Tell Me Whose Side Are You Leaning On

James 4:4

A little Greek:
friendship - Think "Philadephia" - brotherly love and all that.
the world - Think cosmos.

Diving deeper into those Greek works we find that philos means that you are really fond of something.  You like it.  You hold it close to you because it is dear to you.   But it doesn't stop at a feeling - it's acting upon that feeling - living it out.  Moving toward it.

And kosmos - well, we think of the Big cosmos... but look at the cosmos of your kitchen - or the ambiance of it - how things are placed and arranged to give a certain feeling.  You have the sleek kitchen that gives the feeling of cleanliness and order.  You have the country kitchen that gives the feeling of homeyness and warmth.  At it's core, "kosmos" is the decorations.

Being a friend of the world means liking the way the world is decorated and chasing after those decorations.

Eyeyeyeeee...  Here we get to a sore subject for me.  I love decorations.  I love pretty things.  One of my favorite things to do is to decorate - to make something pretty.  A room.  A table.  Anything.  But, in the end - the decorations just go so far.  A burnt dinner on a beautiful table is still a burnt dinner.  A lovely living room is useless for a family that never sits in it together.  At the core, trash is still trash even with a pretty bow on it.

So, we get enamored with the world's bows.  They hypnotize us and pull us in.  And God calls this adultery.  He calls it idol worship.

Sometimes it's things like money, yes... but sometimes it's security.  Or love.  Or just not being lonely.  Or a thriving ministry.  Sometimes the world's bows are printed with little crosses so that we think they are "Christian".   And in leaning in towards those things - instead of leaning into our Perfect God - we become his enemies.  You can't lean in two directions at once.  Whose side are you leaning on?

Beauty from Ashes

James 4:2-3
So sometimes God says No.  We thought we were going to do good with it.  We thought we were being unselfish.  We thought God had given us the desire.  But sometimes our desire takes over our desire for God Himself.  Somehow this really really good thing has become a sub-conscience idol.  And so our cry of repentance, our prayer of reconciliation becomes that of Joel.

Joel 2

12 “Yet even now,” declares the Lord,
“return to me with all your heart,
with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning;
13 and rend your hearts and not your garments.”
Return to the Lord your God,
for he is gracious and merciful,
slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love;
and he relents over disaster.
14 Who knows whether he will not turn and relent,
and leave a blessing behind him...

 And maybe that "blessing" won't be whatever we really wanted.  Maybe it will be better.  Maybe it will surprise us.  And maybe - just maybe it will be God Himself.

Bad Mood Checklist

James 4:1-2

Let's look at three words from these two verses in the NIV:  desire, desire, covet.

1. The first desire is hēdonē (hay-don-ay').
It means a sensual delight, a lust or pleasure.  OK - In your head you hear that and you think of sex.  But, what gives you sensual delight?  My list includes a soft, soft cake with lots of frosting, a warm bath with a good book, a good time with girl-friends sharing our hearts in laughter and tears, walking on a path where the trees on either side meet together above my head.  Sounds nice?  Sounds really nice.  It comes from the word that means "to please".  And in those things, yes - I am pleased.  Yet, the fights and quarrels come because these sweet things aren't so sweet when they become gods... when I want my own hēdonēs even if it means you don't get yours.  Or when I eat a whole soft, soft cake with lots of frosting in one day.  And when I take a hot bath instead of working.  And when I'm jealous of someone because she has a closer relationship to another friend.  Or when I feel like I can only worship God when I'm under the leaves.      

2. Now we get to the second desire, epithumeō (ep-ee-thoo-meh'-o).
This is when you set your heart upon something, longing for something with all your heart. It also can mean when you would do something gladly as in "My pleasure!"   I am longing for my wedding day (5 months and 2 days away).  No problem.  Me walking around miserably for the next 5 months and 2 days - that's making it an idol.  Or thinking that my value as a person is going to be finally made official on that day... That's when people start killing.  Things like having a successful business or a large house or an over-flowing Bible study or having a group of friends who love us... those aren't bad things in themselves.  If my heart is worshiping them, then we have a problem.

