That a man is well-dressed, popular, prosperous, getting a great deal of happiness out of life... Does this all mean that such is worldly? Must a follower of Christ completely isolate himself from the world, and everything in it, in order to avoid being worldly? Everyone has their own opinion on this, but God's view is best and the only one that really matters and explains best.
So should a christain not prosper because its of this world?
No. God wants us all to have life and have it in abundance. Even John said it in his word that ''Beloved, I wish above all things that you may prosper and be in health" (III John 2). In proverbs 12, we are being acknowledged by Solomon that "the substance [material wealth] of a diligent man is precious."
This means that if a christain works faithfully, using his/her God-given talents and abilities, surely its God's will for such to prosper. But the problem could be when one sets his/her mind on material things, on gaining wealth and riches, and everything he/she does revolves around getting it by all means, and then by so doing, also lives contrary to God's way of life.
Little wonder why God calls into His church the 'poor of the world', because these people are not consumed by materialism. These set of people are more to know and accept the spiritual truth. And these, even when the prosperity comes uses it for the furtherance of the gospel, to help people, bring change to things around them, and not basically for their own selfish reasons.
What about physical pleasures? Are they not sinful?
After-all the bible says in 1John 2: 15-16 that ''Love not the world, nor the things that are in the world. If any man love 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 is of the world''
When God creates man, He made us perfect, with sense organs to savour, experience, and appreciate things of this life (emphasing on the pleasurable things of this world). But sin sets in when one lust against these things . For Lust is an illicit and sinful desire, it represents a wrong attitude of the mind and heart. God creates these things for us. For example, sex. But sex is only good when it is done while married. Before and outside marriage is not within the confines of God's Law, thus a sin.
What about the way we dress? Does it really matter?
We are being acknowledged by St. Paul that "Let your MODERATION be known unto all men" ( Phil. 4:5). But many in their dressings today (the make-up, dress, etc) wants to outdo others, they follow the crowd, living according to the course of this world, set forth by Satan (Eph 2:2). Some people wear a set a clothes, do a hairstyle, etc not because they want it, but because they saw a celebrity wearing it, and they want to follow multitudes, and not be left out.
But, we christains, are to be different.i.e. We must be modest in our dressing. It shouldnt be shocking or suggestive (1 Tim 2: 8-10 ). When God created man, He wants to see the reflection of Himself in humans, thats why our body is the temple of the most high, and a dwelling place for the Holy Spirit. In the way we dress, it should glorify God the more, and not men.
Conclusion:
Apostle Peter exhorted, "…no longer…live the rest of [your] time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God. For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries: wherein they think it strange that you run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you" ( I Pet. 4:2-4).
So what does worldliness mean? Worldliness is anything that violates (transgresses) God's law.(Romans 13:10). Anything contrary to His way (which can be found in His word-the Bible) is the way of this world (including our actions and thoughts).
Does not the essence of worldliness lie in caring more for the "things" which the world can give a man, than for truth, for righteousness, for purity of heart, or for the peace of God? "Worldliness" may take on various forms and fashions; the inordinate love may be a love of popularity, or it may be a love of money, or a love of dress, or a love of pleasure, or a love of power: the thing that makes it worldliness is the fact that it is a love which has overridden and usurped the place of the love of God.
We fall into the bad way of loving the world whenever we let things win the precedence of persons in our heart's affections, whenever we allow getting to absorb our thoughts to the forgetfulness of being; whenever we suffer the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life to enter like a murky cloud at the windows of the soul and fill with their bad presence every nook and cranny of the room within.
So therefore "come out of her [the ways of this world], My people, that you be not partakers of her sins, and that you receive not of her plagues" (Rev. 18:4). Lets not be like Lot's wife who longed after the way of life in which she had just be taken out from. She looked back, wanting to return and enjoy the riches left behind (or probably take as many as she can with her before the place was destroyed), but then, she became a pillar of salt. Lets live our life "by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God" (Matt. 4:4). And be moderate in our actions and thinking.
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