This world is a beautiful place of abode, given to us to maintain and nurture by God. However, over the centuries man has almost turned it into a den of iniquity, during their chase for earthly riches and in promoting their own pride over their earthly accomplishments. Why??

Why spend a lifetime chasing earthly riches? As is said in Matthew 19:24, “…It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” Also this chase often brings forth many sins such as greed, envy, dishonesty and thievery. This also leads to trampling others underfoot as people try to make more gains. How can this ever be right?

Then we come to pride. As an old adage states, “pride comes before a fall.” So what do we really have to be prideful about? Is it because we are rich? Is it because we are born in a certain country, (patriotism)? Or maybe it is because we think we are better educated than others? So let us look at these questions in more depth.

Pride

Are we prideful because we are rich? Where is the reason for having pride in being rich? For any of us to be rich someone has to get hurt along the way! Even if you were born into riches have you ever considered how your predecessors acquired those riches which you inherit? Who they may have trampled underfoot to get to those riches? We may not have been the ones doing the trampling but having pride in those riches which we enjoy would be condoning the forcing of others down into the dirt. Also, as I have previously stated Matthew 19:24 says, “…It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God”

patriotism.

Is there really a reason for any of us to be prideful of living in a specific country? What makes us proud to live in the country that we live in? It is only society that deems we should be prideful of our mother country and its achievements. Being patriotic is what society, (more specifically, governments), want you to be because it then makes them feel like the wars that the country has fought in the past are justified. It lets everyone know that we are appreciative of their efforts to enrich the country regardless of the underhand methods they may use. Personally this is not a justifiable reason to be patriotic! Besides, it is clearly stated in the Bible that we are all equal in the eyes of God so why do we feel the need to portray otherwise? As you can clearly see though, the world sets such high value in these sinful ways and society has become its enforcer.

All in all we are born into a world full of bigotry, hate, jealousy, greed and pride so how can we live a ‘godly’ existence in this world?

The answer is to be found in a variety of places. Firstly in John 17:14-17 where Jesus suggests that we be in the world but not a part of it. This means that although we are living on this world we do not need to hanker after all the riches that it offers or to conform to the corrupt will of society in general.

Also, secondly, we can find the relevant guidance to this end in Matthew 22:36 “Jesus said unto him, ‘Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. 37. This is the first and greatest commandment. 38. And the second is like unto it; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.'”

There is the old adage which says,

“treat others as you would want them to treat you.”

This suggests that we should treat everyone with deference and humility.

It would be great to think that one day we be able to live here on this world without the unwarranted disciplines of the current social standards, we must all learn to follow the scriptural teachings to ensure that we do not remain a part of this world although we are living in it.

Let us each be a small beacon of light, in a world of perpetual darkness, that others may follow. So that where we get together we can create a bigger light for all to see.