Tiago 4
John Piper · Citado em PreceptAustin
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Piper - from Desiring God page 164 - PRAYING LIKE AN ADULTERESS But someone will say, “Yes, but not all prayers are prayers for God’s name to be hallowed or for His kingdom to come. Many prayers are for food and clothing and protection and healing. Is this sort of praying not self-centered?” It may be. James did condemn a certain kind of prayer. He said.... (James 4:3-5). it is adultery when we try to be “friends” with the world So there is a kind of praying that is wrong because it makes a cuckold out of God. We use our Husband’s generosity to hire prostitutes for private pleasures. These are startling words. James calls us “adulterous people” if we pray like this. He pictures the church as the wife of God. God has made us for Himself and has given Himself to us for our enjoyment. Therefore, it is adultery when we try to be “friends” with the world. If we seek from the world the pleasures we should seek in God, we are unfaithful to our marriage vows. And, what’s worse, when we go to our heavenly Husband and actually pray for the resources with which to commit adultery with the world, it is a very wicked thing. It is as though we would ask our husband for money to hire male prostitutes to provide the pleasure we don’t find in him! So, yes, there is a kind of praying that is self-centered in an evil sense. Now the question becomes: What keeps all of our praying for “things” from being adulterous? James 4:1-3 THE WAR WITHIN - Theodore Epp James was well aware of the fact that conflict among believers comes from the personal war that goes on within each person. This conflict within the believer is also referred to in Romans 7:23+: "But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members." Also, Peter warned, "Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul" (1 Pet 2:11+). James's reference to killing was not necessarily referring to taking a person's life but to destroying someone's character. Previously, James dealt with the viciousness of the tongue. When the tongue is out of control, it can be a lethal weapon used for character assassination. These are sobering words from the Bible, and today more than ever we need to carefully examine our lives. Much bitterness is displayed not only among the unbelieving world but also among those who call themselves Christians. Sometimes, in the name of Christ and in a desire to be separate from sin, Christians commit sin by bitterly attacking fellow believers. We are to take a stand against sin, but we must guard our hearts so that the old nature does not take over, allowing the bitterness of hatred to grip us. Even though we may totally disagree with what another person is doing, we are still commanded as believers to seek that person's highest good. "He that hideth hatred with lying lips, and he that uttereth a slander, is a fool" -- Proverbs 10:18 James 4:4 You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. Amplified You [are like] unfaithful wives [having illicit love affairs with the world and breaking your marriage vow to God]! Do you not know that being the world's friend is being God's enemy? So whoever chooses to be a friend of the world takes his stand as an enemy of God. Click the link below for in depth comments on this verse James 4:4 Commentary James 4:4-7 DON'T COURT THE WORLD - Theodore Epp Consider the accusation of James concerning the illicit love affair with the world as stated in the following paraphrase: "You [are like] unfaithful wives [having illicit love affairs with the world and breaking your marriage vow to God]! Do you not know that being the world's friend is being God's enemy? So whoever chooses to be a friend of the world takes his stand as an enemy of God."(James 4:4, Amplified Bible). Being a friend of the world indicates that the person agrees with the values of the world system. The Old Testament Prophet Amos asked, "Can two walk together, except they be agreed?" (Amos 3:3). The believer who is able to be in agreement with this evil world system is woefully out of fellowship with Almighty God, who saved him from the penalty and power of sin. If a person has a consistently worldly life-style, it is a clear signal that he has never trusted Jesus Christ as his personal Saviour. On the other hand, there are believers who are out of fellowship with the Lord and who are worldly for a time. Perhaps this is because many want Christ as Saviour but not as Lord. They want the assurance and peace of knowing that they are saved from eternal condemnation, but they also want to live to please themselves rather than letting Christ be the Master of their lives. "Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him" (1 John 2:15). James 4:5 Or do you think that the Scripture speaks to no purpose: "He jealously desires the Spirit which He has made to dwell in us"? Amplified Or do you suppose that the Scripture is speaking to no purpose that says, The Spirit Whom He has caused to dwell in us yearns over us and He yearns for the Spirit [to be welcome] with a jealous love? Click the link below for in