The Cool Kids

April 4

Read James 4:4-5

The Cool Kids

“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.” (v.4)

God has enemies. I know this is not a popular opinion but it is true… James 4:4 says so. You make yourself an enemy of God when you are a friend of the world. It is something we do to ourselves. It is a choice of sorts. There is no “casual relationship with the world… no neutrality… living in the middle. You are either friends with God or friends with the world. You can be loving, kind, generous, and welcoming to your neighbor ... even your enemies... but this is not the same as seeking to join in "friendship" with the world.

The things of this world war against God Most High. They are opposed to him. If you are for the Lord… then they will be against you as well. So who is it that you “wish to be friends with”? Are you saddened by the idea of “the world” not liking you? Are you clamoring to sit next to “the world” in the proverbial lunchroom of life… wishing that you were “the world’s friend”… as if the world were the “cool kids” at school growing up?

The inverse is true as well. If we are not God’s enemy, then we are his ALLIE. We join with the loyal and obedient heavenly host in this cosmic spiritual battle. Not only are we allies , God calls us his “friends” through Jesus Christ - The Son. Look at What Jesus says in John 15:15:

“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.”

So who are you binding yourself in friendship to ... the world or the Lord? Who or what are you seeking the approval of? Do you think you can play “both sides”? It will never work out well this sort of duplicitous life. Living this way is like cheating on your spouse! This is why James calls these sorts of people out by calling them an “adulterous people”. (v.4) I don’t know about you… but I do not want to be God’s enemy! That sounds like a fight you cannot win. What is stunning is that God calls us into friendship and relationship with him! He brings us into the company of the heavenly host and all those who have faithfully gone before us. We become his allies and friends. Do not be deceived, “friendship with the world is enmity with God.” Love you guys. - JDP