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WORLDLY FRIENDSHIP

by willetta pilcher  
1/07/2009 / Christian Living

When will Christians get real? When do we start discerning what worldliness is?

By definition worldliness is: 1. ... experienced in and knowledgeable about human society and its ways 2. ... relating to everyday material existence ... 3. materialistic: much more interested in everyday materialistic concerns than in the spiritual side of life.

According to James 4:4 "whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God." As Christians, do we believe that?

Sit down and talk to all most any Christian and notice what the topic will be; money, sales, shopping, movies, sports, clothes, food, electronic gadgetry, and the list goes on. Try to engage someone (even ministers) in a discussion about the scripture and they are turned off and soon find someone else to talk to about their interest.

Jesus said... Mat 6:19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:
Mat 6:20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:
Mat 6:21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

Will Christians be like Lot's wife when Jesus comes? Will they turn back to see what is being left behind?

I'm reminded of Jesus' parable of the ten virgins. (Matthew 25) All were virgins. However, only five were wise. The other five were foolish. They neglected to keep their lamps burning.

Now, I don't know how you interpret that scripture but this much is certain. The five foolish virgins who failed to keep their lamps burning were left behind.

That is a sobering thought. Will those who have forgotten to keep their relationship burning brightly with Jesus be left behind? Or will Jesus take the foolish in and pat them on the shoulder all the while expressing his sorry that they didn't have time to develop a relationship with him and since they have nothing laid up as a reward they can enjoy heaven but they won't have any reward. That thought is a bit ridiculous. Heaven is for a bride adorned in garments of white intensely waiting for her groom.

Personally, I think it is time for the church of Jesus Christ to wake up, light their lamp and start laying up treasures where it matters.


From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members? 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. Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts. 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. -- James 4:1-4 KJV

As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: "Be holy, because I am holy." -- 1 Peter 1:14-16 NIV

For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world. The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God lives forever. -- 1 John 2:16,17 NASB

And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice - the kind he will accept. When you think of what he has done for you, is this too much to ask? Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will know what God wants you to do, and you will know how good and pleasing and perfect his will really is. -- Romans 12:1,2 NLT

Willetta has spent most of her life ministering to people. In her late seventies, and a wheelchair now her mode of travel, she now ministers to people through the internet. Her webs are...
www.teachmethyways.org
www.successwithkids.org
www.theseedsower.org

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