James 4:1-17 (Part 11) Worldliness

Worldliness

• The attitude of worldliness, 4:1-10

• The manifestation of worldliness, 4:11-12

• The self-sufficiency of worldliness, 4:13-17

The attitude of worldliness

• The source, v. 1

o “Lusts”—(hedone)—anything that gratifies you (pleasure-centered)—as related to:

 The unbeliever:

a) The mark of a false teacher, 2 Peter 2:13

b) The mark of pre-salvation life, Titus 3:3

 The believer

a) Hedonistic attitude is part of the sin nature (the core of it)

b) It causes conflict among believers

c) It kills the Word of God (hedonistic attitude equals no fruit)

• The results, v. 2

o You desire; you don’t have; the result is murder.

o A life of never-ending frustration.

o A life of prayerlessness

o Selfish prayer (this is sin) is possible

Observations, vv. 1-3

• A believer can practice a hedonistic prayer life

• The pleasure-seeking life is a guarantee of frustration

• The pleasure-seeking life is a guarantee of conflict