4 make clear, the human spirit (or heart
) is permeated with desires that, while not originally or in themselves evil, have been twisted by sin into wicked pathways. Grace is the only real solution to our plight. The proud, however, have placed themselves in a position where they can’t easily receive that grace. Someone wrote that we get grace as do beggars holding out a tin cup before a waterfall. Only a person humble, meek, and aware of his or her utter need and dependency is open to grace, to the unmerited favor bestowed upon those who are, in every way, unworthy. As Ellen G. White wrote, Our great need is our only claim on God’s mercy.
–The Desire of Ages, p. 317.
Look at yourself. What in you makes you worthy of salvation? How does your answer help you realize the great need of grace in your own life? How does the Cross, and the Cross alone, answer that need?
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The fall into sin left the human race with a competitive spirit alike to that possessed by the dragon who initiated competition, striving, and war in Heaven (Revelation 12:7). The spirit of yearning for something (coveting) at the expense of another, the tendency to gain by outdoing or displacing another should not be given a favorably environment in which to flourish (James 4:5).
Competitive activity which rewards rivalry ought to be discouraged. In a twisted world it may not be always possible to avoid competition, but we do not need to voluntarily and unnecessarily place ourselves in such situations, for this works against the development of humility and meekness.
The bride of Christ, the church needs to be careful about “going along with the customs of the world, and being influenced by worldly attitudes.” Friendship with the world grows into spiritual adultery even by activity which seems innocent and fun.
When we find ourselves in competition we might choose to give preference to others. It might be profitable to let others win (Romans 12:10).
By the same token, not all that is in the world is bad. For an example, the celebration of Christmas is not all bad. another one is marriage between one man and one woman is not bad either. Both of these celebrations exist in the world and in themleves are not bad. But again there is a lot of idolotrous elements within them in the world. And also and again, there are a lot of extreme views by so called Christians who would attach satanic attributes to Christmas as a whole so they will not celebrate it at all and also will claim that marriage and sex is only for reproduction and will remain celebate after they are done having children.
Thank you for your comment Pete. Here is a previous post we published a while back about how Christmas can be used as an evangelism tool: "The Christmas Spirit."
In Luke 16:13 There is this noble warning of serving two masters....and concluding that you cannot serve ''both God and money' 'We all know that money has the power to take God's place in our lives. It can become our master. Now how can you tell if you are a slave to money? Do you spend a great deal of your time caring for your possessions? Money is a hard master and a deceptive one. Great fortunes can be made and lost overnight, and no amount of money can provide health, happiness or eternal life. Money promises power and control, but it often cannot deliver! How much better to let God be your master, His servants have peace of mind and security both now and forever.
Look at yourself. What in you makes you worthy of salvation?
Nothing at all for unto me belongs the shamefulenss of my face because of my sins. I earnestly seek God to have Mercy on me, a sinner.
How does your answer help you realize the great need of grace in your own life? How does the Cross, and the Cross alone, answer that need?
1
What can wash away my sin?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
What can make me whole again?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
Oh! precious is the flow
That makes me white as snow;
No other fount I know,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
2
For my cleansing this I see—
Nothing but the blood of Jesus!
For my pardon this my plea—
Nothing but the blood of Jesus!
3
Nothing can my sin erase
Nothing but the blood of Jesus!
Naught of works, ’tis all of grace—
Nothing but the blood of Jesus!
4
This is all my hope and peace—
Nothing but the blood of Jesus!
This is all my righteousness—
Nothing but the blood of Jesus!
I don't understand the analogy of beggars holding out a tin cup before a waterfall. Can someone explain?
Hi Shorey, if you are in front of a waterfall and you hold out a cup you will only get a cupful, however if you stand under the waterfall you will be completely covered with water. The analogy means God offers us so much grace but we only accept a small little bit of it when He wants us to immerse ourselves, cover ourselves with His overflowing abundant grace.
Thanks Shirley for this enlightenment. I was wondering myself.
The best definition of grace is found "Christ's Object Lessons" Page 271. "To learn of Christ means to receive His grace, which is His character." Unmerited favour is how we receive grace. The more I learn about Jesus the more I love him. He loves me; in this sinful world His love is precious. Jesus has a beautiful character.
