Wordliness

After David's episode of immorality, murder and deception he found himself begging God to restore his joy. "Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation...." (Psalm 51:12) When Naomi returned from her long journey of pride and selfishness rather than trusting in God, she said, "Call me not Naomi, call me Mara, for the Almighty hath dealt very bitterly with me." (Ruth 1:20) Peter's worldly associates at Pilate's judgement hall prompted him to curse and deny Jesus, and he, as well, lost his joy for the Scriptures tell us that he went out and wept bitterly. Worldliness is much like the beautiful green ivy that wraps itself around the big oak tree. While we admire its attractiveness it draws the sap from the tree and thus causes the branches to be malnourished, wither and die.
Worldliness is a parasite that robs us of the joy of the Lord. It is a damper that quenches our zeal for Him. Just like a bucket of water thrown on a brightly burning flame, worldliness immediately reduces the holy fire of zeal for the Lord to a smoldering ash. John Wesley said, "Anything that cools my love for Christ and takes off my spiritual edge is of the world, and that is sin to me."
Far too many christians instead of "Come see my zeal for the Lord" could say, "Come see my zeal for the world."

"Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love 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." 1 John 2:15-17