Worldliness is a recurring theme in the Bible, where it is often addressed as a counterpoint to spiritual growth and God-centered living. This concept refers to the love of, attachment to, or influence by the world in contrast to the heavenly kingdom. The Bible gives numerous ways in which believers are warned against and taught how to resist worldliness.
What Is Worldliness According to the Bible?
Worldliness, in the biblical context, is embracing or conforming to the attitudes, habits, and principles of the temporal world instead of adhering to the values, principles, and standards set by God. It’s about prioritizing worldly pleasures, possessions, and desires over spiritual growth and godliness. Worldliness is a divisive force that creates a barrier between the believer and God, obstructing the path to spiritual maturity and fulfillment of divine purpose.
Why Does the Bible Warn Against Worldliness?
The Bible warns against worldliness as it distracts believers from their spiritual commitments and obligations. Succumbing to worldly desires can lead to neglect of spiritual activities like prayer, worship, and service to God and humanity. Worldly distractions can cause a believer to lose focus on the eternal rewards that await in God’s kingdom for those who remain faithful to spiritual principles and standards. Therefore, the Bible encourages believers to detach from worldliness and direct their hearts and minds towards God and eternity.
How Does the Bible Illustrate the Consequences of Worldliness?
The Bible presents vivid narratives and parables that illustrate the negative consequences of worldliness. There are stories of individuals and nations that suffered disaster for being entangled in worldly interests. It does not advocate for a complete withdrawal from the world or avoidance of worldly activities. Instead, it encourages balancing worldly responsibilities with spiritual commitments. However, severe consequences await those who allow worldly pursuits to eclipse their commitment to God’s directives and standards.
When Should Believers Resist Worldliness?
According to the Bible, believers should strive to resist worldliness consistently. This means in every decision, lifestyle choice, and priority setting, the focus should be on aligning with God’s will and way, and less with worldly trends and desires. Believers should cultivate and display spiritual virtues such as love, peace, kindness, goodness, and self-control which are of eternal value rather than ephemeral worldly achievements and possessions.
Who Can Help Believers Overcome Worldliness?
The Bible portrays God as the ultimate power source that can help believers overcome worldliness. By seeking God through prayers and meditating on His words, believers can receive strength and guidance to resist worldly attractions and live a godinly life. The Bible also encourages believers to foster supporting relationships with other believers who are committed to their faith. Mutual encouragement, support and accountability within a faith community can significantly aid individuals in their struggle against worldliness.
Where Can Believers Find Hope and Strength in Resisting Worldliness?
The Bible offers hope and strength to believers who earnestly seek to resist worldliness and live according to divine principles and values. The teachings and principles enshrined in the Bible, if robustly engaged, can yield the strength needed to resist worldly temptations and live a spiritually fulfilling life. Biblical teachings provide a roadmap to victory over worldly influences, illuminating paths of resilience, discipline, and continuity in seeking God above all else.
Below is our full list of bible verses on worldliness (King James Version – KJV) provided in ranked order.
Most Popular Bible Verses About Worldliness
1 John 2:15-17
“15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.16 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.17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.”
Related Themes: Lust Pride Money Social Justice
Romans 12:2
“2 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.”
Related Themes: Complaining Lust Creativity Attitude Business
Colossians 3:2
“2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.”
Related Themes: Lust Humility Indulgence Mind Thinking
James 4:4
“4 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.”
Related Themes: Lust Dating Social Justice Adultery Morality
John 15:19
“19 If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.”
Related Themes: Persecution Suffering Persecution Culture
Titus 2:12
“12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;”
Related Themes: Lust Self-Control Reverence Self Discipline Purity
1 John 2:15-16
“15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.16 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.”
Related Themes: Lust Pride Money Social Justice
Jude 1:19
“19 These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit.”
Related Themes: Segregation Discrimination Division
1 Peter 1:14
“14 As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance:”
Related Themes: Lust Holiness Obedience Reputation Lust
2 Timothy 2:4
“4 No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.”
Related Themes: Lust Pleasing God Selfishness Purity
2 Timothy 2:22
“22 Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.”
1 Peter 2:11
“11 Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;”
Related Themes: Lust Strangers Reputation Addiction Morality
Ephesians 4:17-20
“17 This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind,18 Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart:19 Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.20 But ye have not so learned Christ;”
Related Themes: Vanity Trespassing Glorification
2 Peter 2:12-15
“12 But these, as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the things that they understand not; and shall utterly perish in their own corruption;13 And shall receive the reward of unrighteousness, as they that count it pleasure to riot in the day time. Spots they are and blemishes, sporting themselves with their own deceivings while they feast with you;14 Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children:15 Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness;”
1 Timothy 5:6
“6 But she that liveth in pleasure is dead while she liveth.”
Related Themes: Lust Indulgence Pleasure
Jude 1:11
“11 Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core.”
Related Themes: Greed
John 17:15-16
“15 I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil.16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.”
Related Themes: Sadness
Matthew 13:22
“22 He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.”
Hebrews 11:24-26
“24 By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter;25 Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;26 Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward.”