Roma, as a matter of some technical clarification it is my understanding that grace is not an object. To me it is a quality of Christ's character that treats us as friends rather than the enemies we all too often are.
When Solomon said, "Although he is scornful to arrogant scoffers, yet he shows favor to the humble" (Prov. 3:34 NET; KJV has "giveth grace unto the lowly") he was talking about God's attitude toward those that don't willfully rebel against Him and even extends that to those who actively war against Him. We can also in like manner have the same attitude toward one another and thereby have the same quality (Matt 5:44-45).
I don't think grace is a gift in the sense that the gifts of the Spirit are (1 Cor 12). It is not something that can be packaged up and given like we often do at certain times of the year. Neither do I believe it is an ability that God imparts to us like He does the gifts of the Spirit but rather it is more like a belief or a moral stand that we take. To me it is something that we acquire by beholding our example (2 Cor 3:18) while choosing to be a disciple. If we truly wish to be like Him then His attitude will be our attitude and His grace to us will be the same grace that we extend to others (Matt 18:23-35).
Hi Tyler thank you for your reply. By learning about Christ, having a relationship with Him I see how He treats me: kindly, lovingly, He won't kill me, He will keep his promises to me, He won't steal from me, He won't lie to me. I want to be just like Him. Grace is his character. Unmerited favour is: I don't deserve this Grace, my nature is sinful. I can't earn this grace with good deeds. By beholding I become changed and I look more like Jesus. Grace is wonderful.
I take the analogy of the beggers cup and waterfall to mean we ask for so little when God is willing to give us so much.
James 4:5 "Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy?"
James’ point is that an unbelieving person’s spirit (inner person) is bent on evil (Gen. 6:5; 8:21; Prov. 21:10; Ecclesiastes 9:3; Jer. 17:9; Mark 7:21-23). Those who think otherwise defy the biblical diagnosis of fallen human nature; and those who live in worldly lusts give evidence that their faith is not genuine (Rom 8: 5-11; 1 Cor. 2:14).
God will not share you with any other. You are either 100% His or you are not His at all. To lust with envy would not be Godly. We must choose today whom we will serve. Is it God, or the fleshly lust, that we serve?
2 Corinthians 11:2 "For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present [you as] a chaste virgin to Christ."
If we are God's we will not lust with envy.
Hi Lisa,
The English Standard Version translates Jas 4:5 as follows
Jas 4:5 Or do you think that the Scripture says in vain, "The Spirit who dwells in us yearns jealously"?
2 Corinthians 11:2 "For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present [you as] a chaste virgin to Christ."
which ties in with 2 Cor 11:2 where Paul is jealous over the people he brought to Jesus.
Could James 4:5 mean that God wants to be our friend and he desires us to be His friend, He is jealous because He doesn't want us to be the friend of the world and that is why He gives us more grace so that we draw close to Him.
The world is enemy of God, therefore when we choose to become preoccupied with its pleasure, possessions and power we have become unfaithful to God.
We face daily the struggle of wanting to assert ourselves & claim our rights. Thats our will and our decision. Its not our environment that makes us worldy but our desires.
Our relationship with God is compared as a groom and his bride. As His bride when we sin agaist Him by being friends with the world we break His heart, in other words we become adulterers and adulteresses. May we cling closer to God and rely daily on Him so that although we are in the world we will not be overwhelmed by the temporary things and loose out on the kingdom.
I take the analogy of the beggers. as a begger we need to humble ourselves and plead accepting that we cannot do without his presence in our lives
and when we fully allow ourselves for the creator to use, he will surely fill us with the holy spirit that wil lead us all the way because we are guided by his will and not ours
"Everyone is born a sinaholic. What I mean by that is: we were designed by God with a part of our nature, our lives, our minds to be addicted and in love with God. If you are not in love with God and God is not the center of your life, then you only need to ask: what is your other addiction?" Doug Batchelor, Landmarks of Prophecy.
We have strong desires w/n us that pull us toward selfishness but God is greater and will work on our behalf, if we ask.
"The battle is between your Savior and Satan. You have the tie-breaking vote" Doug Batchelor, Landmarks of Prophecy.
Friendship with the world means Spiritual adultery- it's like praying, Lord, I wanna go to heaven, but I love the comforts and the pleasures of this world too.... Serving 2 masters at the same time. Whosoever love the world belongs to the world.