Category: Worldliness
Subject: Wordliness
Not Covetous
In 1 Timothy 3:3, one of the characteristics that must be present in any who would serve as elder is described in the negative phrase, “not covetous.” The phrase comes from the single Greek word, aphilargyros. It occurs only once in this form in the New Testament. It consists of the prefix (a-) indicating the negative, and (-philargyros), which literally means a lover of silver.
So, the idea is that one who is serving as an elder must not be motivated by a love for money. Thayer defines the word: “not loving money, not avaricious.”
Later in the epistle, the apostle Paul wrote, “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows” (1 Timothy 6:10). The word is the exact same as the one we are considering, minus the negative prefix.
If we were to consider the opposite of the phrase “not covetous”, Paul indicates it would be “godliness with contentment” (1 Timothy 6:6). This is important for all of us. If we recognize the transitory nature of all things earthly, their value decreases in our mind. We must not “love the world, or the things in the world” (1 John 2:15). One who does certainly should not be leading the Lord’s people.
“For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Matthew 16:26).
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The Patternists: Departures from Christ
The second and third chapters of Colossians serve to warn us of the danger of departing from Christ and His will for man. Paul states that in the “knowledge of the mystery of God, both of the Father and Son” are “hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” (2:2-3).
Does that mean the Bible contains all truth? No. But it does contain all the truth that pertains “to life and godliness” (cf. 2 Peter 1:2-4). As Paul wrote, “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17).
Some Thoughts on Modest Dress
We are in the midst of summer, the season of minimal dress. It is understandable that people would desire to be as comfortable as possible during triple digit weather. However, it is important to consider what God thinks of all the skin that is showing in our culture.
First, you will note that the world knows what it is they are doing. They realize the effects of clothing on the opposite sex. That is why adjectives like sexy, sensual, hot, daring, revealing and provocative are used to describe clothes and swimwear. With this in mind, consider the words of John, “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever” (1 John 2:15-17).
Sermon: Learning from Israel’s Defeat at Ai (Joshua 7)
We learn of the consequences of sin, and the need to separate ourselves from ungodly men and worldly things, by looking at the narrative of Israel’s defeat at the hands of the men from Ai.
The Problem of Pride
In James 4, the writer discusses sin present in the lives of some Christians — specifically strife and worldliness. Notice verses 1-4:
“Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members? You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. Yet you do not have because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures. Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.”
Sermon: The Curious Case of Micah and His Idols
Micah was one in Israel (like many others) who did what was right in his own eyes (cf. Judges 17:6). His willful, uninformed worship of God teaches us much about the dangers present in our own day.
Sermon: Desensitized!
Christians must be careful to not become desensitized to Sin, as we encounter it frequently in our culture.
Sermon: The Tents of the Righteous
The Psalmist stated in Psalm 118:15, “The voice of rejoicing and salvation is in the tents of the righteous…” Tents were familiar to the Jews and Christians in the first century. The use of the image in scripture teaches some good lessons.
Sermon: Not Carnality, But Christ
The text of Colossians 3 contrasts the life of the self-indulgent with the better life of a child of God who practices self-denial. Let us choose Christ rather than the fleshly lusts!
Sermon: Understanding of the Times
God expects Christians to have an understanding of the times in which we live, and react accordingly and appropriately. The days are evil and short, the evil that exists is not new, and ultimately it will not win. Knowing that victory is ours helps us to do what is required of us.
Sermon: A Covenant With My Eyes
The text of Job 31:1 reveals a conviction of Job not to lust with his eyes. This teaches us that we too need a determination not to involved ourselves in the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh or the pride of life.
The Problem with Dancing
For the entire time I have been preaching the gospel of our Lord, I have been asked this question, “What is wrong with dancing?” The answer to that question is not difficult, but it is a question that takes a few paragraphs to explain. So please bear with me as I describe the problem.
First, understand that there is nothing inherently wrong with movement accompanied by music. If that were so we would all have to be absolutely motionless when any music is heard. That is absurd. There is no prohibition in scripture regarding movement accompanied by music, either instrumental or vocal.
Sermon: Absalom’s Treachery
Absalom was an evil, selfish and self-centered man. He murdered his brother and sought to steal the throne of his father David. His vanity and selfishness eventually destroyed him.
The Practices of the Wicked
In Deuteronomy 18, Moses warned the children of Israel about taking up the practices of the pagan nations they would displace as they entered the land of promise.
“When you come into the land which the Lord your God is giving you, you shall not learn to follow the abominations of those nations. There shall not be found among you anyone who makes his son or his daughter pass through the fire, or one who practices witchcraft, or a soothsayer, or one who interprets omens, or a sorcerer, or one who conjures spells, or a medium, or a spiritist, or one who calls up the dead. For all who do these things are an abomination to the Lord, and because of these abominations the Lord your God drives them out from before you. You shall be blameless before the Lord your God. For these nations which you will dispossess listened to soothsayers and diviners; but as for you, the Lord your God has not appointed such for you” (Deuteronomy 18:9-14).
The practices enumerated by Moses were characteristic of the pagan societies of the day. There was much superstition and cruelty at that time, and these nations had displeased God.
Sermon: A Hard Heart
Hebrews 3 uses the Israelites in the wilderness as an object lesson about hardening our hearts against God. How does it happen, and can it happen to us? These are important questions to answer.
