TUESDAY July 28, 2026
Are You Friends of the World?
Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.
James 4:4
Listen once again to another warning from James telling Christians not to become a friend of the world. Seriously, to do so would make them an enemy of God. Christians cannot be a friend of the world and a friend of God––it does not work that way. The Apostle John wrote to believers to give them a better understanding of resisting the world’s influence:
Do not love the world or 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, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever (1 John 2:15-17).
Be aware that Christians have three distinct enemies: the world, the flesh, and Satan. If we allow the world, the flesh, and the devil any room in our lives, they will destroy our lives. Believers in Christ have to stand guard against these enemies daily because they are constantly trying to influence us (Ephesians 6:10-18). We must learn to use our spiritual weapons and fight the good fight.
It is important to never become relaxed or at ease in defense against these three enemies. If a Christian becomes lax in the battle against the world, the flesh, and Satan, they will usually end up backsliding. We need to watch out for their approach and stand to resist them until the day we die. Do not underestimate the flesh; which is so strong and consuming. Paul faced the battle against his own flesh. That is why he wrote:
But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? (Romans 7:23-24).
God has given us His Spirit; He enables us to have victory over the flesh.
The Holy Spirit never enters a person and lets them live like the world. You can be sure of that.
~A.W. Tozer~
For more from Raul Ries, please visit SomebodyLovesYou.com!