depth comments on this verse James 4:5 Commentary James 4:6 But He gives a greater grace. Therefore it says, "GOD IS OPPOSED TO THE PROUD, BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE." Amplified But He gives us more and more grace (power of the Holy Spirit, to meet this evil tendency and all others fully). That is why He says, God sets Himself against the proud and haughty, but gives grace [continually] to the lowly (those who are humble enough to receive it). Click the link below for in depth comments on this verse James 4:6 Commentary James 4:7 Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Amplified So be subject to God. Resist the devil [stand firm against him], and he will flee from you. Click the link below for in depth comments on this verse James 4:7 Commentary James 4:8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Amplified Come close to God and He will come close to you. [Recognize that you are] sinners, get your soiled hands clean; [realize that you have been disloyal] wavering individuals with divided interests, and purify your hearts [of your spiritual adultery]. Click the link below for in depth comments on this verse James 4:8 Commentary James 4:8-12 YOU GET NEARER BY GETTING LOWER - Theodore Epp Concerning James's command to "draw nigh to God" (James 4:8), we must remember that it takes time to be holy. Although our position in Christ at the moment of salvation provides an absolute holiness, as we live the Christian life from day to day, it takes time to apply the principles that result in holy living. But as we move toward God, we can count on God's moving toward us. However, we must remember that our moving is the result of His indwelling power (see Phil. 2:12,13+). James said, "Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you" (James 4:8). He added, "Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded" (v. 8). This injunction to cleanse oneself is most likely a reference to believers who have fallen into worldliness. God will not work through dirty hands that are contaminated by the value system and sins of the world. Hebrews 10:22 tells us, "Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water." The lesson for each believer is to humble himself, not to wait for the Lord to humble him. True humility is to comprehend our own utter unworthiness apart from Christ. Of course, seeing ourselves as we really are is also impossible apart from the grace of God. As we appropriate all the grace that God has bestowed upon us, we will become humble before Him. "By humility and the fear of the Lord are riches, and honour, and life" (Prov. 22:4). James 4:9 Be miserable and mourn and weep; let your laughter be turned into mourning and your joy to gloom. Amplified [As you draw near to God] be deeply penitent and grieve, even weep [over your disloyalty]. Let your laughter be turned to grief and your mirth to dejection and heartfelt shame [for your sins]. Click the link below for in depth comments on this verse James 4:9 Commentary James 4:10 Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you. Amplified Humble yourselves [feeling very insignificant] in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you [He will lift you up and make your lives significant]. The true way to be humble is not to stoop until you are smaller than yourself, but to stand at your real height against some higher nature that will show you what the real smallness of your greatness is. Click the link below for in depth comments on this verse James 4:10 Commentary James 4:11 Do not speak against one another, brethren. He who speaks against a brother or judges his brother, speaks against the law and judges the law; but if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge of it. Amplified [My] brethren, do not speak evil about or accuse one another. He that maligns a brother or judges his brother is maligning and criticizing the Law and judging the Law. But if you judge the Law, you are not a practicer of the Law but a censor and judge [of it]. GNT James 4:11 Μὴ καταλαλεῖτε ἀλλήλων, ἀδελφοί. ὁ καταλαλῶν ἀδελφοῦ ἢ κρίνων τὸν ἀδελφὸν αὐτοῦ καταλαλεῖ νόμου καὶ κρίνει νόμον· εἰ δὲ νόμον κρίνεις, οὐκ εἶ ποιητὴς νόμου ἀλλὰ κριτής. NLT James 4:11 Don't speak evil against each other, dear brothers and sisters. If you criticize and judge each other, then you are criticizing and judging God's law. But your job is to obey the law, not to judge whether it applies to you. KJV James 4:11 Speak not evil one of another, brethren. He that speaketh evil of his brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the law: but if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge. ESV James 4:11 Do not speak evil against one another, brothers. The one who speaks against a brother or judges his brother, speaks evil against the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge. ASV James 4:11 Speak not one against another, brethren. He that speaketh against a brother, or judgeth his brother, speaketh against the law, and judgeth the law: but if thou judgest the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge. CSB James 4:11 Don't criticize one another, brothers. He