Friendship with the World

In my Bible, in the Letter of James, I keep a scrap of newspaper titled “The Daily Scripture.” In big type, it bears this quote from James 4:4a: “Don’t you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God?” My sister, Lorinda, thrust that clipping at me years ago. She asked, “What is that supposed to mean?” She was displeased because she loved this world, with all its beauty and possibility, with all its delight and despair. My attempt to answer her question – “What is that supposed to mean?” – was my first real reckoning with the Bible. I found some answers but I never did share them with her. She is gone now and I am still working on her question …. and a few others that have occurred to me along the way.

Go in peace to love and serve The Lord!
Josh