How the Christian views this world is very relevant for believers in every age.It is something that needs to be preached and written about frequently.The Puritan era probably wrote considerably more on this subject than Christians of any other generation.I think they realized that a proper understanding of how to view and relate to this world is an essential component of true godliness(and therefore increased usefulness in advancing the Kingdom and glory of God in one's lifetime).The believers sucess in overcoming the world and seperating themselves from its ungodly philosophies and influences was an extremely high priority for them and should be for us.
What are some of the evidences that we love the world in a manner that the Word of God exorts us against:p.6 "when we set too high a value and estimation on the things of this world".When one's thoughts are much on this world and relatively little on 'the world to come'. ..."when he mourns and laments for the things of the world that are taken from him." When we lose something that we value or treasure mucn,our distress will be greater with the loss of it. "When we are resolved to be rich and will have the world one way or another ." If we are willing to use ungodly means(or compromise Biblical principles in any way)that is a sure sign that we love this world in a manner which the Bible forbids.
William Greenhill offer some excellent Biblical for getting our hearts off the world.Look to eternal things.If our mind ands hearts are inordinately set upon the things of this life,not only will we not be spiritually minded,but we will likely be exceedingly worldly minded.Eternal things will never perish(unlike everything in this life which is transient and subject to decay)and we must pray and labour to set our hearts upon them.'For where your treasure is,there will your heart be also'(Matt.6:21). 'The things which are seen are temporal.but the things which are not seen are eternal'(Icor.4:18b).
Some of the reasons and motives why we should not have our hearts fixed upon the world are expounded in Chap.2 and Chap.5:It is idolatrous,It makes God our enemy,It is hostile to golliness,It leads to apostasy and It steals love from Christ.
Stop Loving The World is the finest overall treatment on this doctrine that I have read.Some other very helpful books and chapters on the subject would be:A Treatise On Earthly Mindedness-Jeremiah Burroughs,The World Conquered By The Faithful Christian-Richard Alleine,A.W.Pink's chapter 'The Chrisitan and The World'in his book Profiting From The Word,The chapter 'The True Chrisitan Who Imitates Christ,Hates His Own Life In This World And Forsakes The World' in John Arndt's book True Chrisitanity and the chapter 'The World' in J.C.Ryle's book Practical Religion and the abridged version(published by Grace Publications)Walking With God.
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