Study 27 – Pressures to Conform

What, according to the Bible, are the true roots of worldliness?

Worldly wealth. Society declares, 'Money is the answer for everything' (Eccl. 10:19). Jesus says, 'You cannot serve both God and Money' (Matt. 6:24).

Money has the power to corrupt. Fall in love with it and you may find yourself pursuing all kinds of evil. The world expects you to put yourself first. So when you are offered promotion with a substantial salary increase, the world urges you, 'Take it.' You may be concerned that you will have to move location, but the pressure to accept is very strong.

There is nothing wrong with promotion, but if you take it only because you will be better off, you are basing your decision on money alone. Have you asked God what He thinks? Do your church leaders agree? If you do not accept the post, your colleagues may think you're crazy. But you do not belong to their kingdom. Isn't it more important to obey God than to do what others expect?

Worldly wisdom. Worldly wisdom rebels against God's wisdom. Modern thinkers rule out 'all that nonsense about Adam and Eve' and think you are crazy to pin your hopes on someone who was crucified nearly two thousand years ago. 'It's ludicrous to believe the stories of a group of fishermen and tax collectors,' they say. 'And the resurrection couldn't have been literal.'

The simple message of the cross is an insult to their intelligence. 'Salvation cannot be a free gift,' they say. 'We reach God by following the moral teaching and example of Jesus.' Then they look at the church and declare, 'You'll never attract people unless you make the way to God more acceptable to the modern man.'

Today's intellectuals rebel against the Scriptures. 'It's not sensible to believe and obey the Bible,' they say. Humanly speaking, they are right. But they are judging its contents on the basis of logic. While they are working everything out rationally, God is doing His thing in a completely different way.

Paul says, '…we have conducted ourselves in the world…not according to worldly wisdom but according to God's grace (2 Cor. 1:12). Whenever you face an issue, you choose whether you apply to it man's wisdom or God's foolishness. Faith rejects the sensible advice of men and puts total confidence in the Word.

To Meditate On

God's wisdom and the world's wisdom are poles apart.

'If any one of you thinks he is wise by the standards of this age, he should become a "fool" so that he may become wise' (1 Cor. 3:18).

'For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe' (1 Cor. 1:21).

Food For Thought

READ the following worldly-wise comments and find Scriptures which challenge them.
'You can't afford to give away any money this month.'
'That man has been totally unreasonable to you. Now it's your chance to get even with him.'

WRITE DOWN a few more examples of worldly attitudes and the Scriptures which challenge them.

ARE YOU facing a difficult decision? Resist the temptation to apply worldly wisdom.

Be Inspired

Worldliness is a spirit, a temperament, an attitude of the soul. It is a life without high callings, life devoid of lofty ideals. It is a gaze always horizontal and never vertical.
J. Henry Jowett

To Consider

READ Matt. 5:14.
Are you easily influenced by certain people who have worldly attitudes?

PRAY for God's help lovingly to withstand their worldly attitudes.

Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs (1 Tim. 6:10).

For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God
(1 Cor. 1:18).