The term "worldly-minded" refers to an attitude or disposition that prioritizes the values, desires, and pursuits of the secular world over spiritual or godly concerns. This mindset is often characterized by a focus on material wealth, social status, and personal pleasure, rather than on spiritual growth, obedience to God, and eternal matters.

Biblical Context and Usage

The Bible frequently warns against being worldly-minded, emphasizing the conflict between worldly desires and spiritual devotion. In the New Testament, the Apostle Paul addresses this issue in his letters to the early churches. In Romans 12:2 , Paul exhorts believers, "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind." This verse highlights the need for Christians to resist the pressures and temptations of worldly thinking and instead seek transformation through a renewed mind aligned with God's will.

James, the brother of Jesus, also speaks to the dangers of worldliness. In James 4:4 , he writes, "You adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore, whoever chooses to be a friend of the world renders himself an enemy of God." Here, James uses strong language to convey the seriousness of aligning oneself with worldly values, equating it to spiritual infidelity.

Characteristics of Worldly-mindedness

1. Materialism: A preoccupation with acquiring wealth and possessions is a hallmark of worldly-mindedness. Jesus warns against this in Matthew 6:19-21 , where He instructs, "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven... For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

2. Pride and Ambition: The pursuit of personal glory and status often accompanies a worldly mindset. In 1 John 2:16 , the apostle John describes "the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life" as being of the world, not of the Father.

3. Sensuality and Pleasure-seeking: A focus on gratifying the desires of the flesh is another aspect of worldliness. Paul warns in Galatians 5:19-21 about the "acts of the flesh," which include "sexual immorality, impurity, and debauchery," urging believers to live by the Spirit instead.

Spiritual Implications

Worldly-mindedness poses a significant threat to spiritual growth and maturity. It can lead to a divided heart, where allegiance to God is compromised by competing loyalties. Jesus addresses this in Matthew 6:24 , stating, "No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money."

The Apostle Paul further elaborates on the spiritual consequences in 1 Corinthians 3:1-3 , where he expresses concern for the Corinthian believers, saying, "Brothers, I could not address you as spiritual, but as worldly—as infants in Christ. I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for solid food. In fact, you are still not ready, for you are still worldly."

Call to Spiritual-mindedness

The antidote to worldly-mindedness is a life centered on Christ and His teachings. Colossians 3:1-2 encourages believers, "Since you have been raised with Christ, strive for the things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things." This call to focus on heavenly realities serves as a guiding principle for Christians seeking to overcome the allure of the world.

In summary, the Bible consistently warns against the dangers of being worldly-minded, urging believers to cultivate a mindset that prioritizes spiritual values and eternal truths over temporal and material concerns.(a.) Devoted to worldly interests; mindful of the affairs of the present life, and forgetful of those of the future; loving and pursuing this world's goods, to the exclusion of piety and attention to spiritual concerns.5591. psuchikos -- natural, of the soul or mind
... Word Origin from psuche Definition natural, of the soul or mind NASB Word
Usage natural (5), worldly-minded (1). natural, sensual. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5591.htm - 8k

Second Great Group of Parables.
... [That is to say, the steward, a worldly-minded rascal, knew better how to deal with
a worldly-minded master above him and dishonest tenants beneath him, than a ...
/.../mcgarvey/the four-fold gospel/xcii second great group of 5.htm

Worldly Business no Plea for the Neglect of Religion
... the inhabitants with this; but rather as he passed by and observed the tenor of
their life, say, I perceive in all things ye are two worldly-minded; ye are too ...
/.../selected sermons of george whitefield/worldly business no plea for.htm

The Date of the Beginning of Noonday.
... The materials for a hierarchy having been prepared it was no difficult thing for
a set of worldly-minded bishops, countenanced by a prince, to put them together ...
//christianbookshelf.org/orr/the gospel day /chapter i the date of.htm

Spiritual Declension.
... about little things. He is anxious to please everybody and can not bear
to thwart the wishes of the worldly-minded. If the world ...
/.../orr/food for the lambs or helps for young christians/spiritual declension.htm

Anxious Care
... The one is the sin of the worldly-minded rich man, the other is the sin of the
worldly-minded poor man. The character is the same in both, turned inside out! ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture a/anxious care.htm

Home-Example.
... If we are professors of religion, and they see us worldly-minded, grasping after
riches, pleasures and honors; the dupes of ungodly fashion, manifesting a ...
//christianbookshelf.org/philips/the christian home/chapter xx home-example.htm

Doing Glory to God in Pursuits of the World.
... for them. Here we see the difference of motive with which a religious
and a worldly-minded man may do the same thing. Suppose a ...
/.../newman/parochial and plain sermons vol viii/sermon xi doing glory to.htm

Samuel, the Child of Prayer
... Would a worldly home, with worldly surroundings, separated from the Church of God,
with a worldly-minded mother, have produced such a character as Samuel? ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/bounds/prayer and praying men/ix samuel the child of.htm

A Preservative against Unsettled Notions, and Want of Principles ...
... should prompt him to dissuade such of his friends or acquaintance, as he wishes
to have for companions, and countenancers of his worldly-minded pursuits, from ...
/.../a preservative against unsettled notions.htm

The Christian Aim and Motive.
... The first may be called an error of worldly-minded men, the other an error
of mistaken religionists. Worldly-minded men"men that ...
/.../robertson/sermons preached at brighton/xii the christian aim and.htm

Worldly-minded (1 Occurrence)
Worldly-minded. Worldly, Worldly-minded. Worlds . Noah Webster's Dictionary ...
Multi-Version Concordance Worldly-minded (1 Occurrence). ...
/w/worldly-minded.htm - 6k

Worldly (25 Occurrences)

/w/worldly.htm - 13k

Leah (30 Occurrences)
... of deep-rooted piety and therefore better suited to become instrumental in carrying
out the plans of Yahweh than her handsome, but worldly-minded, sister Rachel ...
/l/leah.htm - 19k

Worlds (3 Occurrences)

/w/worlds.htm - 7k

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