James 4:1-5
1 What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? 2 You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask. 3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions. 4 You adulterous people! 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. 5 Or do you suppose it is to no purpose that the Scripture says, He yearns jealously over the spirit that he has made to dwell in us?
Do I love God more than I love the world? It is easy to get caught up in worldly pursuits, in gaining material possessions and friendships. After all, this world is our constant reality. But this world is not our eternal reality, and our God is a jealous God (verse 5). So if all we want is worldly pleasure and friendship, which is what lust is all about, then we will not be pursuing God. Therefore we are warned, "You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God?" (verse 4). The accusation here is of adultery, because we are ignoring our covenant relationship with God to chase after temporary worldly relationships. That misplaced desire not only pulls us away from God, but also "causes quarrels" (verse 1) as we never receive what we are seeking.
Lord, help me to be to put You first, and to be Your faithful friend.
1 What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? 2 You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask. 3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions. 4 You adulterous people! 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. 5 Or do you suppose it is to no purpose that the Scripture says, He yearns jealously over the spirit that he has made to dwell in us?
Do I love God more than I love the world? It is easy to get caught up in worldly pursuits, in gaining material possessions and friendships. After all, this world is our constant reality. But this world is not our eternal reality, and our God is a jealous God (verse 5). So if all we want is worldly pleasure and friendship, which is what lust is all about, then we will not be pursuing God. Therefore we are warned, "You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God?" (verse 4). The accusation here is of adultery, because we are ignoring our covenant relationship with God to chase after temporary worldly relationships. That misplaced desire not only pulls us away from God, but also "causes quarrels" (verse 1) as we never receive what we are seeking.
Lord, help me to be to put You first, and to be Your faithful friend.