Are You a Friend or Enemy of God?

You adulterers! Don't you realize that friendship with the world makes you an enemy of God? I say it again: If you want to be a friend of the world, you make yourself an enemy of God. What do you think the Scriptures mean when they say that the spirit God has placed within us is filled with envy? But he gives us even more grace to stand against such evil desires. As the Scriptures say, "God opposes the proud but favors the humble." (Proverbs 3:34) So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. James 4:4-7

Jesus and His disciples--His closest friends. 
Richland Naz Church Last Supper drama.

Meditate. Consider being a friend of God.

 

Are you a friend of the world…or a friend of God? You can’t be both. It is similar to serving God or money. You just can’t have everything. Do you really want just anything? Can money buy everything? Don’t seek out worldly, evil things. Check yourself. Do you see envy in your heart?j

No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money. Matthew 6:24

Jeremiah gave some instructions to Baruch. Who is this Baruch? At Jeremiah’s request Baruch wrote down the words that the Lord had given to Jeremiah for the Israelites (Jeremiah 36.) Later, Baruch was given the responsibility to read the messages directly to the Israelites (Jeremiah 36 and 45.)

Baruch read Jeremiah's words on the scroll to all the people. He stood in front of the Temple room of Gemariah, son of Shaphan the secretary. This room was just off the upper courtyard of the Temple, near the New Gate entrance. Jeremiah 36:10

 

"Are you seeking great things for yourself? Don't do it! I will bring great disaster upon all these people; but I will give you your life as a reward wherever you go. I, the LORD, have spoken!'" Jeremiah 45:5

Be careful what you live for…and your hearts’ desire. David wrote a Psalm about the Lord recognizing and fulfilling one’s heart’s desire. Be careful that your hearts’ longing is not associated with envy, bitterness, anger, unforgiveness, idolatry, coveting, or evil desires.

In times of trouble, may the LORD answer your cry. May the name of the God of Jacob keep you safe from all harm. ... May he grant your heart's desires and make all your plans succeed. May we shout for joy when we hear of your victory and raise a victory banner in the name of our God. May the LORD answer all your prayers. Psalm 20:1, 4-5

Is your heart’s desire more money, land, a bigger house, faster car, or prestige? Or is your heart’s desire to know God more completely and be filled with joy when you see Him working in your life? Decide for yourself whom you will serve today…God or your desire for money.

 

Prayer – Lord God, thank you for coming to earth and teaching people how to live. Help me to stand up against the evil situations in the world that are trying to entice me, as well as my family, friends, and neighbors into something immoral. I want You to be the center of my life. You are the center of my life. We can’t live without money, although everything we have is from You, God, and belongs to You. Knowing that takes it out of the equation. Thank you, Lord for opening my eyes once again to the reality that the money trail leads away from You.

 

Verse of Salvation ~ For the grace of God has been revealed, bringing salvation to all people. And we are instructed to turn from godless living and sinful pleasures. We should live in this evil world with wisdom, righteousness, and devotion to God, while we look forward with hope to that wonderful day when the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, will be revealed. He gave his life to free us from every kind of sin, to cleanse us, and to make us his very own people, totally committed to doing good deeds. Titus 2:11-14

© 2025 Text, photos, and illustrations by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved. 

All scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) unless otherwise noted. 

New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. 

Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

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