A Glimpse Of Worldliness And Pride
Gary Waddell - Victory Ministries / Middle Tennessee
James 4:3-4, 8 Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts. 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. 8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. 10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He shall lift you up.
Written by James, half-brother of Jesus (once a non-believer).
The Bible speaks of and demonstrates the worldliness and pride of man throughout the Old and New Testaments. It is perhaps one of the greatest stumbling blocks of mankind through the ages. It all ends in sorrow and tragedy. The Bible states that we were created for one purpose – to glorify God. In all we do and in all we say our goal is to give Him glory. Since the days in the Garden of Eden when Adam & Eve were driven out because of disobedience, we have had a desire to be ‘friends with this world.’ Pride is a great tool of the devil. Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall (Pro 16:18) . It was pride that cost satan his position in heaven so he is indeed an expert of that subject in this world. The Bible reads for us to Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. (James 4:7)
So you see, we do have a way to win this battle, however, we must know we are in a continual battle with this world so that means continual praying. It is not a ‘one time’ prayer and ‘poof - he’s gone.’ The devil wants us to fail and attacks us regularly. In the passage John 10:10, Jesus said of the devil, The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: ( and of Himself: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly). The devil, satan, has a death penalty coming. Hell was created for him and his angels but those who follow (whose names are not written in the book of life) him and his worldly ways will partake in that horrible and continual death (Rev 20:10 +).
Oh the pleasures we get from this world at times. Our eyes become focused on the ‘things’ we see and the 'things’ we desire and soon we take our focus off Jesus. It is hard for us to imagine the definition of eternity but think of it as this. Our life on earth is but a tiny dot on a sheet of paper multiplied by millions and then multiplied by millions again. It does not end.I’ll trust Christ for my eternity. He promised us that if we follow and serve Him, we will be with Him forever. That’s where I want to be. The pleasures of this world are only for a short time. A jot if you will (or a dot on a sheet of paper). Now none of this is to say that we can’t enjoy our lives on earth, it is to say that we are not to have pleasure in family, friends, our homes that God has provided, and such, but it is not for us to fall in love with these things. When we start solely focusing on homes we’ve built, fancy cars we drive, hobbies we have, we become prideful. The ownership of everything and every deed becomes ours - and pride sets in very easily. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world (1 John 2:16) . When our focus is on another human being, it can become lust, which is not love by the way.
Let us remember again why we are here - to glorify God. And also rememberWho we are to serve - Our LORD Jesus Christ - the One who was sent to die for our sins if we repent and receive Him (John 1:12).
It’s our choice. Our life on this earth is very short. The older we get, the more we realize how short it is. Our goal? Focus on Christ and He will give us the desires of our hearts according to His will, which is perfect. Surrendering your life to the LORD Jesus is the first step in a joyful and meaningful life. The word ‘glimpse’ means a momentary or brief view of something. Let us not place our focus on the things of this world. Keep ourselves from envy and wanton. Paul’s advice to Timothy: Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine (1 Tim 4:13).
When our focus is on Jesus, this world becomes less important and our actions become humble in the presence of our Savior and LORD. Let us study and stay in His Holy word.
Gary Waddell - Victory Ministries of Middle Tennessee - VMMTN.COM
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