Tuesday, August 11, 2009

Using the World

In 1 Corinthians 7:31 there is an interesting concept. It's missed in the translation I use, but is captured more accurately in several others. The NASB translates the verse: "...and those who use the world, as though they did not make full use of it; for the form of this world is passing away." This "full use" seems to imply an abuse, as other translations make clear.

It is this concept of using the world without abusing it that intrigues me. Today there will be many aspects and benefits of the world that will come across my path. I have at least three options when they do:
1. Non-use. This option is often chosen by the ascetic types among us. These are those who view the stuff of this world as being bad. They may not realize it but they have more in common with pagans in this point of view than they do with Christians. The idea that created things in this world are bad; things like food and work and making money and sports and music and drink and sex and the internet and TV and whatever else might have made the various taboo lists people have, is simply a bad idea. It's not true. God made all these things or gave man the ability to make them. So unless you're ready to say that God makes bad stuff, you'd better recant any notion that stuff is bad. It's as simple as that. (Let me qualify just enough to say that if you are one who has a hard time with addictions/bondage to stuff or pleasures or drink or food, the rules are a bit different for you. The Bible says things like "Flee temptation" and it means it. Stay clear and don't play with fire.)

2. Abuse. This option is often chosen by the free-spirited types; those that are allergic to rules and boundaries, and just feel that they can do what they please when they please. These too are more pagan than Christian and need to repent of their lawlessness real soon or find themselves on the wrong side of heaven's gates.

3. Right use. The Apostle advocates the right use of the stuff and pleasures and good things of the world .


But what is the right use of the world? That, I think, is a very good question; a question worth pondering. The right use of the world's stuff and pleasures obviously includes a use of them in compliance with God's Law. That's a given, or at least ought to be.

But in addition to that I'd suggest that a right use of the world's stuff and pleasures is any use that:
1. Increases joy, gratitude and love for the Giver more than the gift (Psalm 104:1-31; 1 Tim 4:1-5).
2. Balances out the tasks and duties of life with glad-hearted enjoyment of earth's simple pleasures (Eccles. 5:18, 19)
3. Builds bridges to the world for evangelism (1 Cor 10:27; Jesus ate and drank with sinners)
4. Adds spice and pleasure to married life. (Proverbs 5:18, 19; Song of Solomon; 1 Corinthians 7:3-5)
6. Makes a profit in order to be able to give more! (Eph 4:28)

I'm sure more could be added, but I'll, leave it at that. Interesting that in the middle of a joyful austerity month-long experiment in which I'm simply trying to get close to a need-only way of life, God should lead me to think on the right place and use of the things of this world. These things may not be needed for mere physical survival but they may be part of an over-all healthy life on planet earth, as God defines that.

Any thoughts?

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5 Comments:

Blogger Bruce said...

Well, my intial thought is----hard to argue with that.

It seems to me that you have succinctly captured the Biblical perspective. We are prone to so easily fall off the edge here in either direction, both on the non-use side (Platonism in Christian garb), or the abuse side (worldliness, in its negative meaning, in Christian garb). The right use of the world (worldliness, one might say, in the positive and right sense) in our present state, with remaining sin within warring against us and decieving us, is a difficult thing. But, I think you are helpfully and accurately setting forth the model God is calling us to, and we need to live under the Bible's authority here and not take what might be the easy and simplistic way out.

Any further thoughts here would be very helpful, I am sure.

August 11, 2009 at 5:49 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

God made the tree of life but said dont eat of it.it is good but forbiden.if your saved you conconse/the HolySpirt works in your life and then you know Gods will

August 11, 2009 at 7:53 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

today i was doing household chores and listing to the ipod that has messages downloaded from the computer from my pastor - a perfect example of using the things in the world for Godly purposes - cealy

August 11, 2009 at 9:39 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Anonymous one suggests that even though something is good there may still be times when God forbids it. This is true.

God forbids us from using a good thing in the world for a few reasons:
1. When we have a problem with habitual overindulgence (what is often called addiction), In such cases we have to flee temptations.
2. When our use of something in the world may provide a very real occasion for someone struggling with #1 to stumble into sin. I'm to say no to the things of the world if I'm with a brother who is enslaved or trying to break the bondage of addiction to that thing. If my right use leads to another's wrong use, I must abstain.
3. When we have this world's goods and see another in need. To be indulging much of this world when others barely have any, is sin.
4. When for purposes of prayer and seeking the face and will of God for life and ministry, there is need for temporary fasting and doing without.

All that said, we still must be sure to realize that "God has given us all things richly to enjoy" (1 Tim. 6). We all have a spiritual duty to enjoy God's good gifts, and to live life in the pleasure which each moment supplies, so long as we keep self-control and the love of others in mind.

This I think is the clear teaching of books like Ecclesiastes, sections of Proverbs, 1 Tim. 4 and 6, 1 Cor 8, 10: and more.

Tim

August 12, 2009 at 5:50 AM  
Blogger Bruce said...

As I was musing on this a bit further it occured to me that God may call an individual, for His own sovereign purpose, to a life of legitimate non-use of this world (e.g. John the Baptizer), or he may call an individual, again for His own sovereign purpose, to a non-use of this world for a period of time (e.g. see Paul in Phil. 4:12-13----brought low, hunger, need), even while the normative Christian life as Biblically defined is a right use of the world's things. In fact it is never to go beyond the right use of the world. God never calls us to a wrong use, or abuse, of this world.Thought I should add this qualifier to my previous comments.

August 12, 2009 at 10:22 AM  

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