NO Friendship with the World!

Thank you so much for joining us for this very timely post today. In every part of the world, we see evidence of worldly living. Even in the church, we see and hear of compromise from the godly life the Lord requires that we live. I pray that, as you read, you will be encouraged to choose to follow Him above all else. Eric

Today, we are going to delve into the topic of 'friendship or compromise with the world,' to see what the Word of God teaches us concerning it.

There is an ongoing struggle in our world today!

I have a question. Can we be faithful and true to God if we do not know His precepts (Word) or His nature? How can we please God if we have no understanding or revelation of His Word? Pure and simple, we can't!

In today's world, just as in the days of Jesus, there are many philosophies and priorities that run contrary to the will of God. In addition, we still battle endlessly with God's and our archenemy, satan, who wishes no more than to steal, kill and destroy God and His people. Since he is evil and there is nothing good in him, satan desires that none would enter into a saving relationship with God. He also desires that none would grow and mature in that relationship with Almighty God because when we do, he can no longer run roughshod over us! We become more that conquerors in the name of Jesus and the power of the Holy Spirit. Then, we can thwart all of his evil plans against us. (Romans 8:37).

Something that we believers must understand though, is that, since the time he was put out of God's presence along with one third of the angels, he has been the 'ruler of the world.' The struggle we have is against the ruler (satan) and the powers of this dark world or his cohorts. (Ephesians 6:12). Due to humanity's sin, satan has temporary dominion over the earth.

Let's begin this portion of our study with a very potent Scripture that many believers fail to understand the true importance of today. James 4:4 (NIV) reveals, "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 of God." 'Friendship,' philia from the root Greek word phileo conveys: warm affection, to love, to be fond of and to be a friend denoting a personal attachment. 'World,' aion indicates the 'world system - to all its values, mind-set, philosophies of life and priorities that run contrary to the will of God, by materialism, pride and self-centeredness. The "world suggests that your success requires you to turn away from godliness - to neglect developing your relationship with God." (Kingdom Dynamics. NSFLB). 'Enmity,' echthra means hostility. 'Enemy,' echthros means to hate or be actively hostile.

Friendship with the world is 'hostility' (hatred or opposition) toward God! Because of that, whoever chooses (desires and is willing to make a deliberate choice) to be a friend of the world, appoints, shows themself or establishes themself as an enemy (actively hostile foe) of God. Becoming an enemy of God is a grave consequence! This verse is a warning and a call to repentance. In calling those who are friends with the world 'adulteresses,' James is "identifying that spiritual infidelity is at the heart of the problem. When you are living in worldly ways or following the world's standards, you are compromising your relationship with God." (Bible Hub, Topical Lexicon).

To give added insight concerning what happens when we 'live in the world,' we will look at Ephesians 2:1-3 (NIV), " As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2 in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. 3 All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath." When we followed the ways of the world and the devil, we were dead in our sins and were disobedient to God. Before we accepted Christ as our Savior, we followed the desires of our flesh and continued to live in disobedience to God.

If we compromise today and continue to be a 'friend' of the world - we are again establishing ourselves as an enemy of God. "Divine judgment falls on those who persist in unfaithfulness." (Bible Hub Topical Lexicon).

What does it look like to be 'friends' with the world? According to James 4:1 and 2, we quarrel, covet, fight, harbor bitterness, envy, have selfish ambition and boast. Comparatively, when we indulge is godly living, we are peace loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy, impartial and sincere. (James 3:3-18).

Sadly, a well known candidate for president here in the United States made this statement: "Religion needs to change what is taught because it does not agree with our society or laws which must be enforced by government." (referencing abortion and homosexuality). This statement reveals the mind and thoughts of those who continue to compromise with the world and not follow after God. Thankfully, that individual is not nor has ever been elected president.

Psalm 119:89 (NKJV) reads, "Forever, O Lord, Your word is settled in heaven." "God's decrees are sovereign and unalterable. God's Word is established in a place of ultimate authority and is not subject to earthly changes or challenges." (Bible Hub Study Bible).

