You Can't Love Both
James 4:4a You adulterous people!
Remember how James uses bad words for bad things? We're just going to get right into that today. Here's what this verse says:
You’re a whore. You’re a tramp. You slut. That’s strong, extreme language. When’s the last time somebody called you one of those things, or you called someone that, or someone close to you was called by one of those names? What feelings did it immediately stir in your heart?
James is calling us that if we are following our own passions and desires, because we’re seeking it for ourselves. This is not new language for the Bible, the Bible is full of strong language. As an example:
You’re a whore. You’re a tramp. You slut. That’s strong, extreme language. When’s the last time somebody called you one of those things, or you called someone that, or someone close to you was called by one of those names? What feelings did it immediately stir in your heart?
James is calling us that if we are following our own passions and desires, because we’re seeking it for ourselves. This is not new language for the Bible, the Bible is full of strong language. As an example:
Hosea 1:2 When the LORD first spoke through Hosea, the LORD said to Hosea,
"Go, take to yourself a wife of whoredom and have children of whoredom,
for the land commits great whoredom by forsaking the LORD."
"Go, take to yourself a wife of whoredom and have children of whoredom,
for the land commits great whoredom by forsaking the LORD."
The whole book of Hosea continues in this vein. Hosea’s wife continues to run around on him, but it gives Hosea the chance to tell people that the same way she is treating him is the way Israel is treating God.
James 4:4b 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.
Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.
You can love one or you can love the other, you cannot love both. You love God OR you love yourself.
Who’s sitting on the throne in your heart, is it God or something else?
All idolatry gets back to this: placing someone or something in God’s throne where God belongs, and instead of God getting the worship and glory, and God getting everything that He rightfully deserves, we place something else there which ultimately leads back to our own desires. So we’re either worshiping God or we’re worshiping us.
Who’s sitting on the throne in your heart, is it God or something else?
All idolatry gets back to this: placing someone or something in God’s throne where God belongs, and instead of God getting the worship and glory, and God getting everything that He rightfully deserves, we place something else there which ultimately leads back to our own desires. So we’re either worshiping God or we’re worshiping us.
1 John 2:15 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.
If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
"I thought we were supposed to love everybody?!" Different kind of love. He’s talking about loving the world for your own gain, your own glory, for the sake of getting something in return. You want nicer cars, nicer, clothes, bigger houses, you want all this stuff and so your heart is following after the world to do whatever it takes to get those things instead of following after God to do whatever it takes to bring glory to Him.
1 John 2:16-17 16 For all that is in the world
--the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life--
is not from the Father but is from the world.
17 And the world is passing away along with its desires,
but whoever does the will of God abides forever.
--the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life--
is not from the Father but is from the world.
17 And the world is passing away along with its desires,
but whoever does the will of God abides forever.
Check this out: the desires of the flesh (your passions), the desires of the eyes (your possessions), and the pride of life (your position) is of the world, it is not of God. You are after these things, and those are the wrong goals for you to have.
"How do you know that? What do you mean it’s wrong? We should always want to better ourselves!" Yes, I agree, but not for our own glory, for His. I’ve read the end of the book, let me explain what’s going to happen.
"How do you know that? What do you mean it’s wrong? We should always want to better ourselves!" Yes, I agree, but not for our own glory, for His. I’ve read the end of the book, let me explain what’s going to happen.
Revelation 21:1-8 1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth,
for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more.
2 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God,
prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying,
"Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people,
and God himself will be with them as their God.
4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more,
neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away."
5 And he who was seated on the throne said, "Behold, I am making all things new."
Also he said, "Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true."
6 And he said to me, "It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end.
To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment.
7 The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be my son.
8 But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers,
the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars,
their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death."
for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more.
2 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God,
prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying,
"Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people,
and God himself will be with them as their God.
4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more,
neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away."
5 And he who was seated on the throne said, "Behold, I am making all things new."
Also he said, "Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true."
6 And he said to me, "It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end.
To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment.
7 The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be my son.
8 But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers,
the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars,
their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death."
Guess what?! All your passions, your possessions, your position – they’re GONE! I’ve read the end of the book, it does not last if it is not of God and from God, it will not be for God in the end. It’s gone.