The Holy Spirit empowers us to remain faithful | Two Minute Daily Devotional

In James 4, we are cautioned that if our goal in life is to pursue the world, we cannot be a friend of God. The Holy Spirit empowers us to remain faithful to Him.

In verse 4, James addresses something striking: “You adulterous people!”

What does he mean here? He is not referring merely to marital infidelity or earthly relationships between men and women. He hits the nail on the head when he declares: “Don’t you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God?”

As Christians, we cannot love both. Scripture reminds us that we cannot serve both God and mammon. James likens compromise with the world to spiritual adultery against God. He asks: “Don’t you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.”

This is strong, uncompromising language. James warns us that divided loyalty is impossible – you cannot be devoted to both God and the world. As verse 5 asks: “Or do you think Scripture says without reason that the Spirit He caused to live in us envies intensely?”