What is Worldliness?

By Schwartz

May 1, 2018

In the January Amish Voice, we asked for your interpretation of I John 2:15-16: Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

 Below is one response we received.

Dear Amish Voice:

Be careful what you ask for, because you might just get it! I could write this letter and feel I’m smarter than most, but that would be foolish. The Lord’s strength is made perfect in my weakness. I would understand the lust of the flesh to be anything we can do to make our flesh feel good or good about itself. At this time I will take the liberty to speak my mind. I want to live a righteous life, and it’s not wrong to do that in itself, but I find that I do so to feel good about myself—the lust of the flesh.

The lust of the eyes. You know I like to have my place neat. What if I find myself or my eyes taking pleasure in that? Our eyes can find many things to lust after.

The pride of life. God stands against the proud! You know where our salvation comes from? Does it come from living a righteous life? This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you (John 15:12). If anyone could have boasted, it was Paul. He called all those good things filthy rags – manure. But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6).

Would I be willing to give up my Amish heritage for Jesus Christ? It is a good life, and I wouldn’t want to live any other way. I find it selfish to be Amish! I don’t feel that it is wrong to be Amish, but it can be.

Ever since Adam fell in the garden of Eden, mankind has tried to be right with God. Do you think I’m different? Absolutely not! What was Jesus’s purpose in coming to earth? It was for mankind – to redeem them. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life (John 3:16). This verse says that it is whosoever believes in Jesus – not whosoever believes in his own righteousness, but in His. He commanded us to go out and preach the gospel, and I’m not talking about just overseas or just to the church. Once I accept that what Christ did was good enough, then I have all power in heaven and earth. No man cometh unto the Father, but by me [Jesus] (John 14:6).

Lord, open the eyes of all who read this, that they might know the truth, and that the truth will set them free. To God be all honor and glory. Praise God!

— Schwartz

 

« Back to Articles