Worldliness stems from misplaced desires and friendship with the world, according to James 4:1-6. This causes people to try serving both God and money. The cure is to submit to God by putting to death earthly desires and humbling oneself, as outlined in James 4:7-12 and other biblical passages. When people walk in goodness, justice and mercy instead of pursuing material gains, then society will not fail.

1. JAMES
Faith Applied
Worldliness: Cause and Cure
James 4: 1 – 12

2. Worldliness is what makes sin
look normal in any age and
righteousness seem odd.
(David Wells)

3. Worldliness
Cause Cure
• Misplaced desires
(James 4: 1 – 3)

4. Material gains will never be
enough for America, if we achieve
full employment, have great
economic growth, have cities of
gold, but our children have not
learned how to walk in
goodness, justice and mercy, then
the American experiment has
failed.

5. Worldliness
Cause Cure
• Misplaced desires
(James 4: 1 – 3)
• Friendship with
the world
(James 4: 4 – 6)

6. Put to
death, therefore, whatever
belongs to your earthly
nature: sexual
immorality, impurity, lust, e
vil desires and greed, which
is idolatry.
(Colossians 3: 5)

7. The man who tries
to walk two roads
will split his pants.
(West African Proverb)

8. No one can serve two masters.
Either he will hate the one and
love the other, or he will be
devoted to the one and despise
the other. You cannot serve
both God and Money.
(Matthew 6: 24)

9. Worldliness
Cause Cure
• Misplaced desires • Submit to God
(James 4: 1 – 3) (James 4: 7 – 9)
• Friendship with
the world
(James 4: 4 – 6)

10. Worldliness
Cause Cure
• Misplaced desires • Submit to God
(James 4: 1 – 3) (James 4: 7 – 9)
• Friendship with • Humble yourself
the world (James 4: 10 – 12)
(James 4: 4 – 6)