Zero Options

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. Do you think the Scriptures have no meaning? They say that God is passionate that the spirit he has placed within us should be faithful to him. And he gives grace generously. As the Scriptures say, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world. Let there be tears for what you have done. Let there be sorrow and deep grief. Let there be sadness instead of laughter, and gloom instead of joy. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up in honor. [James 4.4-10]

Wow, what a beginning to this passage! You adulterers! Ouch.

James is on a focused literary path to make a serious point: Trusting anything besides God is adultery.

Trusting anything besides God is adultery. Period.

The implications of this are, as you are probably imagining right now, extremely serious. It is a subject that, frankly, might be thought to be better left un-discussed.

However, we will all be accountable for what we have been given - and we have been given the book of James in the Bible. We have to deal with it.

God has no intention whatsoever of sharing our faith in or loyalty to anything or anyone. There simply are no "allowances" for fall-back plans or plan B's with God. He wants our 100% trust.

But, you know what? It's not all just for God! We need to trust God - I mean, we NEED to trust God. We don't need anything in our lives and minds that the devil can manipulate us to think is our source of healing, provision, peace of mind and joy! That is precisely why James said "Resist the devil..."!

But we shouldn't be foolish, right? Let me just say this, I would rather be a fool than an enemy of God. What each of us does with this is up to us.

Adultery is a term closely associated with marriage. Ironically, God instituted marriage and is not keen at all for its violation. Adultery is a flagrant violation of marriage.

But let's talk about "not being foolish" for just a second... How many of us who are married (in a Biblical monogamous relationship), would consider another 'relationship' on the side as okay? Let me tell you, my wife doesn't even want me spending too much time in the satisfaction of talking to other women - let alone depending on them for compassion, provision, healing, joy, etc. We are not even talking about sexual fulfillment here! So, before we go and call my wife "jealous" let's first understand that God says He is jealous over us!

What does that mean? It means He does not want us getting satisfaction from anyone or anything besides Him! (In Him we live and move...). How about we tell our spouses, "I don't want to be foolish about depending on you, and, I know you said you would take care of this for me (could be almost anything), but I let so and so do it." (now, some of you may be thinking, "My spouse would be okay with that..." but let me tell you, that is not a Biblical marriage arrangement and it is not the way God sees it!).

Frankly, God does not even want us looking at anyone or anything else when it comes to the things He said He would take care of. He is Jealous! And, rightly so - He is GOD!

The implications of this hit me as hard as they hit anyone. Our culture - yes, even our Christian culture, has become so rife with adulterous relationships that it will be painful to change it. It is not likely that change will come quickly, but it must come. We are soon to stand before our Creator and we will fully understand His jealously like never before when we do.

It will take humility on our parts. Just like James said, humility is what works with God. Our pride in our options - our Plan B's must be broken - and not just broken, but irreparably broken. We must get rid of our "little black book" to put it in relationship terms. God will not tolerate an "open relationship" (regardless of what we think about it).

James instructs, "Let there be tears for what you have done. Let there be sorrow and deep grief. Let there be sadness instead of laughter, and gloom instead of joy" - in other words - REPENT.

BUT! When we humble ourselves before God - get rid of our lovers and all the adulterous relationships with anyone and anything that promises and provides what God said He would provide, HE WILL LIFT US UP! Yes, He will lift us up.

Father, I have written myself into that proverbial corner once again today. But that's okay because I need to see that I have zero options outside of You!