who criticizes a brother or judges his brother criticizes the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge. NIV James 4:11 Brothers, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against his brother or judges him speaks against the law and judges it. When you judge the law, you are not keeping it, but sitting in judgment on it. NKJ James 4:11 Do not speak evil of one another, brethren. He who speaks evil of a brother and judges his brother, speaks evil of the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge. NRS James 4:11 Do not speak evil against one another, brothers and sisters. Whoever speaks evil against another or judges another, speaks evil against the law and judges the law; but if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge. YLT James 4:11 Speak not one against another, brethren; he who is speaking against a brother, and is judging his brother, doth speak against law, and doth judge law, and if law thou dost judge, thou art not a doer of law but a judge; NAB James 4:11 Do not speak evil of one another, brothers. Whoever speaks evil of a brother or judges his brother speaks evil of the law and judges the law. If you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge. NJB James 4:11 Brothers, do not slander one another. Anyone who slanders a brother, or condemns one, is speaking against the Law and condemning the Law. But if you condemn the Law, you have ceased to be subject to it and become a judge over it. GWN James 4:11 Brothers and sisters, stop slandering each other. Those who slander and judge other believers slander and judge God's teachings. If you judge God's teachings, you are no longer following them. Instead, you are judging them. BBE James 4:11 Do not say evil against one another, my brothers. He who says evil against his brother or makes himself his brother's judge, says evil against the law and is judging the law: and in judging the law you become, not a doer of the law but a judge. Do not speak against one another: Ps 140:11 Eph 4:31 1Ti 3:11 2Ti 3:3 Tit 2:3 1Pe 2:1 He who speaks against a brother or judges his brother: Mt 7:1,2 Lu 6:37 Ro 2:1 14:3,4,10-12 1Co 4:5 speaks against the law: Ro 7:7,12,13 you are not a doer of the law but a judge of it: Jas 1:22,23,25 Ro 2:13 James 4:11-12 The Sin of Judging Others - Steven
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Piper writes that James 4:4 "pictures the church as the wife of God. God has made us for Himself and has given Himself to us for our enjoyment. Therefore, it is adultery when we try to be “friends” with the world. If we seek from the world the pleasures we should seek in God, we are unfaithful to our marriage vows. And, what’s worse, when we go to our heavenly Husband and actually pray for the resources with which to commit adultery with the world, it is a very wicked thing. It is as though we would ask our husband for money to hire male prostitutes to provide the pleasure we don’t find in him! (Piper, J. Desiring God. Page 164. Sisters, Or.: Multnomah Publishers) ISRAEL: THE WIFE OF JEHOVAH PLAYED THE HARLOT Tragically, the OT record is riddled with lurid descriptions of Israel's spiritual unfaithfulness to her Husband, Jehovah - e.g., Jer 2:20; 23, 3:1,6,8,9; Ps 78:58, Ezek 16:25, 26, 27, 28, 29; Jer 3:8, 13:27, Hos 1:2; 7:13-16, 9:1, Isa 50:1, 57:3, 5, 6, 7). In fact the OT uses the phrase play the harlot some 19 times (in 18v) alluding to Israel's spiritual adultery -- Ex 34:15, 16; Lev 17:7; 20:5, 6; Nu 25:1; Dt 31:16; 2Chr 21:11, 13; Isa 23:17; Ezek 16:17; 20:30; Hos 3:3; 4:10, 13, 14, 15, 18. The related phrase played the harlot is used to portray Israel's spiritual adultery in the following 20 passages - Nu 15:39, Jdg 2:17, 8:27, 33, 1Chr 5:25, 2Chr 21:13, Ps 106:39, Ezek 6:9, 16:15, 16, 26, 28, 23:3, 5, 19, 30, Hos 2:5, 4:12, 5:3, 9:1. Jesus used the figure of spiritual harlotry in describing the unfaithfulness of the nation of Israel to its vows to the Lord (see passages below) In the present context the fact that James uses the plural (adulteresses) implies that he is directing his rebuke at those individuals who were behaving unfaithfully toward their Covenant partner Christ who was also their Bridegroom (cp 2Co 11:2). The commentator Davids (Epistle of James) writes that this stinging introduction Adulteresses makes it clear that James has broken off analysis and is now preaching repentance. Note that some of the translations of Jas 4:4 (see above - e.g., KJV, RSV, Young's Literal) use the Textus Receptus reading which is translated "adulterers and adulteresses". Most modern translations have only the word moichalis which describes female adulteresses, and most commentators accept this rendering as the more accurate. And so to reiterate a common biblical picture for the covenant between God and His people is the marriage covenant. In this image, breaking the covenant with God is likened to the unfaithfulness of adultery. Thomas Manton flatly states that... Worldliness in Christians is spiritual adultery. It dissolves the spiritual marriage between God and the soul; of all sins it is the most inappropriate to the marriage covenant (See related study: Covenant: As It Relates to Marriage), the covenant of grace in which God declares himself to be “all sufficient” (Genesis 17:1 - see EL Shaddai - God Almighty). We have enough in God, but we desire to make up our happiness in the creatures; this is plain whoring: “you [God] destroy all who are unfaithful to you” (Psalm 73:27+)—that is, those who seek in the world what is only found in God. There are degrees in this whoredom. There may be adultery by desire when the body is not defiled; unclean glances are a degree of lust (cp Mt 5:28+). The children of God may have some wandering and straggling thoughts; when the devil is at their elbows, the world may be increased in their esteem and imagination. But soon they correct themselves and return to God’s arms: “Blessed are the people whose God is the Lord” (Psalm 144:15+). (A Practical Exposition of James) Matthew
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Piper has aptly pointed out, the Bible is not against us having pleasure. Rather, it is against us finding pleasure in the wrong things or in wrong ways. Knowing God is the ultimate pleasure. The Psalms often proclaim this truth: Psalm 16:11 (+): “You will make known to me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy; in Your right hand there are pleasures forever.” Psalm 36:7-9 (+): “How precious is Your lovingkindness, O God! And the children of men take refuge in the shadow of Your wings. They drink their fill of the abundance of Your house; and You give them to drink of the river of Your delights. For with You is the fountain of life; in Your light we see light.” Psalm 37:4 (+): “Delight yourself in the Lord; and He will give you the desires of your heart.” There are many more such verses. But the point is that the world is the evil system that competes with God. It offers you pleasure apart from God. But true, lasting, eternal pleasure is to be had only in God Himself! As God says (Jer. 2:13), “For My people have committed two evils: they have forsaken Me, the fountain of living waters, to hew for themselves cisterns, broken cisterns that can hold no water.” Friendship with the world means trying to satisfy your thirst in man-made, broken cisterns that leak. Every time you go for a drink, they’re dry. Only God is the fountain of living water that satisfies the soul (Read the full sermon) Michael Andrus on adulteresses - The label "adulterous people" seems strange in a passage addressed to believers, until one realizes that he is probably not referring to physical adultery, which hopefully is relatively uncommon in the church, but rather to spiritual adultery, which is very common in the church. This is, in fact, a term borrowed from the OT. God had brought Israel into a covenant relationship with Himself, but they had been unfaithful to Him through idolatry, disobedience, and compromise with the pagan cultures around them. So the prophets accused the people of being spiritual adulterers. James sees the same problem in the church of his day–too much fraternizing with the enemy. Christians don't want to be different; they don't want to stand out in the crowd; so they borrow the world's priorities; and they pursue worldly pleasures. But what they often fail to consider is that the world hates their Heavenly Father, and when they fraternize with the world they stir up God’s jealousy. (Sermon) Adulteresses (3428) (moichalis) is related to moichos (which means essentially "married and impure", literally adulterer, "unlawful" lover - moichos 3x in NT = 1Co 6:9, He 13:4, Lk 18:11; 4x in the Lxx = Ps 50:18, Job 24:15, Pr 6:32, Isa 57:3). Moichalis pertains to being unfaithful to one to whom one should remain faithful and is used literally of a wife who does not remain faithful to her husband. Figuratively moichalis is used to describe one who is spiritually unfaithful. As discussed above in the OT, Israel is presented as the wife of God - see Je 2:2, Je 3:1, 6, 14, Je 3:14KJV, Je 3:14NIV, Je 31:32, Isa 54:5, Ho 2:16YLT. Proverbs 30:20 This is the way of an adulterous woman: She eats and wipes her mouth, And says, "I have done no wrong." Hosea 3:1 Then the LORD said to me, "Go again, love a woman who is loved by her husband, yet an adulteress, even as the LORD loves the sons of Israel, though they turn to other gods and love raisin cakes." Comment: Here we observe a succinct but clear "definition" of what God means when He calls Israel an adulteress - they turn to other gods and love raisin cakes. Malachi 3:5 "Then I will draw near to you for judgment; and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers and against the adulterers and against those who swear falsely, and against those who oppress the wage earner in his wages, the widow and the orphan, and those who turn aside the alien, and do not fear Me," says the LORD of hosts. Ezekiel 16:38 "Thus I shall judge you, like women who commit adultery or shed blood are judged; and I shall bring on you the blood of wrath and jealousy. Ezekiel 23:45 "But they, righteous men, will judge them with the judgment of adulteresses, and with the judgment of women who shed blood, because they are