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Adultery
with the World
David Gonzalez
James 4:4 says, "You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship
with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wishes to a
friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God" (NASB).
Everyone agrees that adultery is bad. Even those that love committing
adultery recognize the damage that adultery brings to one's life. As bad
as that sin is, adultery with the world is greater.
You see, God here is calling those that love the world adulteresses,
lovers of this world rather than lovers of the things of God. And at the
point of loving the world, you become an enemy of God. An enemy of God! He
is the worst kind of enemy to have, and the best kind of friend to have.
Friends, if you love ten hours of TV over one hour of good television
preaching, or if you love your favorite secular radio station more than
praise music, you may be in love with the world.
If missing two hours of work in a week is an abomination to you, but
missing two hours of church on Sunday morning is no big deal, you may be
in love with the world. If waking up early for your job is normal, and
complaining about having to wake up for church is normal, you may be in
love with the world.
If stashing money away for the drunken party, clothing, or a night out on
the town is normal, but stashing away money for the church offering is
not, you may be in love the world.
Romans 12:2 says, "And do not be conformed to this world but be
transformed by the renewing of your mind ..." (NASB).
1 John 2:15-16 says, "Do not love the world, nor the things in the
world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the
eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from
the world" (NASB).
I don't know of anything worse than God calling me an adulterer, not as a
husband, but as a Christian! That should break your heart! The same
attitude that it takes to step out on your spouse is exactly what you are
doing to God.
You say you want God to be on your side, but you refuse to eliminate the
thoughts and the actions that keep the blessings of God away from your
door. Oh, that you would leave all your adulteries for good, and turn full
heartedly back towards God! How He would quickly accept you back!
Your next victory in this world is dependent on you getting help from
God's world. First John 5:4 says, "For whatever is born of God
overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world -
our faith" (NASB).
If this has convicted you in your heart, then decide to change your
behavior. Conviction without change is like clouds without rain; it boasts
of a blessing, but is nothing but dry and unfruitful.
David J. Gonzalez is the pastor of
Mountain Faith Church in Lake Delton, Wisconsin. He appears on local
television with the weekly program "The Mountain Faith Hour."
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