3.  And now we get to the word covet, zēloō (dzay-lo'-o).
You know when something "moves" you? Stirs you up - makes you light up a little?  Gives you a warm feeling?  Well - that's literally this word: having a warm feeling.  And it goes both ways - the good way or the bad way.  But it doesn't just stop at the feeling - it's a motivating factor.  So, when you see something you like but then your heart wants to reach for it (even if your hands don't) - thats your zēloōing... wanting something to make you happy.  My soft, fluffy bed.  The recognition from someone that I'm doing a good job.  Proving myself a the one who was Right in an argument.  Hearing false-teaching that justifies my sins.  Come on, ring my bells!

I might be disappointed when the Sunday School lesson didn't go as planned.  I might be disappointed that I didn't get the house cleaned because my child was sick.  I might be disappointed that I didn't get applauded for all the work I did on the banquet.  So... here's our test:  So often my "bad mood" is not just a bad mood... but sin.  It's when I take a hēdonē and grow it into a epithumeō and then zēloō.  When my bad mood strikes - I have three questions to ask myself.

*Is there something really good that I didn't get?

*Was my heart finding value in that?

*Did I think it would make me happy?

It's hard.  It's really hard.  But, here's the good news: our hope doesn't have to be in things like a good Sunday School lesson... or having the dishes done... or in man's praises.  We have a higher hope.

Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God... (Palm 43:5)

My One Thing

James 4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2LGfAd8mfHE&feature=related

"Everybody I know says they need just one thing 
And what they really mean is that they need just one thing more 
And everybody seems to think they've got it coming 
Well I know that I don't deserve You 
Still I want to love and serve You more and more 
You're my one thing 

Save me from those things that might distract me 
Please take them away and purify my heart 
I don't want to lose the eternal for the things that are passing 
'Cause what will I have when the world is gone 
If it isn't for the love that goes on and on with 

My one thing 
You're my one thing 
And the pure in heart shall see God 
You're my one thing 
You're my one thing 
And the pure in heart shall see God 

Who have I in Heaven but You Jesus 
And what better could I hope to find down here on earth 
I could cross the most distant reaches 
Of this world but I'd just be wasting my time 
'Cause I'm certain already I'm sure I'd find 

Every night and every day 
You hold on tight 
Or you drift away 
And you're left to live 
With the choices you make 
Oh Lord please give me the strength 
To watch and work and love and sing and pray 

'Cause who have I in Heaven but You Jesus 
And what better could I hope to find down here on earth
Well I could cross the most distant reaches 
Of this world but I'd just be wasting my time 
'Cause I'm certain already I'm sure I'd find 
You're my one thing"
-Rich Mullins

A Second Look at Wisdom

James 3:14-18
We rely upon the poets, the philosophers, and the playwrights to articulate what most of us can only feel, in joy and sorrow. They illuminate the thoughts for which we only grope; they give us the strength and balm we cannot find in ourselves. Whenever I feel my courage wavering I rush to them. They will give me the wisdom of acceptance, the will and resilience to push on. 

- Helen Hayes

One important key to success is self-confidence. An important key to self-confidence is preparation.

- Arthur Ashe

It's surprising how many persons go through life without ever recognizing that their feelings toward other people are largely determined by their feelings toward themselves, and if you're not comfortable within yourself, you can't be comfortable with others.

- Sydney J. Harris

Each of us literally chooses, by his way of attending to things, what sort of universe he shall appear to himself to inhabit.

- William James

Keep love in your heart. A life without it is like a sunless garden when the flowers are dead. The consciousness of loving and being loved brings a warmth and richness to life that nothing else can bring.

- Oscar Wilde

Hmmm... nice quotes.  Warm.  Fluffy.  They waft in ideas of how we can better our lives and plant gardens of loveliness in others' lives.  Wrong.  And that's the "nice" wisdom.  We're not even talking here about the Top Dog wisdom of power, money and fame.  The wisdom of the world says:
I can find peace by "feeling" good.  I need to feel happy and content.  Being loved on earth is the highest of treasures.  I can control my world.  I need to be believe in myself.
The wisdom of the world says: I am my own god.
And there is no higher Selfish Ambition.