GFA - Grip, Focus, Attitude!

(From my study in James - I'm up to chapter 4, verse 4...)
Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God?

About this FRIENDSHIP WITH THE WORLD, here's some thoughts I wrote down...

** First is about our GRIP!!
How tightly do we hold on to things?
This reminds me of the story of the monkey with his hand stuck in the peanut jar. He wouldn't let go of the peanuts!! If he let go, his hand would be free, and then the peanuts would tip out.

"No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon." (Mat. 6:24, NKJ)

** Next, is about our FOCUS!
We must remember to keep things in perspective, and to realize that the things we touch and feel are only temporal. Instead, our focus should be on that which lasts... the eternal. Even the bad stuff that happens to us is only temporal.

Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal. (2 Cor 4:16-18, NKJ)

** And the third is about ATTITUDE!!
With our enjoyments in life, we need to remember God in them. We need to remember that they are His gift, and thus be thankful in and for them. Remember our Maker who gave us all things to enjoy.

"He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also He has put eternity in their hearts, except that no one can find out the work that God does from beginning to end.
"I know that nothing is better for them than to rejoice, and to do good in their lives, and also that every man should eat and drink and enjoy the good of all his labor—it is the gift of God." (Ecc 3:9-13, NKJ)
"Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy." (1 Tim 6:17, NKJ)


But we find in James 4, that the GRIP was too tight, the FOCUS was wrong, and there was no ATTITUDE of gratitude! If we look back in the previous chapter, we find what was at the root of it all.

"But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there." (3:14-16, NKJ)

What were the things that marked this type of attitude?
- BITTER ENVY - SELF-SEEKING - PRIDE!!
Contrast them with the truly godly attitude, which are...
LOVE - GRATITUDE - HUMILITY!! (See v.6-10)
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PS. Check this out!! Here is the GRIP, FOCUS, ATTITUDE again....
"For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh (GRIP), the lust of the eyes (FOCUS), and the pride of life (ATTITUDE) —is not of the Father but is of the world." (1 John 2:16)