adulteresses and blood is on their hands. Moichalis in the New Testament... But He answered and said to them (some of the scribes and Pharisees Mt 12:38), "An evil and adulterous generation craves for a sign; and yet no sign shall be given to it but the sign of Jonah the prophet (cp Mt 16:4) Comment: Observe that Jesus associates "evil" (poneros = evil in active opposition to good) with moichalis in this passage. He condemns the nation of Israel for being unfaithful in its vows to the Lord. Mark 8:38 For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful (hamartolos) generation, the Son of Man will also be ashamed of him when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels. (Mk 8:38) Romans 7:3+ So then if, while her husband is living, she is joined to another man, she shall be called an adulteress; but if her husband dies, she is free from the law, so that she is not an adulteress, though she is joined to another man. 2Peter 2:14+ having eyes full of adultery and that never cease from sin, enticing unstable souls, having a heart trained in greed, accursed children; THE PIERCING QUESTION Do you not know?- Questions are calculated to get the hearers' attention (Also commonly used by Paul - Ro 6:16; 11:2; 1Co 3:16; 5:6; 6:2; 9:13). Questions draw the audience into the dialogue. And so James begins with a question which calls for an affirmative answer from his readers. In short, the readers cannot be ignorant of the truth that friendship with the world is hatred toward God. THOUGHT - They did know the truth of what he was getting ready to reiterate. In short, they had no excuse for forsaking God for friendship with His enemy. And neither do we beloved, for we live much closer in time to the appearing of our blessed hope, our Bridegroom's sudden return to sweep us (His Bride) off our feet (See "we shall be caught up"!). Therefore, it behooves us to continually ponder the maxim that "the fine linen (of our bridal attire) is the righteous acts of the saints" (Rev 19:8+) Kistemaker observes that "James puts this statement in the form of a question and appeals to the intuitive knowledge of his readers. What husband permits his wife to have an illicit affair with another man? And what do you think of a wife who forsakes marital love by engaging in adulterous relations? What do you think is God’s reaction when a believer becomes enamored with the world? God is a jealous God (Ex 20:5; Dt 5:9). He tolerates no friendship with the world." (Ibid). Puritan Thomas Manton remarks that James "appeals to their consciences; this is a rousing question. Worldly people do not sin out of ignorance so much as not thinking." (A Practical Exposition of James) Hiebert comments that this question calling for the answer "Yes, we know" "implies that they have received instruction concerning the demands of Christian discipleship (Mt 6:23, 24, Lk 16:13). Their conscience will confirm that in their self-indulgence and love for the pleasures of the world they are unfaithful to the Lord to whom they have pledged their full allegiance (1Jn 2:15). James' question to them implies that their friendship with the world was so pleasurable and acceptable that they had lost their consciousness of its sinfulness." (Ibid) The KJV Bible Commentary - A common characteristic of backsliding is the voluntary blindness toward the seriousness of sin. (Dobson, E G, Charles Feinberg, E Hindson, Woodrow Kroll, H L. Wilmington: KJV Bible Commentary: Nelson) Related Resource: Backsliding - article Backsliding or Drifting - quotes Know (1492)(eido, oida - eido is used only in the perfect tense = oida) means in general to know by perception. Literally eido/oida refers to perception by sight (perceive, see) as in Mt 2:2 Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we saw (eido) His star in the east, and have come to worship Him." Eido/oida is distinguished from ginosko (epiginosko, epignosis - the other major NT word group for knowing) because ginosko generally refers to knowledge obtained by experience or "experiential knowledge". It is knowledge obtained by observation. On the other hand, eido/oida often refers more to an intuitive knowledge or to know by reflection, although this distinction is not always clear cut. Eido/oida is not so much that which is known by experience as an intuitive insight that is drilled into one's heart. Eido/oida is a perception, a being aware of, an understanding, an intuitive knowledge which in the case of believers can only be given by the Holy Spirit. In short, it is not necessary for we believers to know sin by observation or experience, but we have the mind of Christ which allows us to discern good from evil without having to experience or observe the evil. And so eido/oida suggests fullness of knowledge, absolute knowledge (that which is without a doubt), rather than a progress in knowledge (cp ginosko) a distinction illustrated in the following passages. (Paul writes to the believers at Rome) Or do you not know (eido/oida) what the Scripture says in the passage about Elijah, how he pleads with God against Israel? (Ro 11:2+) (Jesus is speaking to unbelieving Jews about His Father