James 4: thoughts... part 3

Read James 4

Wrestling with the Word from James is rough... he does not tread lightly into the heart... challenging Believers in the daily living of words... wealth... faith... and religion... demanding a heart of integrity...

Adulteresses! 

Don't you know that friendship with the world
is hostility toward God?

So whoever wants to be the world's friend 
becomes God's enemy.

James 4:4

HCSB
(emphasis added)

Adulteresses...!?
Hard words... for those who buddy up to the world...

What exactly does it mean to befriend the world...?
Aren't we supposed to love our neighbor... just not to the point of adultery...?

Who is the world anyway...?

The Greek translated as world... is kosmos... and when referenced as the world... it refers to... 

...the system of practices and standards associated with secular society (that is, without reference to any demands or requirements of God)... ---Louw & Nida

The world's way... void of God...
wealth as the source of security...
favoritism as a way to influence power...
envy and ambition as rungs to success...
this is what we are NOT to embrace...

This is the warning at the heart of James... beware the world...

Do not be deceived... 

In the Old Testament... God uses the term adultery as a synonym for idolatry... His people... chasing anything but His Way... are adulteresses... unfaithful sluts... foolish... rebellious...

We too are vulnerable to the same temptation... but the idols of stone and wood... take the form of wealth... a lavish lifestyle... relationships... power... status... self-gratification... entertainment... addictions... anything that pulls us away from God... is an idol...

As Believers... if we pour our lives into anything... apart from God's call on our life... we are... adulteresses... 

Are you cheating on God...?