WORLDLINESS “For they that are after the flesh mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the spirit the things of the spirit. For the mind of the flesh is death; but the mind of the spirit is life and peace. Because the mind of the flesh is enmity against God. For it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. And they that are in the flesh cannot please God.” Rom 8:5-8 The word “flesh” often means more than flesh and blood and bones. Sometimes it seems to mean a disposition acquired by giving too much rein to the fleshly appetites. The body standing alone is neither good nor bad. It is possible, however, for one to give place to the appetites of the body to such extent that he develops a disposition to be controlled by these bodily appetites. Then he is “fleshly minded”. In this condition he cannot please God. One way to consider the problem of “worldliness” (or, the “mind of the flesh”) is to look at its opposite. The spiritually-minded person is God-conscious. He sees God as a constant companion–as an observer of every thought, word, and deed; as the giver of all good gifts; as his protector who watches out for him day and night. He “walks with God”; he thanks God; he trusts God; he looks to God as his source of strength; he “thinks” God, and he does this daily.... The worldly-minded (“fleshly minded”) person has HIS thoughts primarily on the things of this world, making them his chief interest in life. He thinks cars, and clothes, and boats, and sports, and stereos, and VCRs, and travel and early retirement. While the spiritually-minded person “sets his affections on things above”, the worldly-minded person sets his mind on “things of the earth” (Col 3:2). It has been my observation this may be seen to some extent even in our casual conversation. Among some brethren, even at solemn occasions like worship assemblies, the bulk of the conversation is trivial, worldly, and without meaning. Only a few seem to deeply involved enough in the spiritual life to want to talk about it, or to spend the precious time we are together in actually letting it be our focus. Not trying to be “thought police”, just saying... The reality it, it doesn’t take long to learn who is made uncomfortable by “excessive spirituality”.(acb)
Posted on: Tue, 02 Jul 2013 11:12:46 +0000
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