in Jn 8:54, and declares to these Jews that) you have not come to know (ginosko) Him, but I know (eido/oida) Him; and if I say that I do not know (eido/oida) Him, I shall be a liar like you, but I do know (eido/oida) Him, and keep His word. (John 8:55) Jesus answered and said to him (to Peter who was a bit "put off" that Jesus was preparing to wash Peter's dirty feet!), "What I do you do not realize (eido/oida - know beyond a shadow of a doubt) now, but you shall understand (ginosko - understand by your experience) hereafter. (John 13:7) THE RUINOUS RELATIONSHIP Friendship with the world - Earlier James had described the beloved patriarch Abraham who "was called the friend of God" (Jas 2:23+; cp 2Chr 20:7; Isa 41:8) because of his faith in God and His promised Messiah (Ge 15:6, cp Gal 3:8, 3:16). What a stinging rebuke to call his readers friends of the world! In our modern culture we may not fully appreciate what James is trying to emphasize by using the word friendship for in his day (and in the Old Testament), friendship was a much richer term than it is today. In fact, friendship was one of the aspects of being in covenant with someone (even as Abraham was in covenant with Jehovah) and thus implied a unity or oneness in thought and purpose. To be a friend was to share all (See Covenant The Oneness of Covenant - The Meaning of Friend or click here for additional notes on friend). And thus Abraham was no faithless adulterer but was faithful to Jehovah, the One Who had called him out of the pagan world in Ur of the Chaldees and unto Himself. And so by analogy, the one who determines to be a friend to the world shares its outlook on life and feels very much at home in it! THOUGHT - Beloved, there can be few of us who read James' word and are not at least somewhat convicted as we ponder our own affections and associations as they relate to this present world which is passing away! May the Spirit of the Living God burn into our hearts the command He gave through Paul in 2 Corinthians... "Therefore, come out (aorist imperative = Command which conveys a sense of urgency. Do this now!) from their midst and be separate (aorist imperative again - Do it effectively!)," says the Lord. "And do not touch (present imperative = Command to either stop doing this or don't begin doing this) what is unclean; and I (Jehovah) will welcome you. (2Cor 6:17) Friends, it's not difficult to be a friend of the world and a friend of God at the same time; its impossible! -- Michael Andrus Thomas Manton remarks that by friendship with the world James "understands an emancipation of our affections to the pleasures, profits, and desires of the world. People try to please their friends, and they are friends of the world if they seek to gratify worldly people or worldly desires and if they court external vanities rather than renounce them—a practice that is inappropriate to religion. You may use the world but not seek friendship with it. People who want to be dandled on the world’s knees lose Christ’s friendship. “If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ” (Gal 1:10). It is the same with gratifying worldly desires. We may use the comforts of the world but may not serve its desires and pleasures—a description of the worldly state (Titus 3:3)." (A Practical Exposition of James) Phil Newton observes that friendship with the world "implies not only a love for the world but that the world loves back. It is a growing comfort with the worldly system that is set in opposition to the Lord. Curtis Vaughan explained, "To be "a friend of the world" is to value the approval of and cherish a relationship with persons and forces which are either indifferent toward or openly hostile to God. The situation is comparable to that of a wife who would cultivate friendship with a man trying to seduce her. Such a wife becomes her husband's enemy" [The Bible Study Commentary, 86]." (Diagnosing Trouble) Rich Cathers charges us not to be cozy with the world. You see an example of this in the life of Lot, Abraham’s nephew. (Ge 13:10) He did this even though he knew that the people of Sodom were wicked (Gen. 13:13). At first, he only moved closer to Sodom (Gen. 13:12), but as you follow the story, he eventually moved right into Sodom. In Genesis 14, the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah were invaded by a group of kings from the east. And because Lot was living in Sodom, he and his family were taken captive by these kings and he had to be rescued by uncle Abraham. It was kind of like the Christian who keeps visiting his old drug buddies and one day when the house gets busted, the Christian ends up in jail too. By Genesis 19, God is fed up with Sodom and Gomorrah and is planning on destroying the cities as soon as He can get Lot and his family evacuated. The Lord sends a couple of angels to warn Lot, but they did not have an easy time getting the family out. When Lot went to talk to his sons-in-law: (Ge 19:14KJV) And Lot went out, and spake unto his sons in law, which married his daughters, and said, Up, get you out of this place; for the LORD will destroy this city. But he seemed as one that mocked unto his sons in law. They didn’t take him seriously. Why should they? When it came time to leave, Lot was a bit reluctant to leave Sodom, and the angels had to grab him by the hand and force him to go. On the way out of the city, Lot’s wife was turned to a pillar of salt because she looked back, not being able to let go of the world. Lot went through much trouble because he had become a friend of the world. Some of the most miserable people are those who have too much of the Lord to be comfortable in the world, but too much of the world to be comfortable with the Lord. (James 4:1-10) Albert
