Worldliness is a term used to describe what the Bible calls the “carnal believer.” Every born again believer faces the problem of making choices to either live godly or worldly. A believer cannot live in the flesh or in the Spirit at the same time. Paul in Galatians 5:16 said, “Walk in the Spirit and ye will not fulfill the lust of the flesh.“
WORLDLINESS MAY BE DEFINED AS THAT WHICH:
1. Leads to the loss of spiritual interests and growth.
2. Diminishes one’s zeal and love for the Lord Jesus.
3. Takes the time which should be given to the Word and prayer.
4. Hinders a clear cut testimony for Christ. It becomes distorted.
5. Leads into an unequal yoke with unbelievers.
6. Becomes a stumbling block for the unsaved.
Now that you have been saved by the grace of God, you should work toward making 2Corinthians 5:17 a reality in your daily life. “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature (born again): old things are passed away; behold all things are become new.” The new life begins at Calvary and is to be followed by a new life that will be evident in a new habits, desires and language. The child of God, with every intention to walk “in newness of life“, discovers he has stepped into a minefield. There is a battle going on in you for control and the old nature wants to still be the king. He does not give up his control very willingly. God has an answer for this dilemma in Psalm 119:11 “Thy Word have I hid in my heart that I might not sin against Thee.“
In order that the child of God might be able to define the boundary line between the spiritual and the natural (old nature) the apostle John under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit wrote: “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man the things that are in the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but of the world.” 1John 2:15 – 17
In Genesis 3:6 you will see that these things are what led Eve into sin and disobedience to God. It is very easy to see how God inspired John to address these issues in his epistle and showing their dangers. James in his book added a warning, “know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.” James 4:4 Remember that it was the world that crucified our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. The new life in Christ does not consist of a long list of things that tell you; “Now, don’t do this.” or “You had better do this.” Yes, there are some who make the new life in Christ subject to such commands. The apostle Paul by inspiration of the Holy Spirit wrote in Romans 13:14 “But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh (old nature) to fulfill the lusts thereof.” In plain English, “Don’t use the Lord Jesus as you would a spare tire!” If we “put on Christ” there will not be any room for worldliness to gain a foothold.
Finally, make Romans 12:1, 2 the motto of your daily life with the Lord. “I beseech ye therefore by the mercies of God that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice; holy and acceptable unto God which is your reasonable service; And be not conformed to this world but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable and perfect will of God.“
It is not what you did yesterday, but what you are doing in your life today that counts. We can illustrate this point. The concrete that was laid yesterday is hard and firm. Yesterday, you could have easily wrote your name in it or left a footprint. Today it would have to be chiseled in by hard work. The point is that daily we should be YIELDING our life to Christ’s control. Yesterday is gone and all we have is today. Put yourself in the hands of the Master Potter, the Lord Jesus Christ.