Choosing God's Values Over the World’s: A Life-Changing Decision
...anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God." James 4:4
Who in their right mind would deliberately choose to be on the opposite side of an argument with God? Our Scripture today clearly indicates if a person chooses friendship with the world the result is becoming an enemy of God. I certainly don't want to be considered an enemy of God. Yet, all around our world people are focused on their own agendas, the pleasures of this life, or seeking the favor of gods that are not at all like the real God. There is a hunger for God but often people try to fill that hunger with anything but the real thing. They go through life giving little thought to being out of step with God. The result is two sets of values have emerged. The values adopted by people who want no part of God and his Kingdom and the values of those who choose to be friends with God. The two sets of values are completely opposite. This leads to tension and ultimately a decision that has to be made by all of us - which set of values will we embrace?
In John 2:15 it states:
"Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them."
This can be very confusing because God gave us the world we live in and it is a beautiful place. The bible tells us the glory of God can be seen in his creation. It becomes clear God does not want us to love what the world has become.
The reality is, God created a beautiful place for humanity to live and enjoy. In addition, one of the greatest gifts God gave humans is the ability to choose who or what to love. Because sin entered into God's creation we all come into this world with built in DNA focused on self and personal gratification along with a contrasting built in desire for eternity that we often ignore. Despite the competing desires in our hearts we often choose the values of the world.
In the midst of all this conflict and competing values there is a wonderful truth that remains - God is love. So, even when we choose to be his enemies, by the choices we make, his love for us never diminishes.
For those of us who have chosen to be God's friends after first being his enemies, there is a role for us in helping people change their value systems. This is really amazing and very humbling. God chooses people who start out as sinners bent on making their own choices, and when they change their value system, they become the channels through whom God reaches those who are enemies with God.
