“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.” (James 4:4)
If you would stay a friend of God you must realize that the world is not your friend. Its liberal, generous spirit is a lie. It is the seductress of Proverbs 7 whose “house is the way to hell, going down to the chambers of death.” (Prov. 7:27)
The world offers it all. It wants to help you do all, know all, have all, be all. The god of this world savors the things that are of men and pretends to be man’s benefactor. Proud Lucifer understands what the spirit of man craves. In order to move in for the kill, he baits his trap with the sweetest flattery. “A man that flattereth his neighbour spreadeth a net for his feet.” (Prov. 29:5)
A spiritual simpleton feels flattered by the world’s beneficence. He has been “groomed.” As soon as he is beckoned he heads off “as an ox goeth to the slaughter, or as a fool to the correction of the stocks; till a dart strike through his liver; as a bird hasteth to the snare, and knoweth not that it is for his life.” (Prov. 7:22,23)
Don’t be deceived. The world operates like a harlot. Don’t think you are loved or cared for; you are being used and duped. Escape the snare of the fowler. No matter how appealing, refuse the world’s deceptive offers and smooth words. Stay faithful to your God. He has an all for you that is better than the false offer of the world. He gives us “all things that pertain unto life and godliness” (2 Peter 1:3)
“Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler …” (Psalm 91:3)