Tiago 4:4
Piper: “And the world passes away, and the lust of it.” Nobody buys stock in a company that is sure to go bankrupt. Nobody sets up house in a sinking ship. No reasonable person would lay up treasure where moth and rust destroy and thieves break in and steal, would they? The world is passing away! To set your heart on it is only asking for heartache and misery in the end. That’s not all: not only is the world passing away, but also the lusts of it. If you share the desires of the world, you will pass away. You will not only lose your treasure. You will lose your life. If you love the world, it will pass away and take you with it. “The world passes away and the lust of it.” Second, in 1Jn 2:17b John says, “But he who does the will of God abides for ever.” The opposite of loving the world is not only loving the Father (1Jn 2:15+), but also doing the will of the Father (1Jn 2:17+). And that connection is not hard to understand. Jesus said, “If you love me you will keep my commandments” (John 14:15). John said in 1Jn 5:3, “For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments.” So loving the Father in 1Jn 2:15+ and doing the will of God in 1Jn 2:17 are not really separate things. If you love God, you will love what He wills. It is empty talk to say I love God but I don’t love what God loves. So John is saying in 1Jn 2:17, “If you love the world, you will perish with the world, but if you don’t love the world but love God, you will do his will and live with him for ever.” (See full sermon Do Not Love the World) Akin adds this comment: The heart of John’s argument is now given. This final verse of the section “contrasts the outcomes of these two loves, two lives, and two orientations toward Life.” When compared with a life lived in the will of God, the things this life has to offer are really empty imitations of God’s best. The things of the world seem to be of great value, but they are worthless when compared to the eternal blessings that come from doing the will of God. Jesus Christ in his death and resurrection has defeated the world that is opposed to God and has secured life eternal for those who believe. John links the believer’s confession of faith to his conduct by using the phrase “the one who does the will of God remains forever” to describe who will be a part of God’s eternal kingdom. (Ibid) Gingrich calls 1Jn 2:12-17 - "The Sixth Test for Being a Christian - Not loving the world" David Wells defines worldliness as What any particular culture does to make sin look normal and righteousness look strange. As Matthew Henry succinctly said... This world is our passage and not our portion. C S Lewis added that... Enemy-occupied territory—that is what the world is. John Piper offers this insight into the meaning of the world as used by James... The world has an inconsolable longing. It tries to satisfy the longing with scenic vacations, accomplishments of creativity, stunning cinematic productions, sexual exploits, sports extravaganzas, hallucinogenic drugs, ascetic rigors, managerial excellence, etc. But the longing remains. (Piper, J. The Dangerous Duty of Delight. Multnomah Publishers) Lehman Strauss observes that... Worldliness in a Christian's life must of necessity create disturbance and turmoil because neutrality is impossible where you have a divided allegiance. Can an unfaithful husband hope for harmony in his home, or a disloyal wife peace?...The Christian who turns from Christ and His Church to seek pleasure and satisfaction at the cisterns of this world are like unfaithful women who leave their husbands to seek sensual pleasure with other men. God is jealous over us with a holy jealousy. He purchased us at great sacrifice to Himself; hence He wants us solely for Himself. (Lehman Strauss – James, Your Brother: Studies in the Epistle of James) Thomas Manton adds that... Seeking the world’s friendship is the quick way to be God’s enemy. God and the world are contrary; he is all good, and the world lies in wickedness and commands contrary things. The world says, “Do not miss any opportunity for gain and pleasure; if you will be fussy in standing on conscience, you will do nothing but draw trouble on yourselves.” But God says, “Deny yourselves, take up your cross (Mk 8:34), renounce the world,” etc. The world says, “Why should I take my bread and water … and give it to men coming from who knows where?” (1Sa 25:11). But God says, “Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out” (Lk 12:33). (A Practical Exposition of James) "I DON'T HATE GOD" REALLY??? Hostility