Last time I mentioned “selfishness.” The common understanding of that word is when we put ourselves first. Selfishness is how we orient ourselves to our own ideas, desires, and perspectives. Selfishness is the human motivation to mess things up. Wherever there is selfishness, there is sin and brokenness.
Case in point, the person who perceives (incorrectly) that
there is something to be held on too in the world and in following Jesus. Alas,
this is impossible. James warns, “You adulterers! Don’t you realize that friendship with the
world makes you an enemy of God? I say it again: If you want to be a friend of
the world, you make yourself an enemy of God.” [James 4:4 NLT] In a
few short verses, James has accused us of being murders (through disputes,
conflicts, and hate) and adultery.
The biblical understanding of “adultery” is the ultimate
betrayal of relationship. Trying to hold on to the things of this world (“friendship
with the world”) is a betrayal of our professed relationship with God. Please
understand, the two are so different there is no way to reconcile differences. They
are light and darkness.
Do you really want to be an enemy of God? That’s a dark, but
not hopeless place to be… Paul observed, “If we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son
while we were still enemies, now that we have been reconciled, how much more
certain is it that we will be saved by his life?” [Romans 5:10 CEB] Being an enemy of God is where we
were when Jesus (God the Son) reconciled us to God (the Father). Here’s the problem,
if you know arsenic is poison why do you want to continue to drink it when
there is something so much better?
James explains his thoughts, “Do you think the Scriptures have no meaning?
They say that God is passionate that the spirit he has placed within us should
be faithful to him.” [James 4:4 NLT]
Some translations use the word “jealous” for “passionate.” Jealous in our
cultural understanding is negative, so I think “passionate” is more in line
with what James is saying.
Think about it. God loves you! Many of us will roll our eyes
and say, “Yeah but, that’s basic first lesson.” To that I would agree. Now add
a new layer. God’s love is passionate. Some have suggested it is “crazy” while
others “overwhelming.” The reality is this verse, in the Greek is really fuzzy
with lots of technical questions on how to translate it. The trouble is there
is no real way to understand the intensity of God’s passion.
This feels like the philosophical debate between the immovable
rock and the irresistible force. On our part we have the intense betrayal of adultery
on God’s part we face the reality of His unlimited, passionate love. How will
this work out? Stay tuned. More next time.
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