WORLDINESS & MATERIALISM
TEXT: Matthew 13:22
A. What is “worldiness”?
1.Often, we use the word to indicate “sophistication; maturity.”
2.“Devotion to or concern with the affairs, pleasures, etc., of this world.”
3.In the New Testament:
a.KOSMOS
(1)the earth, the universe, the earth in contrast to heaven.
(2)the human race, mankind
(3)the sum of temporal possessions
(4)the present condition of human affairs, in alienation from and in opposition to God.
b.AION = an age, a period of time
c.OIKUMENE = the inhabited earth, the whole inhabited world
4.When the word is used to describe the “present condition of human affairs, in alienation from and in opposition to God,” that’s when the “world” in the Bible is condemned.
B. What is “materialism”?
1.The view that wealth, pleasure, or comfort are the only or highest goals or values.
2.A concern with worldly pleasures and not spiritual values because matter is viewed as the only reality.
C. Ours is a materialistic, secular, worldly age.
1.Many are only concerned with material things and never give thought to spiritual things.
2.Many are more concerned with the secular, not the sacred; with the material, not the moral; with comfort, not commitment; with riches, not righteousness; with pleasure, not prayer; with mammon but not God!
3.ILLUS: Patrick Henry rose from his pew in a church building in Richmond, Virginia, and said “Give me liberty or give me death” – many today just say “Give me!”
TS: Let’s consider some things the Bible says about worldliness and materialism.
I. BIBLE WARNINGS ABOUT WORLDINESS:
A. John 15:19
B. Romans 12:2
C. James 4:4
D. 1 John 2:15-17
II. WHAT IS WRONG WITH WORLDINESS & MATERIALISM?
A. WORLDLINESS can cause us to trust in things rather than God.
1.Matthew 6 (discuss)
2.Luke 12:13-21 (read and discuss)
3.1 Tim. 6:17, Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy.
4.There is always a struggle between FLESH vs. SPIRIT.
5.POEM, Not, how did he die? But, how did he live? Not, what did he gain, But what did he give? These are the merits to measure the worth, of a man as a man, Regardless of birth.
B. WORDLINESS can cause us to miss life’s real purpose and meaning
1.What is the ultimate goal of life? What is its purpose? Ecclesiastes 12:13
2.Col. 3:1-2 (read)
3.Consider the people in John 12:42-43
a.These people believed in Christ and could have, and should have, followed Him.
b.But they sought the approval of man more than God.
4.Contrast that with Moses in Hebrews 11:24-26
a.He had at his disposals the riches, glory, worldly honor and power to be had as part of Pharaoh’s household.
b. But he would rather discard that and suffer affliction with God’s people.
c.The reproach of Christ was far more valuable than the riches of Egypt!
5.Everything we see in this material universe has “death & decay” written all over it!
a.Money, cars, houses, savings, jobs, buildings – all are temporary and will pass.
b.Righteousness, holiness, truth, love – these things remain!
c.ILLUS: many years ago a King in a far country commissioned a man to search his Empire and find a piece of wisdom that the King could have carved in stone – a piece of wisdom that would last forever – the man came back with these words: “This, too, shall pass.”
C. WORLDLINESS can cause us to be discontent
1.1 Timothy 6:6-10 (read)
2.Worldliness and materialism have little to do with amount; they have everything to do with attitude!
3.An undue emphasis on material things can create many problems in serving God!
a.Phil. 3:18-19, For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are enemies of the cross of Christ: Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.
b. 1 Tim. 5:6, But she that liveth in pleasure is dead while she liveth.
D. WORLDINESS can cause us to attach ourselves to Satan’s realm
1.Satan is active in the affairs of this world:
a.“prince of this world” – John 12:31 & John 16:11
b.“god of this world” – 2 Cor. 4:4
c.“prince of the power of the air” – Eph. 2:2
d.a ruler “of the darkness of this world” – Eph. 6:11
2.Remember that the world’s system is contrary to God, and serving Satan.
a.Col. 3:5 (read)
b.Titus 2:11-12 (read)
c.1 John 5:19, …the whole world lieth in wickedness.
3.Consider Acts 5:1-11
CONCLUSION:
A. Worldliness is easily defined: it is a concern about material things rather than spiritual things.
B. Worldliness is easily illustrated: you see it every time you see ungodliness, greed, covetousness, unfaithfulness, immodesty, profanity, self-centerdness, drugs and alcohol, suggestive music, dirty movies, blasphemy, discontentment, & sensuality.
C. We are IN the world, but we are not to be OF the world!
1.1 John 4:4, Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you than he that is in the world.
2. 1 John 5:4, For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.
D. Mathew 16:26, For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?
John M. Brown, Flatwoods church of Christ
P. O. Box 871
Flatwoods, KY 41139
*THESE OUTLINES ARE INTENDED FOR PERSONAL USE – THEY ARE NOT TO BE SOLD OR PRINTED IN BOOK FORM WITHOUT PERMISSION FROM THE AUTHOR