Observations on Worldliness

by George Bosworth

We cannot grow spiritually when we cling to worldliness. Nothing new in that statement! But consider I Corinthians 3:3-4:

"For since there is envy and strife among you, are you not worldly and behaving like mere humans? For whenever one says "I belong to Paul", and another says "I belong to Apollos", are you not acting like mere humans?"

Worldliness is identified here with three concepts. If we are engaged in these things, we are not growing spiritually as we could if we repented of them:

Envy

The pursuit of "stuff" (possessions) or "status" will inevitably lead to our giving attention to someone else's stuff or status. This is unavoidably married to worldliness- we can't take any of it with us, so spiritually, the stuff is irrelevant at best, and a distraction that leads to sin at worst.

Strife

Perhaps the natural next step from envy, because once you desire that which is another's, you will start fighting (them) for it. Not being able to live at peace with all men because of your own discontentment is serious indeed.

Human Identity

And a third step into worldliness: Division based upon made-made distinction. The world loves to divide: Skin color, income, education, political opinions... we now even invent ridiculous labels, social babble meant to create new ways to define our differences: "I'm not a nerd, I'm a geek!" Who cares about this? Certainly not God. When we are distracted by finding an identity in man's constructs, we are pursuing something that is objectively meaningless.

End Envy: Find your value in Christ.

End Strife: Find your peace in Christ.

End Division: Find your identity in Christ.

Nothing else matters.