SO WHO IS A WORLDLY PERSON?
So Who is a Worldly Person?
1. He is a person living like life ends here.
He forgets he is a stranger here. Jesus once talked about the sacrifices that are sometimes required when one submits to the gospel of salvation. There may be painful separations from loved ones, loss of friends and property, etc. But such deprivations are not to be compared with the value of one’s new family in Christ and the host of other blessings, not the least of which is that of eternal life in the “world to come” (Mark 10:30). It is quite unfortunate that so many, even within the family of God, have their interests vested more in the “now” world, than in the “to come” realm. One such person mentioned in the New Testament was Demas 2Tim 4:10 For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica;
2. He is a person who places his personal pleasure over the things of God.
Jesus is second place in his life. When self is always first and God is second, the person is demonstrating worldly traits. Worldliness in this sense could involve many sub-categories, e.g., materialism—the ambition of laying up treasures on earth (Matthew 6:19ff), the passionate desire for wealth (1 Tim 6:9-10), or subscribing to the ideology of “eat, drink, and be merry” (Luke 12:19). Jesus himself, being deity in nature as well as human, insisted: “He who loves father and mother more than me is not worthy of me; and he who loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me” (Matt 10:37).
3. He is a person who puts up a character that emphasizes the cleaning and packaging of the outside while the inside is dead.
When we emphasize on outward beauty leaving the inner man dead, the trend of worldliness is there. Time is made available to dress up well but no time to dress up the soul. Maybe this story will drive home the point:
Once upon a time there was a rich king who had four wives. He loved the fourth wife the most and adorned her with rich robes and treated her to the finest of delicacies. He gave her nothing but the best. He also loved the third wife very much and was always showing her off to neighboring kingdoms. However, he feared that one day she would leave him for another man. He also loved his second wife. She was his confidante and was always kind, considerate, and patient with him. Whenever the king faced a problem, he could confide in her, and she would help him get through the difficult times. The king’s first wife was a very loyal partner and had made great contributions in maintaining his wealth and kingdom. However, he did not love the first wife. Although she loved him deeply, he hardly took notice of her! One day, the king fell ill and knew his time was short. He thought of his luxurious life and wondered, ‘I now have four wives with me, but when I die, I’ll be all alone.’ Thus, he asked the fourth wife, ‘I have loved you the most, endowed you with the finest clothing and showered great care over you. Now that I’m dying, will you follow me and keep me company?’ ‘No way!’ replied the fourth wife, and she walked away without another word. Her answer cut like a sharp knife right into his heart. The sad king then asked the third wife, ‘I have loved you all my life. Now that I’m dying, will you follow me and keep me company?’ ‘No!’ she replied. ‘Life is too good! When you die, I’ll remarry!’ His heart turned cold. He then asked the second wife, ‘I have always turned to you for help, and you’ve always been there for me. When I die, will you follow me and keep me company?’ ‘I’m sorry, but I can’t help this time!’ replied the second wife. ‘At the very most, I can only walk with you to your grave.’ Her answer struck him like a bolt of lightning. The king was devastated. Then a voice called out: ‘I’ll go with you. I’ll follow you no matter where you go.’ The king looked up and saw his first wife. She was very skinny as she suffered from malnutrition and neglect. Greatly grieved, he said, ‘I should have taken much better care of you when I had the chance!’ In truth, we all have the four wives in our lives:
Our fourth wife is our body. No matter how much time and effort we lavish in making it look good, it will leave us when we die.
Our third wife is our possessions, status, and wealth. When we die, these will go to others.
Our second wife is our family and friends. No matter how much they have been there for us, they can’t go with us past the grave.
Our first wife is our soul. We often neglect it in pursuit of wealth, power, and pleasures of the world. However, our soul is the only thing that will follow us wherever we go. Cultivate, strengthen, and cherish it now, for it is the only part of us that will follow us to the throne of God and continue with us throughout eternity.
4. He is a person who gives most of his time into trendy issues in Music, fashion, politics and the likes. Fun takes the first place in his setting.
5.He puts his trust on material gain and pursues same vigorously. The church can wait. The flesh is emphasized far and above the spirit.