toward God - This is a frightening phrase not to mention a foolish position! The antonym of friendship is hostility and if we yield to the anti-God spirit of this present world (Gal 1:4 = evil age), we are defiantly taking a position in direct opposition to the Almighty God! Talk about hubris (exaggerated pride or self-confidence {hold mouse over self and/or click})! This hostility in one sense describes any and all of us (i.e., believers and obviously non-believers) when we "dabble" (Beloved, we must not be deceived... we never just "dabble" {click English definition}! We become ensnared!) with the subtle enticements of the wicked world, God's forever foe! We have to remember Jesus' clear warning that... No one (Greek = absolutely no one, no exceptions here; if you think you are an exception, you are already DECEIVED!) can (dunamis = has the inherent power or ability to) serve (douleuo = as a slave, submitting our will to our "master's" will; present tense = as one habitual practice you cannot continually be enslaved to) two masters (kurios = "lords"); for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will hold to one and despise the other. You (absolutely) cannot serve God and mammon (Aramaic word = "what is stored up" = property - came mean riches or wealth and in context anything in which one puts their trust - Be Careful - this can be very subversive and subtle!). (Mt 6:24+) We cannot have a heavenly fellowship if we allow a hindering fellowship. -Vance Havner Kistemaker - Straddling the line is dangerous, as every driver knows, for he has been taught to stay on his own side of the road. That is a fundamental traffic rule for safe driving. Nor can a Christian straddle the line. He cannot be a friend of God and a friend of the world, because “no one can serve two masters (Mt 6:24)...A Christian cannot pursue his selfish ambitions and still remain loyal to God. In fact, when he looks toward the pleasures of this world, he turns his back to God. (Kistemaker, S. J., & Hendriksen, W. Vol. 14: New Testament commentary : Exposition of James and the Epistles of John.: Baker Book House)
Tiago 4:6
Piper writes that "Pride is the primal evil in the universe. The Lord leaves no doubt about how He feels about it: “Pride and arrogance… I hate” (Pr 8:13). (From The Dangerous Duty of Delight.: Multnomah Publishers) The proud - Note that the absence of the definitive article ("the" in Greek) which stresses the character trait of pride rather than the identity of the proud people per se. Proud (5244) (huperephanos from huper = over, above, + phaíno = shine) is one who shines above or shows himself above his fellows. The haughty person pictured with his head held high above others. Feeling himself conspicuously above others, the huperephanos person assumes an attitude of haughty superiority and pride. He shows himself above, not just above other men but on a level equal to or higher than God Himself! This man who because of his feeling of personal superiority, regards others with haughtiness. He is puffed up with a high opinion of himself, and thus regards others with contempt, as if they were unworthy of any social interactions. The proud disregard God’s claims and show contempt for him on the one hand and despise others on the other. The noun huperephania is usually translated pride which is one of those sins which Jesus says proceeds out of a man's heart (Mark 7.22 = only NT use of huperephania). Wolfe writes that huperephanos… reflects a false self-estimate which manifests itself in arrogance. The emphasis of the Greek word falls on thought, not speech, as an attitude cherished in the secrecy of the heart. (Richard Wolfe: General Epistles of James &Jude, Contemporary Commentaries) Hiebert writes that "Gripped with a false sense of self-sufficiency, he regards himself as the standard of excellence and disdains those who fall short of the standard. It is an attitude of self-glorification, an attempt to disown his dependence on God. "The proud man cuts himself off from all the salutary effects of rebuke, criticism, and counsel." (Ibid) Rich Cathers feels "that with some people they feel that their “pride” is a necessity. They are afraid of appearing “weak” or “stupid”. They work hard at showing everyone how much better they are. They are constantly at work trying to “sell” you on how much you need them. (James 4:1-10) There are 5 uses of huperephanos in the NT… Luke 1:51+ "He has done mighty deeds with His arm; He has scattered those who were proud in the thoughts of their heart. Romans 1:30+ slanderers, haters of God, insolent, arrogant, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, 2 Timothy 3:2+ For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, James 4:6+ But He gives a greater grace. Therefore it says, "God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble." 1Peter 5:5+ You younger men, likewise, be subject to your elders; and all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, for God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble. John Mason once said that "As the first step heaven-ward is humility, the first step hellward is pride. C. H.