One thing I’ve noticed about many believers in this day and age is that they are beginning to look more and more like the world. They share the same beliefs. They use the same language. They champion the same causes. The one thing that used to differentiate between believers and unbelievers – the truth of God’s Word – is now being thrown away and cast aside as untruthful, untrustworthy, and unloving.
This is alarming because Christians are called to be holy and set apart (2 Peter 3:11), to not be conformed to the ways of the world (Romans 12:2). What is even more alarming is that many of these Christians don’t even realize they’re slowly slipping into worldly beliefs and convictions. We then, as believers, need to look to how the Bible characterizes both worldliness and godliness to determine what kind of life we are living and ensure we remain on the right path.
The one who is worldly does not listen to the Word of God, for she is preoccupied with the cares of this world (Matthew 13:22). She is friends with the world (James 4:4), and she’s been taken captive by the world’s empty and deceitful philosophies (Colossians 2:8). Because of this friendly alliance, the worldly woman is at enmity with God (James 4:4). Her lustful, covetous, prideful desires show that the love of the Father is not in her (1 John 2:15-16), and her divisive nature show that her life is devoid of the Holy Spirit (Jude 1:19).
Paul minces no words when describing worldly people in his second letter to Timothy-
“For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people.” 2 Timothy 3:2-5, ESV
In his letter to the Galatian church, Paul also writes that these worldly people engage in idolatry, jealousy, anger, and various other vile sins. He makes it clear that these people will not inherit God’s kingdom (Galatians 5:19-21).
The one who is godly, however, does listen to God’s Word and has nothing to do with the silly myths of this world (1 Timothy 4:7). She has been redeemed and purified by Christ (Titus 2:14), and she strives to be unstained from the world as she obeys God and embraces sanctification (James 1:27, Matthew 5:48).
The godly woman flees from sin and temptation and pursues righteousness, faith, love, steadfastness, and gentleness (1 Timothy 6:11). She uses self-control as she renounces ungodliness and worldly passions (Titus 2:12). And she practices the marks of a true Christian found in Romans 12, which include loving other believers, abhorring evil, serving God, helping the needy, blessing enemies, and living peaceably (Romans 12:9-21). Her life is marked with virtue, brotherly affection, and contentment (2 Peter 1:5-6, 1 Timothy 6:6). Unlike the worldly woman, the Holy Spirit is active in the godly woman’s life and has produced spiritual fruit within her-
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control;” Galatians 5:22-23a
Those who are godly will be hated and persecuted by the world (John 15:19, 2 Timothy 3:12), but they must stand firm in their convictions and fight the good fight of the faith (1 Timothy 6:12). The things of this world will be tempting to the godly. It may seem easier or better to follow the worldly person’s ways. Worldliness may satisfy some fleshly longing for a moment, but it will ultimately fail everyone who practices it-
“For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul?” Matthew 16:26a
Which list better describes your life? Are you living a godly life, one that is marked by love, righteousness, and self-control? Or are you living a worldly life, one that is marked by pride, envy, and deceitful philosophies? If you are a Christian, if you desire to become like Christ, I urge you to reject the things of this world and strive for godliness. As Pastor Dean Inserra writes,
“One cannot be made more like Christ if he or she wants to be more like this world.”[1]
If you are actively striving for godliness, do not give up or lose hope. It can be hard to be strong in your faith and godliness when the world is constantly trying to tear you down. But you must remember that your godly living is of eternal value, for Jesus Christ, your blessed hope, is coming back soon to establish a new and perfect earth (1 Timothy 4:8, Titus 2:13).
“For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ,” Titus 2:11-13
[1] Dean Inserra, Getting Over Yourself: Trading Believe-in-Yourself Religion for Christ-Centered Christianity (Chicago: Moody Publishers, 2021), 50.