Here is an example of what happened when God's people failed to be obedient to God's word and compromise: "They mingled with other nations, adopted their customs, worshiped their idols, became ensnared and sacrificed their sons and daughters to false gods. They defiled themselves and prostituted themselves (played a harlot) by committing fornication." (Psalm 106:34-39). We see the tragic consequences of disobedience and compromise with the world (the ungodly).

God's word encourages us to love God and not the world. Worldly pleasures last for only a short time and do not satisfy. 1 John 2:15-17 (Amplified Bible) reads, "Do not love the world [of sin that opposes God and His precepts], nor the things that are in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world--the lust and sensual craving of the flesh and the lust and longing of the eyes and the boastful pride of life [pretentious confidence in one's resources or in the stability of earthly things]--these do not come from the Father, but are from the world. 17 The world is passing away, and with it its lusts [the shameful pursuits and ungodly longings]; but the one who does the will of God and carries out His purposes lives forever." 'Love' agapao denotes to take pleasure in the thing and to be unwilling to abandon it or do without it. Nothing in the world should become so important to us that we refuse to do without it.

It is important that we remember that we are eternal beings. All of the 'earthly things' are temporal. Prioritizing and gaining worldly success and material wealth at the expense of one's eternal life and facing eternal separation from God would be terribly tragic. (Matthew 16:26).

When we accepted the gift of salvation through the sacrifice of Christ, we were 'raised up with Him,' so our focus and heart also needed to shift and be set on heavenly realities and not be caught up in the things of the world. Earthly things, such as, material possessions, status, and human wisdom, for some, can become more valuable than our relationship with God and thus lead to idolatry and draw our attention away from God's purpose. It takes effort and a determined mindset to live a Godly life. (Colossians 3:2).

As believers, we must never forget that the unmerited favor and kindness of God (grace) brought salvation and deliverance from sin and its consequences for everyone. (Titus 2:11; Galatians 1:4). "He gave Himself according to the will of the Father to rescue us."

Our salvation or redemption was initiated and purposed by God! It was a very costly plan - it included the shedding of His own Son's blood on a cruel cross. Why did He do it? To rescue us from this evil world; from sin and the pervasive influence of evil that we see all around us today. Thank God! Our rescue and deliverance comes through faith in Him.

1 John 5:4 and 5 (NLT) reveals, "For every child of God defeats this evil world, and we achieve this victory through our faith. 5 And who can win this battle against the world? Only those who believe that Jesus is the Son of God."

Seeking the approval of the world will gain you nothing eternally. If you are more concerned with pleasing people in the world than God, you would not be a servant of Christ. Galatians 1:10 (NIV) reads, "Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ."

Romans 12:2 instructs us to not be conformed to the pattern of the world. It would be easy for us to fall into acting and imitating the world. That is where we live. How then, do we guard against that trap?

God's Word directs us to be transformed (go through a metamorphosis) by renewing our mind. Renewing our mind is a continuous process of spiritual growth and understanding that we can achieve only by saturating our mind with the Word of God, prayer and being directed by the Holy Spirit!

2 Corinthians 10:3-5 (NIV) reveals, "For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. 4 The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. 5 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ." For us to live a successful life above the world - we must bring every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ by waging our warfare - not by the world's methods, strength or wisdom, but by using the divine power given by God. He is our strength and His Word is our weapon! Realizing that as every new day passes, we get one day closer to the return of the Lord Jesus Christ. Paul gave us godly counsel regarding our former 'worldly' existence in Romans 13:11-14 (NKJV), "And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. 12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. 13 Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy. 14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts."

Actively put on the Lord Jesus Christ and make no room for the lusts of the flesh (the world)!

Renounce ungodliness and worldly passions and lived self-controlled, upright and godly lives is this present age! (Titus 2:12).

Don't let anything from the world be more important to you than your relationship with God.

Do not allow anything to become an idol!

As you spend time in His Word and worship Him daily, your passion for The Lord will increase!

If no translation is noted, it is taken from the NIV.

NIV New International Version

NKJV New King James Version

NSFLB New Spirit Filled Life Bible