In James Chapter 4, we find a powerful warning about worldliness that remains just as relevant today as it was when first written. James addresses his church, which was struggling not because of external persecution but because of internal worldliness. This worldliness was causing both internal angst and external conflict among believers.
What Does Worldliness Look Like in Our Lives?
Worldliness can be described in three ways:
- Looking like the world
- Acting and talking like the world
- Wanting everything the world offers while still claiming to be Christian
At its core, worldliness is wanting to live for Jesus without giving up the things of this world. James doesn’t waste time addressing symptoms – he goes straight to the root causes.
The Internal War: Why Do We Struggle with Worldliness?
James begins by asking, “What causes quarrels and fights among you?” He immediately identifies that our conflicts stem from an internal war – the passions battling within us.
The basic definition of worldliness is:
- A desire for pleasure
- Being angry at those who have what we don’t have
Paul described this battle in Galatians 5:17: “For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh.” This struggle between our flesh (desire for worldly things) and the Spirit prevents us from doing what we’re supposed to do for Christ.
How Does Covetousness Lead to Conflict?
James points out that when we desire what others have but can’t obtain it, we become angry and hostile. This covetousness often leads to conflict. Think about how marketing and social media constantly feed our desire to have what others possess.
When we can’t fulfill our covetous desires, it frequently turns into anger and animosity. As Peter reminds us in 1 Peter 2:11, we are “sojourners and exiles” who should “abstain from the passions of the flesh which wage war against your soul.”
These two words – sojourners and exiles – are key to understanding our relationship with worldly things:
- Sojourners: People on a journey to a distant place (we are citizens of heaven)
- Exiles: People living outside their true homeland (our final home is not here)
Why Aren’t My Prayers Being Answered?
James addresses two reasons our prayers go unanswered:
- “You do not have because you do not ask” – Sometimes we simply aren’t praying! God knows what we need and want, but He desires us to come to Him and ask.
- “You ask and do not receive because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions” – Our motives matter. God sees when we’re asking for things to satisfy selfish desires.
When God doesn’t immediately answer our prayers, remember He gives three responses:
- Green light: Yes
- Red light: No
- Yellow light: Wait (often the hardest response to accept)
The External War: Friendship with the World
James delivers a hard rebuke, calling the church “adulterers.” This is because the church is the bride of Christ, and worldliness is spiritual adultery.
“Friendship with the world is enmity with God.” Many Christians think they can have their cake and eat it too – being loved by the world while enjoying the benefits of following Jesus. But this is impossible.
The word “enmity” means a deep-rooted hatred. When we try to be friends with the world, we develop a deep-rooted hatred for Christ, even if we don’t realize it.
The Holy Spirit’s Role in Our Struggle
James reminds us that the Holy Spirit “yearns jealously” over us. When we receive Christ, we’re filled with the Holy Spirit who brings peace, joy, and love. When we drift toward worldliness, that same Spirit convicts us and tries to pull us back.
Even those who have “deconstructed” their faith still have the Holy Spirit working within them. The Spirit will always convict Christians who live in compromise.
But there’s hope! James 4:6 says, “But he gives more grace.” God gives:
- More grace than we deserve
- More grace than we need
- More grace than we can handle
5 Steps to Overcome Worldliness
James provides five practical steps to battle worldliness:
1. Submit to God (v.7)
Submit means to yield to a stronger person – to order yourself under God and surrender to Him as conquering King. When we submit, we begin receiving the benefits of His reign.
We should submit because:
- God created us
- His rule is good for us
- Resistance is futile
- Submission is necessary for salvation
- It’s the only way to have peace with God
2. Resist the Devil (v.7)
“Resist” means to stand firm – not to collapse or retreat. Don’t give the devil ground or a foothold in your life. As Peter warns, “Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion seeking someone to devour.”
The promise: If you resist the devil, he will flee from you.
3. Draw Near to God (v.8)
This is both an invitation and a promise: “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.”
Ways to draw near to God:
- Through worship, praise, and prayer
- By seeking God’s counsel
- By enjoying communion with God
- Through obedience
4. Cleanse Your Hands (v.8-9)
If we want to overcome worldliness, we must ask for forgiveness. This means:
– Admitting we have a problem
– Acknowledging we’ve done wrong
– Recognizing our sin has separated us from God
1 John 1:9 promises, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins.”
5. Humble Yourself (v.10)
Humbling ourselves means thinking less of ourselves and more of God – recognizing His greatness compared to our smallness.
The promise: “Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will exalt you.”
Life Application
Worldliness is something we’ll struggle with until Jesus returns, but knowing how to deal with it makes the journey easier. This week, consider these questions:
- In what areas of your life are you most tempted to be “friends with the world”?
- Which of the five steps to overcome worldliness do you need to focus on most right now?
- How might your prayer life change if you approached God with both boldness and proper motives?
Take time this week to draw near to God through worship. Turn off other media and fill your commute or quiet moments with worship music. Ask the Holy Spirit to convict you of any worldliness in your life, and be quick to confess and repent when He does.
Remember, God gives more grace than we need. Submit to Him, resist the devil, draw near to God, cleanse your hands, and humble yourself – then watch as God works in your life to overcome worldliness.
