Do Not Give Your Heart to the World

James 4:1-8 speaks firmly about friendship with the world. This message speaks to those who want to follow God but still allow certain desires to lead them away from Him.

The world gains ground when other people’s approval begins to guide our decisions. This happens when the image we present becomes more important than being honest before God. Little by little, the soul gets used to living for acceptance, even when it takes an inner toll.

This drifting does not always seem serious at first. It can begin with a choice made to please someone, a word spoken to protect our image, or an action taken to get attention. Before we realize it, the heart begins to divide.

Jesus also spoke about this danger in Matthew 6:1-8. He teaches us to pay attention to the reason behind what we do. God sees what is done in secret. He knows what no one applauds and sees the hidden motive behind every action.

Faith grows weak when it depends on other people’s approval to feel secure. Those who belong to Christ can live honestly before God without turning life into a constant search for acceptance.

Today, bring your need for approval to the Lord. Ask Him for an undivided heart that is willing to obey even when no one is watching.

1 ¶ From whence [come] wars and fightings among you? [come they] not hence, [even] of your lusts that war in your members?

2 Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not.

3 Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume [it] upon your lusts.

4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.

5 Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy?

6 But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.

7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse [your] hands, [ye] sinners; and purify [your] hearts, [ye] double minded.

1 ¶ ‹Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven.›

2 ‹Therefore when thou doest› [thine] ‹alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.›

3 ‹But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth:›

4 ‹That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.›

5 ¶ ‹And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites› [are]: ‹for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.›

6 ‹But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.›

7 ‹But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen› [do]: ‹for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.›

8 ‹Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.›