Though the world is fallen, God still loves the world and is committed to it. Commitment by believers to worldly pursuits and evil is to be avoided as they are called upon to be “in the world” but “not of the world”.
Commitment to this world to be avoided because it is a fallen and sinful place
Galatians 1:4; 1 John 5:19 See also 2 Corinthians 4:4; Ephesians 2:2, Ephesians 6:12; 2 Peter 1:4; 1 John 2:16–17, 1 John 3:1, 1 John 3:13
who gave Himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father,
We know that we are of God, and that the whole world is under the power of the evil one.
Though the world is fallen, God still loves it
John 3:16 See also 2 Corinthians 5:18–20
For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that everyone who believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.
Preoccupation with the things of this world is incompatible with holy living
James 4:4; 1 John 2:15 See also John 17:14–16; Acts 2:40; Romans 12:2; 1 Corinthians 7:31; 2 Corinthians 6:14–17; Isaiah 52:11; Philippians 2:15; Colossians 3:2; Titus 2:12; James 1:27; 1 Peter 1:14, 1 Peter 2:11, 1 Peter 4:3
You adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore, whoever chooses to be a friend of the world renders himself an enemy of God.
Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
Commitment to the world is seen especially in materialism
1 Timothy 6:17 See also Matthew 6:19, Matthew 19:23 parallel Luke 18:24; Luke 12:16–21
Instruct those who are rich in the present age not to be conceited and not to put their hope in the uncertainty of wealth, but in God, who richly provides all things for us to enjoy.
The outcome of worldly commitment
Spiritual loss
Luke 9:25 parallels Matthew 16:26, Mark 8:36 See also Matthew 13:22; 2 Timothy 4:10
What does it profit a man to gain the whole world, yet lose or forfeit his very self?
God's judgment
1 Corinthians 11:32 See also John 12:31, John 16:11; Ephesians 5:6
But when we are judged by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be condemned with the world.
Carelessness with regard to Jesus Christ's return
Luke 21:34 See also Matthew 24:38–39; Luke 12:40, Luke 12:46; 1 Thessalonians 5:1–9
But watch yourselves, or your hearts will be weighed down by dissipation, drunkenness, and the worries of life — and that day will spring upon you suddenly like a snare.
Related themes
Dictionary of Bible Themes © 1999 Martin Manser, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Bible Aquifer. Formatted for this site, with Scripture from the Berean Standard Bible.