HOW DOES ONE AVOID THE SIN OF WORLDLINESS
The first step to worldliness is becoming friends with the world. James wrote, “Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God” (James 4:4). Friendship is a wonderful thing. Christian friendship is even better. There is nothing like moving through this life knowing you have a friend that cares about you and the struggles you deal with, but also knowing you have a goal of reaching Heaven when this life has ended. For the Christian, there are even songs we sing to celebrate friendship. In one song, there is rejoicing because we have a friend in Jesus. But to be a friend of the world is choosing to grow close to that which render one unacceptable to God. James urged pure religion in order “to keep himself unspotted from the world” (James 1:27). If one is a friend of the world he is the enemy of God? It makes the words of John ring loud and clear, “…the love of the Father is not in him” (1 John 2:15).
God called Christians to come out from the darkness of the world. Peter charged, “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: (1 Peter 2:9). Now in the marvelous light they are to “live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; (Titus 2:12). They will live with a sound mind, doing things rightly, and displaying the godly characteristic of holiness (1 Peter 1:15-16).
Christians will live this way by not allowing themselves to become conformed to the world. Paul wrote, “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” (Romans 12:2). Conforming to the world is like allowing one’s life to be melted down and poured into a mold of the world. He comes out with characteristics that resemble the world. No one can tell the difference between he does and what the world does. He does not talk differently although he is commanded to do so (Ephesians 4:29). He does not dress differently although he is commanded to do so (1 Timothy 2:9-10). He does not separate himself from the immorality of the world although he is commanded to do so (2 Corinthians 6:17-18). He does not care whom he fellowship although he is commanded to do so (Ephesians 5:11). Therefore, he is part of the world of which God says not to love.
How does one avoid the sin of worldliness? He does not allow himself to become friends with the world. He continues to stay out of the darkness of the world and it influences and remains in the light God provides. And, he does not allow himself to be melted down in order to be poured into the mold of the world so that he is unrecognizable.
CONCLUSION
The subject of worldliness is crucial in one’s Christian education. Without knowing that worldliness is the residence of evil in this present world he can find himself engulfed with its flames of doom and destruction. It is vitally important the study of worldliness because it is sin and the consequences will cost one his eternal soul. To avoid such an horrific danger he must choose his friends carefully. He must stay in the light of God’s Word, and he must not become conformed to this present world.