Worldliness

Worldliness denotes the orientation of one's life around the values, pleasures, and goals of the present age rather than around God and his kingdom. The prophets lampooned Israel's conformity to the surrounding nations in worship and lifestyle. Jesus identifies two masters — God and money — between whom no one can serve both (Matt. 6:24), and warns against the deceitfulness of riches and the pleasures of this life that choke the word and make it unfruitful (Matt. 13:22; Luke 8:14).

John provides the clearest NT definition: "Do not love the world or the things in the world... For all that is in the world — the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life — is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires" (1 John 2:15–17). Paul calls believers not to be "conformed to this world" but to be transformed by the renewing of the mind (Rom. 12:2). James diagnoses friendship with the world as enmity with God (James 4:4). The antidote is the fear of God, eternal perspective, and the love of the Father that displaces love of the world.