You have enmity with God when you choose the things of the world first.
James 4: 1-4
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 adulters 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.
lusts (hedone – pronounced hay-don-ay) verse 1
to please, sensual delight, by implication desire
war (strateuomai – pronounced strat-yoo-om-ahee)
to serve in a military campaign, to contend with carnal inclinations
lust (epithumeo – pronounced ep-ee-thoo-meh-o) verse 2
to set the heart upon, that is, to long for (rightfully or otherwise); covet, desire, would fain
ask (aiteo – ahee-teh-o)
beg, call for, crave, desire, require
receive (lambano – pronounced lam-ban-o)
to take, to get hold of to seize or remove
consume (dapanao – dap-an-ah-o)
to expend, to incur cost, to waste, spend
friendship (philia – pronounced fil-ee-ah)
fondness
enmity (echthra – pronounced ekh-thrah)
hostility; by implication a reason for opposition; hatred
friend (philos – pronounced fee-los)
actively fond, properly dear, friendly
enemy (echthros – pronounced ekh-thros)
hateful, actively hostile, an adversary, foe
James gives indepth instruction about the dangers of not controlling your tongue and what true wisdom is in Chapter 3. These verses are a continuation of the warnings he gave them so they wouldn’t be deceived.
They got were told in no uncertain terms that they could not they could not love the things of the world and love the things of God at the same time.
They were also warned about asking God for things in the wrong way, that being the reason their prayers were not answered.
This is awesome wisdom that James gives us, and we would be wise to really study these verses and heed them. These are truths that can help us live a victorious life in Christ.
