Religion & Spirituality
James 4:4 – You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God? Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. God loves the world, and wants us to enjoy it. But when he sent his Son into the world, people killed him, and still rebel against him. When Christians are too at home in the world they become worldly, and come under God’s rebuke. The problem with worldliness is that it happens so gradually that we don’t perceive the danger—like a boat with a slow leak. The boat belongs in the water, but if enough water gets in the boat, it’ll sink to the bottom. Christians are a witness in the world, but if the world fills up the hearts of Christians, they’ll sink, as well. Paul wrote to Timothy about a follower of the Lord who fell away from faith. He said, “Demas, because he loved this world, has deserted me” (2 Timothy 4:10). Demas had the privilege of working with one of the greatest followers of Christ in history. But he loved the world so much that he walked away from Paul. Worldliness is any affection for this world that reduces our affection for the world to come. If we hope to get to heaven, we should throw out everything that’s pulling us down.