CWW Week 39 - Spiritual Adultery - Day 5
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Title: “Friends with the World, Strangers to God?”
James 4:4 (NIV):
“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.”
A Confronting Wake-Up Call
Let’s be honest—this verse from James doesn’t hold back. It doesn’t ease in with gentle encouragement or soft correction. It hits straight to the heart with words like “adulterous”, “enmity”, and “enemy of God.”
It’s uncomfortable. It’s confronting. But sometimes, we need to be jolted awake.
James isn’t talking to outsiders here. He’s writing to believers—people who knew Jesus, who had faith, but whose hearts were being pulled in the wrong direction. And like a faithful husband pleading with an unfaithful spouse, God speaks through James with deep love and urgency: “You’re cheating on Me.”
What Does “Friendship with the World” Mean?
This isn’t about avoiding society or disconnecting from culture. We live in the world. Jesus Himself said we are to be in the world but not of it (John 17:15–16). So what’s James getting at?
“Friendship with the world” isn’t about location—it’s about loyalty.
It means aligning our values, desires, and lifestyle with a system that opposes God’s ways. It means blending in with the world at the cost of compromising our faith. It means loving what the world offers more than loving what God commands.
It can look like:
- Chasing status, wealth, or success instead of seeking God’s Kingdom
- Blending in with the crowd rather than standing for truth
- Silencing our convictions to stay popular or avoid criticism
- Choosing comfort over obedience
- Letting culture shape our beliefs more than Scripture
James isn’t saying we shouldn’t care about people in the world—he’s warning us not to adopt the world’s mindset at the expense of intimacy with God.
Spiritual Adultery: A Matter of the Heart
Why does James use such strong language—“You adulterous people”?
Because our relationship with God is more than just a belief system. It’s a covenant. A relationship of love, loyalty, and trust. When we give our affection to the world more than to God, it’s betrayal—just like cheating in a marriage.
Spiritual adultery is when we claim to love God but flirt with the world.
We sing songs on Sabbath but live for ourselves on every other day.
We seek God’s help but ignore His commands.
We want the benefits of the relationship without the faithfulness it requires.
God doesn’t take that lightly—not because He’s controlling, but because He’s committed. Jealousy, in this context, is a reflection of God’s fierce and faithful love.
He doesn’t want part of your heart—He wants it all.
Enemies of God?
James goes even further: “Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.” That sounds extreme, doesn’t it?
But again, it comes back to loyalty. You can’t serve two masters. You can’t pledge allegiance to two opposing kingdoms. God will not share you.
This doesn’t mean God stops loving you when you mess up. But it does mean there’s a clear line between being His and being of the world. You can’t ride the fence forever. Sooner or later, your choices will show where your loyalty lies.
The Good News: Grace Still Speaks
Thankfully, James doesn’t stop at rebuke. Just a few verses later (James 4:6), he says:
“But He gives us more grace.”
Yes, the language is strong because the truth is serious. But grace is stronger still.
If you’ve been drifting, compromising, or living a double life—you can come home. God’s not interested in punishing you—He wants to restore you. But that restoration begins with repentance. With saying, “Lord, I’ve been unfaithful. Forgive me. Change me.”
And He will. Because He’s a faithful God, even when we’re not.
Final Thoughts
You can’t be friends with the world and faithful to God at the same time. One will always pull you away from the other.
Today, choose who you will serve. Don’t settle for a divided heart. Don’t live with one foot in the Kingdom and one foot in the culture. Give God your full devotion—He’s worth it.
Reflection Questions
- In what areas of your life are you tempted to align with the world instead of with God?
- Are there compromises you’ve made that reflect friendship with the world rather than faithfulness to God?
- What’s one step you can take this week to return fully to God and live wholeheartedly for Him?
Prayer
Dear Lord, Papa God,
I confess that I’ve often tried to live with divided loyalty. I’ve wanted to please You, but I’ve also tried to fit in with the world. I’ve compromised, drifted, and given my affection to things that don’t honour You. Forgive me, Lord. I don’t want to be a friend of the world—I want to be a faithful child of Yours. Help me to see clearly where my heart has strayed, and give me the courage to return to You fully. Thank You for Your mercy, for Your jealous love, and for calling me back—even when I don’t deserve it. I choose You again today.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen.
Have a great day today with Jesus.
Graham Hood.
