Why Can't We be Friends?
In these verses James admonishes and corrects believers who have chosen their own sinful desires over friendship with God.
Who Do You Desire as a Friend? (1)
- The World?
How do people have freindship with the world? In the context of James it includes not having control of your tongue and adopting worldly wisdom. In other passages...Jude 1:19; 1 John 2:15-16; Ephesians 2:1-3.
Hostility is to be an enemy of or have hatred for God. This is serious business. - The Lord? Proverbs 8:13; Luke 16:13; 1 John 5:2;
God Desires Your Friendship (2)
- The Agent of His Desire
- The Depth of His Desire
He is jealous. Jealousy can be both good or bad
He wants you exclusively without sharing you with another, especially the world.
God's Favor is on His Friends (3)
- God's Favor Extended
God's favor extended to overcome selfishness. God's favor is greater than our sin. It is greater than sinful desires. Jesus favors you!
\\ God's favor extended to save us from sin. 2097 The Grace of God
When the learned, and wealthy John Selden was dying he said to Archbishop Usher, “I have surveyed most of the learning that is among the sons of men, and my study is filled with books and manuscripts (he had 8000 volumes in his library) on various subjects. But at present I cannot recollect any passage out of all my books and papers whereon I can rest my soul, save this from the sacred Scriptures:
“’The grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and wordly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ: who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from all iniquity, and purity unto Himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works’ “ (Titus 2:14).
Is our God great, or what?!
Tan, P. L. (1996, c1979). Encyclopedia of 7700 illustrations : A treasury of illustrations, anecdotes, facts and quotations for pastors, teachers and Christian workers. Garland TX: Bible Communications.
- God's Favor Explained
It is only givin to the humble. Those who know that they don't deserve it.
Why can't you be friends with the world? It puts you as an enemy of God.
The only question left is Why can't you be friends with Jesus? What is keeping you from enjoying unrestricted friendship with Him? What is keeping you from expiriencing His favor? Only you!