1 John 2:14-17, Romans 12:1-2

Chibuzor Onochie

A lot of people live their lives according to the dictates of the world. Most times the reason is that they want to be accepted or not seen as queer or weird. A critical look at the motivations for involvement in criminal activities, especially among the youths, highlights the role of peer pressure in their actions. Some people want to be children of God while still trying to please men as well. Be that as it may, we want to look at what the word of God says about a believer and the world. May the Holy Spirit give us insight into how we can really sojourn on earth without being lovers of the world. Amen.

What does it mean to love the world?

People are lovers of the world if their lives are being dictated by the cares of this world, and not the word of God. Such people place their friends, relations, careers, etc above God. Lovers of the world do things that they ordinarily would not do except for peer pressure. Galatians 1:10; Matthew 6:19-24; James 4:4-6; Luke 16:13; Ephesians 2:1-2; 1 John 2:15-17.

Signs indicating a love of the world

Spoken words and actions are two principal pointers to the love of the world. The signs include: lust, disobedience, inordinate pleasure, malice, murmuring, accusation, talkativeness, jealousy, ostentation, unforgiveness, violence, and contempt. Titus 3:3, Romans 13:12-14, Matthew 5:27, 1 John 3:17, Galatians 5: 16-26.

Consequences of loving the world

The love of the world, which implies enmity with God, often ends in punishment and problems. For example, imprisonment as a result of criminal activities, and the grief to relations and victims of gun crimes, knife crimes, and all manner of crimes going on today in our society. Gen 6:1-7, Joshua 7:20-26, 2 Sam 11:2-3, 12:10-11, Judges 16:4-31, James 4:4-6, Num 11:33-34.

In the world and not of the world

The Bible proclaims that believers are to be in the world, but not of the world. This simply means that though true Christians are physically living in this world, they are not to conform to ungodly standards of conduct. Rather, they are expected to live according to the word of God. Therefore, the lives of believers should reflect the following, among other qualities: contentment, faith, patience, righteousness, forgiveness and efforts to lay hold on eternal life. Romans 12:1-2 Titus 2:11-14, 1Tim 6:6-12.

Conclusion:

Let the light of God shine through the Christian youths, that the world may see their good works and glorify the heavenly Father.