January 19

“Say to wisdom, ‘You are my sister,’ and call insight your intimate friend, to keep you from the forbidden woman, from the adulteress with her smooth words.” (Proverbs 7:4-5)

“You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.” (James 4:4)

In Proverbs, we are exhorted to befriend knowledge, understanding, and wisdom as the antidote for forbidden temptations. James rebukes us for trying to be friends with the “world,” since it is Satan’s kingdom and hates God. Understanding these exhortations properly requires examination of our definition of friendship. Does friendship conjure up the idea of casual association with someone who shares our interests, beliefs, and tastes? Or, does friendship bring to mind a life-long companion or mate for whom you would sacrifice everything? This is the friend with whom we have shared very personal experiences over long time and walked through trials. This description is closer to the biblical concept of a friend in these passages. Going even further, David reminds us that friendship with God includes fearing and submitting to Him (Psalm 25:12-14).

In James 4:7-10, James offers seven specific characterizations for true friendship with God. It is crucial, though, to remember that these prescriptions will not make us a friend of God, but will encourage our already established friendship with Him. Only by regeneration in Christ, through the Holy Spirit can we be transformed from enemies of God to His friends by reconciliation with Him (Rom. 5:10) So what do God’s friends do? They submit to God, resist the devil, draw near to God, cleanse their hands, and purify their hearts. God’s friends in Christ become wretched and mourn and weep over their sin letting their laughter be turned to mourning and their joy to gloom. They humble themselves. (James 4:6-10) When we demonstrate these characteristics, God gives grace, the devil flees, God draws near to us, and He will exalt us (James 4:6-8, 10). On the other hand, when we align ourselves with the world, we will fight and quarrel with each other, have conflicted passions, covet, and pray ineffectively (James 4:1-3).

Have you made insight your friend? Is wisdom your sister? With whom are you more “friendly,” God or the world?