Moving Away from the World

Scripture: You adulterers and adulteresses, do you not know that the friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God. James 4:4

Observation: James is further refining the "faith verses action" conversation to include daily life, and the manner by which we are to separate ourselves in faith by our actions. We are not to covet anything of the world. Greed itself is a form of adultery. That greed is always of "earthly" items, be it riches, luxury, adultery, fame. He even goes on to say that just planning for the future - creating a plan for how you will acquire wealth in the future - is part of the pattern of earthly greed.

All of this is being a "friend of the world". James instead is driving to the point that faith involves drawing close to God, which again is an action. In all of this faith is reflected by actions and words, not just feelings in our hearts and thoughts in our heads.

Application: There are two sides to this coin. Drawing close to God is half of it. Actively moving away from and rejecting the world is the other half. I often think about if I am working to draw closer to God. However, am I actively working to move away from the world?

In my life, that would look like ... ceasing any planning about a comfortable retired, as God may have a radically different plan for my later life that I need to be open to. It would also look like ... rejecting concerns about image at work, for as long as I am doing the right things for God like seeking to care for others and demonstrate that care, anything related to my image is superfluous. It might also look like ... serving my family more in the evenings and weekends, for while I am tired in the evenings that is not an excuse to set aside my greatest calling.

I must not be a friend of the world. I must set aside things like person comfort and future plans, and allow God to truly care for me. This would certainly create more room for God near me.

Prayer: Dear Lord, your ways are above my thoughts. I see and understand that the ways of the world interfere with our relationship. In many ways, the world has taught me the value of self sufficiency, yet you would teach me the value of total surrender. I surrender my future to you. While I may seek your will in this matter, I am open to your guidance and not my own goals. Amen.