the deadliness of worldliness.
By Charles Simeon. James chapter four, verse four. You adulterous people, don't
you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend
of the world becomes an enemy of God. One diseased man may
spread his infection to many others, but 10 healthy men cannot
impart all their health to another. In the same way, it is quite
easy to contract defilement from the ungodly. It is common for
Christians to associate with the world under an idea of doing
good unto them. They forget how much more likely
they themselves are to contract evil from them than to impart
to them any substantial benefit. The Apostle Paul cautions us
that bad company corrupts good character. 1 Corinthians chapter
15, verse 33. Experience proves the truth of
Paul's warning, for there is scarcely a Christian who needlessly
associates much with the world, but he imbibes something of their
sentiments and in heart declines from God. I do not mean to say
that all connection with ungodly men should be avoided, for then
we would have to go out of the world. Our duties in civil and
social life require some measure of interaction with them. Yet
we should ever be aware of the danger of contagion from the
ungodly. We should mix with them as a
physician mixes with his diseased patients, having in our minds
a desire to do good to them and exerting our influence for that
end, and then withdrawing when we have fulfilled our duty, happy
to breathe a purer atmosphere and to associate with God-fearing
men. This is the teaching prescribed
for us in the scriptures. We are not to be conformed to
this sinful world. We are not to be of this sinful
world any more than Jesus Christ was of it, nor are we to love
any of the world's ensnaring vanities. Our affections must
rather be set on things above. We must realize that our citizenship
is in heaven. We must be ever on our guard
to keep our garments clean. we must recognize that it is
almost impossible to come into companionship with the ungodly
without contracting some defilement from them. Therefore, come out
from among unbelievers and separate yourselves from them, says the
Lord. Don't touch their filthy things,
and I will welcome you. And I will be your Father, and
you will be My sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty. 2 Corinthians
chapter 6 verses 17 and 18