James 4:1-12
Introduction
In today’s world, it is common for people to identify themselves using their “preferred pronouns” to reveal how they want others to address and identify them. The cultural assumption here is that the Biblical definition of man and woman is up for debate. And, while it leaves God and the truth about gender out of the conversation, it also plays into Satan’s aim to “steal, kill, and destroy” (John 10:10). When we approve of or incline ourselves to the world’s system of operations, we heed to the commands of worldliness led by Satan whose goal is to draw us into his realm of darkness.
The structures of this world, led by Satan, seek to draw us away from God into the opposite of God’s will for us. And when believers – indwelt by the Holy Spirit after making Jesus our Lord & Savior – succumb to the culture’s way of life, we submit to friendship with the world. And friendship with the world creates an inner conflict in us as the Spirit in us wars again our flesh and results in, as James puts it, ‘hostility toward God.’
However, when we understand God’s character and recognize His passionate desire for us, our response should be an overwhelming sense of humility. And when we are humble before Him, He offers us grace. And God’s grace is the cure to worldliness because as we reflect on His goodness and provision, we see the depth of our need for Him. And our need for God should motivate us to cultivate a relationship with Him and a willingness to reject the pressures to conform to the culture. Worldliness is corrected by humble repentance, where we turn away from worldliness and return to fellowship with God.
Getting Started
- What are examples of worldliness? In what ways would you consider yourself worldly?
- How have you seen worldliness affect others and their decisions?
Let’s Get Personal
- Think about a time in which you acted worldly. What were the consequences?
- Have you ever allowed worldliness to dictate your decisions? How did it affect you?
- Have you ever humbly repented and rejected the culture’s way of living?
Take the Next Step
- In your own words, how is understanding God’s character a cure for worldliness?
- What steps can you take to correct the influence of worldlines in your life?
- Want to go deeper? Take time to look at the following passages: James 1:1-12; 1 Peter 1:6-9; Hebrews 10:35-39; 2 Corinthians 1:3-11; Isaiah 43:1-2; John 16:33; Romans 12:12; 1 Peter 5:10; 1 Thessalonians 5:18; Romans 5:3-5; James 1:13-18; 2 Corinthians 11:3, 13-15; 1 Corinthians 10:13; 2 Peter 2:9; Psalm 50:15; Genesis 39:6-18; Matthew 4:1-11, 6:13, 26:41; Luke 8:13; 1 Corinthians 7:5; Genesis 3:1-6; James 1:19-27; 1 Peter 2:1-2; 2 Corinthians 3:17-18; Psalm 139:23-24; 1 John 3:16-18; Luke 10:25-37; Romans 7:22; 1 Thessalonians 2:13; Hebrews 5:11-14; John 8:31-32; Luke 8:4-15; James 2:1-13; Galatians 2:11-20, 3:28-29; John 4:1-42; Numbers 12:1-16; Ephesians 2:11-22; 1 Corinthians 1:26; Romans 12:16; Malachi 2:9; Acts 10:34; Deuteronomy 24:19; 2 Chronicles 19:7; Romans 10:12; Matthew 23:1-12; Acts 6:1-6; Romans 14:1-12; James 2:14-26; Romans 4:1-5; Ephesians 2:8-10; Romans 4:17-20; Romans 5:8-10; Isaiah 41:8; 2 Chronicles 20:7; John 19:30; Genesis 22:1-19; Joshua 2:1-21, 6:22-25; James 3:1-12; Mark 11:20-26; Matthew 12:31-37; Matthew 15:16-20; Psalm 16:23; Psalm 19:14; Proverbs 18:20-21; Psalm 15:4; Psalm 12:18; Proverbs 13:3; Colossians 4:6; Psalm 141:3; Proverbs 15:14; Ephesians 4:29-30; Ephesians 5:4; Psalm 109:17-18; James 3:13-18; James 1:5-8; Ephesians 5:15; 1 Corinthians 1:19-24; Job 28:12-23; Proverbs 9:10; Proverbs 2:1-7; Colossians 1:9; Ephesians 1:16-18; Romans 11:33-34; Proverbs 15:1-7; Proverbs 10:13-14; Proverbs 2:1-6; Proverbs 3:5-6; Daniel 2:19-27; Proverbs 21:30; Romans 16:27; Romans 12:1-2; Galatians 1:4; 6:14; 1 John 2:15-17; 5:19; 1 Corinthians 10:21-22; 1 Corinthians 3:1-3; John 15:8-19; 2 Timothy 4:10; Titus 2:1
Renew Your Mind
“You lust and do not have; so you commit murder. You are envious and cannot obtain; so you fight and quarrel. You do not have because you do not ask.”
James 4:2
