10.30.25 ~ Friend or Enemy?

Good morning!

Abraham was declared by God as His friend (Isa. 41:8). For those in Christ, which is more than just believing in Jesus, they are Abraham's seed (Gal. 3:29). If we are Abraham's seed, we should do as Abraham did (Jn. 8:39). And if we do as He did, we will follow His voice, His commandments, His Torah (Gen. 26:5). For just as Yeshua, the seed of Abraham, said, "...I call you fiends/philo if you do whatever I command you (Jn. 15:16,17).

In our study yesterday, I introduced wishing to be friends with the world and how it makes us an enemy of God (Jam. 4:4)...that's a sobering thought. Writing to fellow believers, James says, within the context of the internal wars we experience with the flesh and the Spirit (Jam. 4:1-3)...

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. (Jam. 4:4)

The question enquiring minds are asking is: Who is a friend/philo of the world? I mean, don't I have to work, buy food, gas, travel on the roads, prepare for my children's future, pay my bills, take care of the poor...? Enquiring minds want to know :-)! If we have the wrong answer to this question, we might fall prey to the same seduction as Adam's honey bunny in the Garden (Gen.3:1-5).

Simply put, a friend of the world is an enemy of God.  Thanks Mr. Obvious! Obvious, but not too helpful, until we realize that God has given us quite an exhaustive list of the thoughts and behaviors of those who wish to befriend the world.

I was enjoying lunch with a friend/philo, yesterday. We were talking about the commandments of God, that list of "613" traditional statements from God to His people for them to live His character, for their benefit and to be a light to the world (Matt. 5:16; Prov. 6:23; Psa. 119:105; etc.). A friend of the world disregards God’s instructions for living, replacing His instructions with guidance from the world/kosmos.  Since there can only be one true God, replacing His instructions with different directions about life can only mean that the replacements come from a false god.  To be a friend of the world is to be idolatrous.  To be a friend of the world is to serve a god other than the Lord our God.  It only requires asserting that God’s instructions don’t matter. Ouch! That is a body blow we weren't expecting. Double ouch!

Solomon said, those who forsake the Torah praise the wicked (Prov. 28:4). Isaiah said, if we don't abide in the Torah, there is no light in us (Isa. 8:20). He also said that God was pleased with His righteousness to  make the Torah great and glorious (Isa. 42:2). It's what makes the simple, wise; it's what converts the soul (Psa. 19:7,8). And Hosea warns us that people perish without knowledge of the Torah and those who forsake it, God will forsake (Hos. 4:6) and though God would write out for us 10,000 things from His Torah, His people will still ignore it (Hos. 8:12). Truly, Solomon was right, "where there is no vision, the people perish, but blessed are those who keep His Torah (Prov. 29:18). For those who trust in their friendship with the world,ignoring His Torah and despising the word of the Holy One of Israel,  they will be consumed like straw and stubble in a flame (Isa. 5:24; Matt. 7:21-23).

Before I conclude, let me remind you that I'm still learning with you! And, let me emphasize that this doesn't do away with our Messiah's life and work on the cross...Oh no! It magnifies it (Rom. 3:31; 8:3,4; Psa. 119:126; Matt. 5:17; Psa. 40:8; Jer. 31:33,34; Heb. 10:16; etc)

Be friendly my friends (Prov. 18:24)

A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother. (Prov. 18:24)

Shalom!

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