From yesterday’s notes, I hope that you are beginning to realize that everyone has an “enemy” to some degree. No one likes these kinds of topics, but nonetheless, they are important to our Christian walk! For further insight, read about Job or David - two prime examples of men who had to deal with adversaries!
My kids and I talked about this at length, seeking out answers in the Word and listening to each other’s ideas. When it comes to kids, I think that it’s very important for them to learn that not everyone is going to like them in life. In fact, failure to recognize something that could potentially harm you (like an enemy – often a wolf in sheep’s clothing) could be the first step of destruction in your life. It's equally important for them to know that the devil desires to trip them up in any means possibly and in some instances will use people.
The kids all agreed on one key point:
In order to have an enemy, a person must have a position, quality, or characteristic that causes someone else to be opposed to it. Even Jesus had enemies! Sin makes people enemies of God. Jesus said that He was offensive, yet in other passages He was accused by the Pharisees of being a friend of sinners. This brings up a lot to think about!
Again, there are varying degrees of “friendship” and “enemies”.
A few verses came up during discussion:
“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.” James 4:4
What does this mean?
James 2:23 also says, “And the Scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness," and he was called God's friend.”
Do obedience and faith (in God) facilitate friendship with God?
Proverbs 12:26 says, “A righteous man is cautious in friendship, but the way of the wicked leads them astray.”
1 Corinthians 15:22, "Do not be misled: "Bad company corrupts good character."
How "bad" does a person have to be before they are NOT your friend? What do you tolerate or justify? What about if they do not know Christ - does this make a difference? What if your friend walks away from God? If someone is strongly opposed to God, can they be your friend?
A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump. (Galatian 5:9, 1 Corinthians 5:6) How does this relate to tolerating sin?
2 Corinthians 2:24 tells us, “Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?”
What does it mean to be yolked?
Continuing our discussion, we talked about Proverbs 17:17 – “A friend loves at all times.”
We know that Scripture tells us that God is love. If we look at what LOVE is described as in Scripture, we can look to 1 Corinthians 13 to reveal something to us.
Friends Enemies
