Adulterous Generation...

James 4:4–6 ESV

You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. Or do you suppose it is to no purpose that the Scripture says, “He yearns jealously over the spirit that he has made to dwell in us”? But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”

In the Name of Jesus.

When it comes to Christian living, the Scriptures echo a strong theme:

Proverbs 14:12 “There is a way that seems right to a man but its end is in death.”

Matthew 16:24, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.”

Romans 12:2 “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”

2 Timothy 4:3, “For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their passions.”

Our Gospel shows us today that the disciples didn’t get this. Today James comes along and accuses us of the same sin. And he is right. We are an adulterous generation and have become friends with the world. When we do this, James boldly tells us that we are at enmity with God. And when we are at enmity with God we are separated from Him. If it continues, it can become an eternal issue.

It’s hard

We hear the disciples quarreling about their greatness. We look down our noses at them. But we don’t get very far when we hear James:

James 4:1 ESV

What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you?