Ep. 112 | One Throne | James

Listen in as Pastor Eddie Blalock shares today’s daily devotional featuring James 4:4-6. Let’s be Formed by The Word together!

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Transcript

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Welcome to Formed by the Word. Many people have a faith that works well on Sunday but struggles on Monday. The book of James was written to bridge that gap. This letter speaks directly to real life, our struggles, our relationships, our speech, our priorities, and our response to difficult circumstances. Over the next several weeks, we'll be walking through James, a practical and challenging letter often called the Proverbs of the New Testament. James doesn't just teach us what to believe, he shows us how genuine faith works in everyday life. James calls believers to a faith that is visible, active, and genuine. A faith that doesn't merely hear God's word but puts it into practice. As we journey through this powerful book together, my prayer is that God would shape us into people whose faith is seen not only in what we say, but in how we live. After all, faith is more than words. It's a life that is being formed by the truth of God's Word.

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James chapter 4, verses 4 through 6. You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? For whoever wants to be the friend of the world becomes the enemy of God. Or do you think it's without reason that Scripture says the spirit he made to dwell in us envies intensely, but he gives greater grace. Therefore he says God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble. When Beth and I stood at the wedding altar fifty years ago, we made a pledge and a promise to be faithful to one another. We used the traditional vows to promise to love each other, to honor each other, and to care for each other, and to be faithful to each other. We believed then and we believe now that marriage demands an exclusive love. I am given to her and she to me and none others. Well, in this passage, James shocks his readers by comparing spiritual compromise to spiritual adultery. God isn't simply our creator, he is our covenant husband. Our relationship with him demands exclusive love. You cannot belong fully to God while giving your heart to the world. Our hearts only have one throne. The question we want to address today is who's sitting on that throne? Who's sitting on the throne of your heart today? There must be a sense of loyalty to our God. Can a football player play for both Florida and Florida State? Can a soldier fight for both armies? Of course not. Eventually, loyalty has to be declared. And James says the same thing is true spiritually. So James is talking about worldliness. He says that we must be careful of having a friendship with the world because in so doing we become disloyal to our covenant husband God. But what does James mean by the world or worldliness? Well, this is one of the strongest and most misunderstood paragraphs, I think, in the book. Most people hear friendship with the world and immediately think James is talking about culture or entertainment or clothing. But James isn't primarily talking about where Christians go or what they wear. He's talking about whose values they embrace. This phrase can be confusing, right? James is not saying don't enjoy creation. Of course, God has given us all of creation to enjoy. He's not suggesting that we don't have Christian friends in this world. Of course we are to have Christian friends. And community is something important to us. We're built for that. He's not saying don't work in the marketplace. Not at all. In fact, we need to be engaged in our community and in the marketplace. And no, that's not what he's talking about. Rather, when James speaks of a friendship with the world, he's referring to the value system that leaves God out. It's life organized without God. It's the Babel mindset. It's Genesis 3 all over again. That mindset that says, I'll determine what's best for me, and I'm my own leader. That is a dangerous attitude to take. Notice the progression as we move through this chapter and chapter four. First of all, James has been building toward this moment, right? In chapter 4, verse 1, James warned us that our passions wage war within us. We saw that last time. Then he adds in 4 2 that because these passions wage war within us, we have selfish desires. And then he said that because we have these selfish desires, it leads to selfish prayers. Well, now in verse 4, his conclusion is that the real problem is a heart problem. It's a problem of the heart, a heart that's fallen in love with the world. A heart that's fallen in love with the ways of the world, the things of the world. He says in verse 4, you adulterous people. Now there's that word. It's strong, right? You adulterous people. Don't you know that friendship with this world is hostility toward God? So whoever wants to be the friend of the world becomes the enemy of God. Strong words from James. Now, this is a problem because in verse 5, God describes himself as a jealous God. God is not jealous in the sense that he is insecure, but he is jealous in that he loves us too much to share us. You see, healthy jealousy protects covenant love. Sinful jealousy says, I want what belongs to you. Godly jealousy says, I refuse to lose someone I love. The scripture is very clear, I think, about our hearts having one throne. Let me cite just a few examples. In first John chapter 2, 15 and 17, John writes these words. He says, 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. Well, that's pretty straightforward. He continues, for everything in the world, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride in one's possessions is not from the Father, but is from the world. And the world with its lust is passing away. But the one who does the will of God remains forever. Strong words from John, which by the way point us all the way back to Genesis chapter three. You can run that one on your own and search that out. But when he talks about this lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, the pride in one's possessions, that reminds us of the way Eve was tempted in Genesis three. And then in Romans chapter 12, Paul writes these words. We're very familiar with them. He says, Therefore, brothers and sisters, in view of the mercies of God, I urge you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God. This is your true worship. Now here it is. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God. That helps us to see what James is saying, right? Don't be conformed to this world, the things of this world. And then Jesus himself spoke in Matthew's gospel and said, 624, No one can serve two masters, since either he will hate one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. And then he concludes, you cannot serve both God and money. Another strong word. And then finally, Galatians chapter 6.14, Paul says, But as for me, I will never boast about anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. No, isn't it this? He says, The world has been crucified to me through the cross, and I to the world. Strong words. So clearly we're encouraged to nurture a single throne in our hearts. We're encouraged to have an exclusive love for Jesus, not one that is mixed with a love for this world. Now, after one of the strongest rebukes in James comes one of the sweetest promises. After really laying them out for us there in those verses, he concludes this section with these words. But, he says, But he that is Jesus, that is God, but he gives greater grace. Man. What encouraging words. Our compromise and lack of faithfulness is never greater than God's grace. Well, let's see if we can make some application here before we close. Maybe ask some questions. What subtle friendships with the world am I maintaining? Maybe obsessive media consumption? Maybe a worldly or fleshly ambition? Maybe compromises in ethics, morals, or even relationships? Or what about this? What does humility look like in my life and walk daily? You see, James will address this more really in the next paragraph, but just a quick glimpse ahead. James says humility involves submission to authority, mourning over sin, and drawing near to God. So the takeaway this morning is this whatever wins your heart will eventually shape your life. No doubt about that. Whatever wins your heart will eventually shape your life. Maybe as you've listened today, you've realized your heart has drifted. Remember, you cannot belong fully to God while giving your heart to the world. Who's on the throne of your heart? Now the encouraging word here is that James doesn't end with condemnation. He ends with hope, but he gives greater grace, James says. So remember, God's grace is always greater than your compromise. The door home is still open, my friend. Let's pray. Father, we confess that there are times in life when our hearts are given to divided allegiances. We sometimes allow the things of this world to climb upon our hearts' throne. Thank you for reminding us today of your jealous love and most of all of your offer of more grace. Lord, grant us the Holy Spirit's power to resist the world and the things of this world as we seek to honor you and love you from the depths of our heart. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.

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Thanks for joining us today. We are so glad that you chose to spend a few moments with us in God's Word. If this episode has encouraged you, we ask that you leave us a review or maybe share this episode with a friend. Also, would you consider sending us a note to let us know what God is doing in your life? Pastor Eddie would love to hear from you. You can find this email in the show notes. Until next time, stay in the scriptures, keep following Christ, and allow your life to be formed by the Word.