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Answer
After noticing widespread worldliness among his readers, James begins a cautionary (James 4:1-17) with a stern rebuke: “You adulterous people! Do you not realize that being friends with the world means hostility toward God? Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God” «Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God. », (James 4:4, ESV). Enmity signifies animosity, the condition of actively opposing someone.
A common biblical analogy for spiritual unfaithfulness in our relationship with God is adultery (e:g:, Jeremiah 3:20;Ezekiel 16). This imagery is particularly prominent in the book of Hosea (Hosea 2:1-23). Despite God’s unwavering love for Israel, they responded with unfaithfulness, immorality, and idolatry.
Scripture portrays God as the husband of His people (Isaiah 54:5;2 Corinthians 11:2) and believers as His bride (Jeremiah 2:2;2;Ephesians 5:22-33;Revelation 21:7,9). Therefore, when James refers to his readers as “adulterers and adulteresses” «Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God. », (James 4:4, ESV),
James 4:4, NKJV), the implication is clear. To the God who has loved His people unsparingly and relentlessly, what could be more painful than their heartless betrayal?
James issues a challenge to individuals who have turned their hearts away from God and become infatuated with the world. When he refers to “the world,” he is talking about the world system or world order, comprising individuals whose beliefs, values, and morals are in opposition and rebellion against God’s. The aims and objectives of “the world” directly contradict God’s commands. Choosing to hold onto the world is opting for enmity with God.
James cautions believers against adopting a lifestyle that mirrors “friendship with the world.” We should never chase after the ideals, morals, goals, or purposes of the world but instead “seek first [God’s] kingdom and his righteousness” «But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. », (Matthew 6:33).
Through repetition, James underscores that “friendship with the world is enmity with God” and “whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.” Using the same Greek term translated as “enmity” in James 4:4, Paul condemns the worldly mindset: “The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God” (Romans 8:7-8).
We must be cautious not to delude ourselves into believing that we can live in intimate fellowship with God while simultaneously setting our hearts on worldly matters. We must “remember what happened to Lot’s wife!” «Remember Lot’s wife. », (Luke 17:32, NLT). The apostle Paul instructs Christians to maintain a singular focus: “Since you have been raised to new life wWith Christ, focus on the realities of heaven, where Christ is seated in the place of honor at God’s right hand. Reflect on heavenly things, not earthly things. For you have died to this life, and your true life is concealed with Christ in God” (Colossians 3:1-3;NLT).
What does aligning with the world entail? How can we ensure we are not positioning ourselves as enemies of God?
One clear sign that we have aligned with the world is our conduct. Are we behaving like the people of the world? Do we argue, covet, and fight (James 4:1-2)? Do we nurture bitter envy and selfish ambition in our hearts? Do we boast and reject the truth? Do we foster disorder and engage in every evil practice in our lives? Or conversely, do we exhibit deeds characterized by the humility that wisdom brings? Are we peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial, and sincere (James 3:13-18)? Association with the world influences our character.
If anything or anyone takes precedence in our lives over our relationship with God and Jesus Christ, we have likely embraced alignment with the world and opposition to God. One commentator asserts, “Love for God and love for the world are incompatible” (Dibelius, M., & Greeven, H., James: A Commentary on the Epistle of James, Fortress Press, 1976, p. 220). Jesus affirmed, “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other” « No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. », (Matthew 6:24).
Pursuing friendship with the world puts us at odds with God and in danger of forfeiting our souls. “For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?” (Mark 8:36). On the other hand, if we seek intimate fellowship with Jesus by giving up our own way, taking up our cross, and following Him, we gain everything we need in this life and in the one to come. If we try to cling to the old worldly way of life, Jesus said we will end up losing everything. But if we give up our lives to cultivate friendship with Christ for the sake of the gospel, then we gain salvation and everlasting life with Him. “For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel’s, the same shall save it.” (Mark 8:35).
