Bible Reading: Nehemiah 1: 2 Timothy 4:9-16
“For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, Titus unto Dalmatia” – 2 Tim 4:10 (KJV).
The scripture clearly warns us not to love the world. By love for the world it means the evil system of this world, the worldly lifestyle that is opposed to the kingdom. The scripture defines all that are in the world as the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life and strictly warns that these are not of the father but of the world and the world passes away with its lusts.
The three major battles the believer has to fight are battles against the control of the flesh, against worldliness and against satanic forces. Demas abandoned Paul in the mission field because of his love for the worldly things. It could be love for material acquisition or worldly lifestyle; it could also be peer group pressure or carnal traits. Demas once loved the Lord and was passionate for the work of ministry but along the line, he allowed the appeal for the worldly things to draw on his passion for God and for ministry resulting to his abandoning Apostle Paul in the mission field.
This explains the need to guard our hearts so as not to be so engrossed with material things and loose focus and passion. While material things like money and other things can give us comfort and pleasure, we should be careful not to abuse them by making these things our main pursuit. The scriptures admonish us to seek first the kingdom of God and its righteousness that all other things will be added unto us.
PRAYER: Lord, protect my heart from worldliness in Jesus name.
Rev. Vincent Diolu