WORLDLINESS by W. H. Ball

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jul 30, 1861

WORLDLINESS.

By W. H. Ball

Although much has been said and written upon this subject, it remains none the less true to-day than it ever has been, that worldliness is one of the greatest sins of the age. It is the great withering sirocco which blasts both the tender shrub, and the robust tree of religious growth. This know also, says the apostle, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, &c. We might infer from the catalogue of sins which the apostle has here told us would prevail to an alarming extent in the last days, that covetousness would be the greatest, as he has placed it nearly in front. Be this as it may, it is a fact that nowhere in the history of the world have men ever been so covetous as at the present day. There never has been that reaching out and grasping for the things of the world as at the present time. The power of the enemy never was so great. There seems to be almost an irresistible influence or power drawing us out after the world,—an influence that will require an effort to resist.

I have often thought that there is nothing which the enemy can make use of so successfully to accomplish his purposes as to get us to love this world, and it seems that he has concentrated all his forces to this one point, to influence the minds of God's people to set their affections upon things here on the earth. If he succeeds in this he knows he has them completely within his grasp. It is truly astonishing that we who profess to believe that we are living in the last days, in the closing up of the gospel dispensation, who are looking for the speedy coming of the Son of man from heaven, should be grasping with such eagerness after the perishing things of earth; but such is the fact with hundreds. Many seem to wonder why it is that they feel so little interest in the cause of present truth; that they are so indifferent, cold, stupid, and unfeeling. They don't seem to understand the cause of all this, nor to discover where the difficulty lies, when it is a fact, plain to be seen, that the great trouble with many lies here—they have got the world right between them and the kingdom. Their whole being is absorbed in the things of earth. We should remember that we cannot serve God and mammon.

I do believe from my own experience and daily observation, that this one sin (covetousness) will shut as many souls out of the kingdom as anything else besides. And I have sometimes thought that unless the Lord in his providence should bring about something to wean his professed people from the world, he would find but little faith upon the earth when he comes.

Truly we are living in perilous times, and we shall do well to take heed to the Saviour's admonition, which has a special application to those living down here in these last days: Take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. Luke xxi, 34.

I believe the time has fully come when Sabbath-keepers should be as free from the cares and responsibilities of life as possible; but many so lay their plans that instead of their cares diminishing, they are continually increasing. Let us beware, dear brethren, of covetousness, which is idolatry. Be not deceived. Inspiration is explicit on this point. It plainly declares that if any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. Let us not then for a moment flatter ourselves with the vain thought that we are serving God, and have a treasure in heaven, while our affections are wholly engrossed with the things of earth; for it has been truly said that where our treasure is, there will our hearts be also. Is it not a lamentable fact, brethren and sisters, that the world has occupied too large a place in our hearts? many times even to the exclusion of Christ? Religion has been too much a secondary work. Have we not manifested more anxiety and concern for what we should eat, drink, and wear, than we have for our soul's eternal interest? I fear this has been too much the case; but I am confident that until God's professed people manifest as much earnestness and zeal in the cause of God, as they do to obtain the perishing things of earth, all their efforts to obtain eternal life will prove fruitless. Take heed, said Jesus, and beware of covetousness; for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth. Luke xii, 15.

W. H. BALL.

Washington, N. H.