Chapter 4: The World's Values

Chapter 4:  The World’s Values  

“Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world.  If any man loves 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.  And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth forever: (I John 2:15-17)

Clearly the “worlds” values should not be those of a Christian woman, however because we are forced to live in the “world” (so to speak) we are regularly subjected to the “World’s Values”.  Once we become adult’s, we should realize that “peer pressure” doesn’t stop just because we have finished school.  It is an ever present evil that nag’s especially to those with a low self esteem.  Others were around on a daily basis (weather on our jobs, or those through Media outlets such as Television, radio, Magazines etc are all trying to influence you to become what they believe in.  These all pull at our weakness’s to try & make of think we need to change & be more like “them”.

As Christian’s we must always remember the warning from  the above passage of 1 John 2:15-17

          Lust of the Eyes -  (the scripture list “lust of the flesh” first, but I chose to mention “Lust of the eyes” first because it is often THROUGH this lust of the Eye, that we fall into the other “Lust” mentioned.

Our hearts are filled through the path of the eyes.  What we see (and hear) goes into our hearts.  So we must be careful to recognize those things that are not pleasing unto God and shield out heart from them.  Don’t allow those things that “look good” to fill your heart & cloud your spiritual judgment.  These will cause us to take actions that are not pleasing to our path to God. (Examples could be: keeping up with the neighbors (from # of kids or what your kids do to the “man of your house” to materialism)

Lust of the Flesh - is a sinful actions brought about because of fleshly desires.  Sinful because it goes against God’s commands but fleshly because it is simply pleasing to “one’s self”, because of our lack of self discipline, allowing us to take action upon it.  The actions itself does not necessarily have to be a sin (going to an amusement park as opposed to adultery), however if that non sinful desire causes you to go against God’s command, still causing you to sin, it is a lust of the flesh.  Remember Jesus’ parable of the sower, we will eventually reap what we sow and Matthew 16: Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. (KJV) 

           Pride of Life - A strong Christian should find fulfillment in pleasing God. Whether a stay at home mom or a career driven supper mom who still puts God & her family first,  Don’t allow what others define you as, be who you are.  Each person has some quality that could be desiring to another.  Let those things that “stand out” about you be the type of thing that will make others be a stronger more faithful person/Christian.  Don’t “desire the praise of men more than the praise of God (John 12:43)

The opposite of Pride is humility!  The highest form of fulfillment comes from unselfishly giving yourself away. (See Phil 2:3-4)  Prides focuses our attention on ourselves while humility focuses our attention on others.  The person who is busy doing God’s will, God’s work, has no time to focus on themselves because all of their time & attention is devoted to service God through serving others.

Conclusion:  As Christian women, we have been “set apart”, we are called and are chosen.  Others may try to influence us to become what they believe in but as Christian Women, we must strive on a daily basis to influence others to become what we believe in…., which is what God has called us to do.