Do you know who addressed the people of God like: “Adulterers and adulteresses!”?

It was James (James 4:4), who wrote a letter to the people of God who were going through tough times.

Why did he address them like that?

He addressed them as “adulterers and adulteresses” because in that same church where faithful soldiers of God were given over for death for the name of Christ; there were some people who were “in-love” with the world. Their lifestyle gave away what was in their heart. James addressed that group of people as “Adulterers and adulteresses”.

“That is harsh”, you may say. But it is not.

The literal meaning of adultery is: voluntary sexual intercourse between a married person and someone other than his or her lawful spouse.

Sexual intimacy is a pure expression of love and sacrifice; adultery is the ultimate expression of selfishness or self love. The former one is considered as holy and pure worship and the later one is considered as adultery.

When people become friends with the world, they become one with the moral value of the world. Their soul becomes enticed with the world way of living. Once they embrace the world moral standard value, it is just a matter of time before they become slaves of sexual immorality. And according to the Bible, we can’t love God and the world at the same time. We need to choose one.

You see, by the way we live, we tell the watching world about whom we follow, love, adore and worship. And according to the Word of God, giving our love, devotion, and worship to another, other than God, is considered as adultery.

The Bible says: “Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world.” 1 John 2:15-16

What is the message for today then?

Well, as much as we hate the world, we love God. As much as we stay away from the world and the things of the world, we come closer to God. As much as we choose to put off our “old self”, we choose to put on our “new self” who is “created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.” (Ephesians 4:22-24) ///