“And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” (Romans 12:2)
I want to let you in on a little secret, this verse at its beginning is not possible to achieve, you will want, you will desire, you will covet, and because of that at times you will envy, feel jealousy, even frustration and anger because some have more than you do, a finer this or a fancier that.
When Paul said that he had learned to be content, most people envision him in one of those many jail cells, few read carefully and consider when he says the word “abounding.” There is a progression, so to speak, in the minds of many who have been born-again of what life is to be like, a cheap vehicle when they are young, a small apartment, clothes from the secondhand store and then as life progresses, a fairly new vehicle, large comfortable house and clothes made to fit. Upward mobility is the name that has been given to that progression by the world, and by the sweat of our brow we spend half a century or more attempting to achieve it.
But then comes the other part of our opening verse’s first words, being conformed to the world now brings the fear of possibly losing all one has spent all those decades obtaining. “If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.” (John 15:19)
I am going to let you know another little secret, you are going to lose everything that you have attained, someone else is going to own all that you worked so long and hard to get.
When King Solomon understood this, he said, “I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and vexation of spirit.” (Eccl. 1:14) In other words, he became very depressed. He built cities just for gold, cities just for precious stones, treasure houses just for someone else to have one day.
“Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.” (Psalm 37:4)
So these desires, if you have been blessed to see past the materialistic items of the world, what are they? Do those thoughts now gravitate towards family members and friends that you love dearly, towards their health and welfare, or perhaps toward your own physical needs, to live a long life free from pain and suffering? Is this also not of the world?
“But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” (Matt. 6:33)
Does not the context speak of at least some of the things of the world, those that keep us alive and functioning? There is a state of mind, a Spiritual state of mind in that not conforming but is being transformed that is our responsibility to seek for, it is the Holy Spirit that brings truth, we must in humility apply it.
The nicer house just to lose, the desires fulfilled that we know are only temporary, holding on tightly to that which will be owned one day by someone else, this is not the path we are to be on. “And Jesus said unto him, Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.” (Luke 9:58)
The covetousness we all experience, “Be not desirous of his dainties: for they are deceitful meat.” (Prov. 23:3)
Holding on as long as possible to what we have in this world, “For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?” (Mark 8:36)
I wonder about the thoughts of the man as he penned, “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.” (Eccl. 12:13) Was he despondent as he looked out over all that he possessed and knew it was going to belong to another, or did he relish in the knowledge of the truth he had been shown?
King Solomon’s life did not end well, he kept searching for more even after these words were written, and the Almighty was not pleased with him.
From desire, to possessing, to fear of losing, no matter what it is, that is conforming to this world. What are we to do then? “But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:” (Matt. 6:20)
Can you let go today and do that?