The Pharisees likely never began their journeys intending to become proud, self-righteous leaders. Yet Scripture shows us how easily an unexamined heart can drift. As Jeremiah says, “The heart is deceitful above all things” (Jer 17:9). Left unchecked, pride and self-trust grow into exactly the kind of “brood of vipers” Jesus rebuked.

James 4 shares with us this same danger for us today: how quickly believers can become worldly even while retaining a Christian name, to the point that these believers can be called “adulterers and adulteresses” (James 4:4). This is not about marital infidelity, but spiritual adultery: choosing the world’s values, goals, and priorities over God’s. The people James addresses still claimed the name of Christ, but their hearts and desires were aligned with the world. Outwardly Christian; inwardly worldly.

Root of the issue: Our Pride

Beautiful things can emerge when people share unified vision, goals, and purpose, just as many meaningful projects, ministries, and businesses do. But many partnerships don’t last because interests, values, and desires eventually diverge. Pride, self-interest, and competing intentions slowly fracture what once felt aligned.

In our walk with God, the same pattern can appear.

Many of us begin our faith journey sincerely desiring God’s will. But over time, we face hardship or disappointment, not just in life but even in ministry, born out of good intentions. We start to ask ourselves, “Why is this so difficult? Isn’t God supposed to help me?” 

Without realising it, we start planning life around God instead of with God. We rely on our own sense of “what is good,” forgetting that God’s will is not only good but perfect (Rom 12:2). The gap between our desires and His wisdom widens.

Pride is often the force that deepens it, nudging us toward the world’s definitions of “good,” “successful,” or “worthy,” rather than God’s.

God resists the proud and gives grace to the humble (James 4:6)

We need to catch ourselves whenever we begin planning our lives with God merely watching from the sidelines. Planning is not wrong, but planning that disregards God is arrogance, and God resists the proud (James 4:13–16).

If we have been mapping our future without considering God’s will, prompting, or delight, then we must ask an uncomfortable but necessary question: Has our love for God grown cold?

The good news

 “Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you.” 

The door back to being in alignment with God is always open. It begins with humility. Are we ready to put aside our plans, desires, perspectives to see God?