Worldliness

Worldliness is love for the world and its desires in place of love for God. This page lists verses on not loving the world, not being conformed to it, the cares and riches of this world, lovers of pleasure, pleasures that do not satisfy, and living as strangers in the world.

Love not the world

• 1 John 2:15-17
  ¹⁵Love 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.Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. ¹⁶For 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.For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh, the desires of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not from the Father but from the world. ¹⁷And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.The world is passing away, along with its desires; but whoever does the will of God remains forever.
  Show context · Read 1 John 2 →
• James 4:4
  Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.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.
  Show context · Read James 4 →
• 2 Timothy 4:10
  For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, Titus unto Dalmatia.because Demas, in his love of this world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, and Titus to Dalmatia.
  Show context · Read 2 Timothy 4 →
• John 15:19
  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.If you were of the world, it would love you as its own. Instead, the world hates you, because you are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world.
  Show context · Read John 15 →
• Galatians 6:14
  But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.But as for me, may I never boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.
  Show context · Read Galatians 6 →

Not conformed to this world

• Romans 12:2
  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.Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.
  Show context · Read Romans 12 →
• Ephesians 2:2-3
  ²Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:in which you used to walk when you conformed to the ways of this world and of the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit who is now at work in the sons of disobedience. ³Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.All of us also lived among them at one time, fulfilling the cravings of our flesh and indulging its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature children of wrath.
  Show context · Read Ephesians 2 →
• 1 Peter 1:14
  As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance:As obedient children, do not conform to the passions of your former ignorance.
  Show context · Read 1 Peter 1 →
• Titus 2:12
  Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;It instructs us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live sensible, upright, and godly lives in the present age,
  Show context · Read Titus 2 →
• James 1:27
  Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.Pure and undefiled religion before our God and Father is this: to care for orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.
  Show context · Read James 1 →
• 2 Corinthians 6:17
  Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,“Therefore come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you.”
  Show context · Read 2 Corinthians 6 →

Cares and riches of this world

• Mark 4:18-19
  ¹⁸And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word,Others are like the seeds sown among the thorns. They hear the word, ¹⁹And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth, and the desire for other things come in and choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.
  Show context · Read Mark 4 →
• Luke 8:14
  And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection.The seeds that fell among the thorns are those who hear, but as they go on their way, they are choked by the worries, riches, and pleasures of this life, and their fruit does not mature.
  Show context · Read Luke 8 →
• Matthew 16:26
  For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?What will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?
  Show context · Read Matthew 16 →
• Luke 12:19-21
  ¹⁹And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry.Then I will say to myself, “You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take it easy. Eat, drink, and be merry!”’ ²⁰But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be required of you. Then who will own what you have accumulated?’ ²¹So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.This is how it will be for anyone who stores up treasure for himself but is not rich toward God.”
  Show context · Read Luke 12 →
• 1 Timothy 6:17
  Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy;Instruct those who are rich in the present age not to be conceited and not to put their hope in the uncertainty of wealth, but in God, who richly provides all things for us to enjoy.
  Show context · Read 1 Timothy 6 →

Lovers of pleasure

• 2 Timothy 3:4
  Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;traitorous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,
  Show context · Read 2 Timothy 3 →
• Titus 3:3
  For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another.For at one time we too were foolish, disobedient, misled, and enslaved to all sorts of desires and pleasures—living in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another.
  Show context · Read Titus 3 →
• 1 Timothy 5:6
  But she that liveth in pleasure is dead while she liveth.But she who lives for pleasure is dead even while she is still alive.
  Show context · Read 1 Timothy 5 →
• Proverbs 21:17
  He that loveth pleasure shall be a poor man: he that loveth wine and oil shall not be rich.He who loves pleasure will become poor; the one who loves wine and oil will never be rich.
  Show context · Read Proverbs 21 →
• Isaiah 5:11-12
  ¹¹Woe unto them that rise up early in the morning, that they may follow strong drink; that continue until night, till wine inflame them!Woe to those who rise early in the morning in pursuit of strong drink, who linger into the evening, to be inflamed by wine. ¹²And the harp, and the viol, the tabret, and pipe, and wine, are in their feasts: but they regard not the work of the Lord, neither consider the operation of his hands.At their feasts are the lyre and harp, tambourines and flutes and wine. They disregard the actions of the LORD and fail to see the work of His hands.
  Show context · Read Isaiah 5 →
• James 5:5
  Ye have lived in pleasure on the earth, and been wanton; ye have nourished your hearts, as in a day of slaughter.You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have fattened your hearts in the day of slaughter.
  Show context · Read James 5 →
• Hebrews 11:25
  Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;He chose to suffer oppression with God’s people rather than to experience the fleeting enjoyment of sin.
  Show context · Read Hebrews 11 →

Pleasures that do not satisfy

• Ecclesiastes 2:1
  I said in mine heart, Go to now, I will prove thee with mirth, therefore enjoy pleasure: and, behold, this also is vanity.I said to myself, “Come now, I will test you with pleasure; enjoy what is good!” But it proved to be futile.
  Show context · Read Ecclesiastes 2 →
• Ecclesiastes 2:10-11
  ¹⁰And whatsoever mine eyes desired I kept not from them, I withheld not my heart from any joy; for my heart rejoiced in all my labour: and this was my portion of all my labour.Anything my eyes desired, I did not deny myself. I refused my heart no pleasure. For my heart took delight in all my work, and this was the reward for all my labor. ¹¹Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labour that I had laboured to do: and, behold, all was vanity and vexation of spirit, and there was no profit under the sun.Yet when I considered all the works that my hands had accomplished and what I had toiled to achieve, I found everything to be futile, a pursuit of the wind; there was nothing to be gained under the sun.
  Show context · Read Ecclesiastes 2 →
• Proverbs 14:13
  Even in laughter the heart is sorrowful; and the end of that mirth is heaviness.Even in laughter the heart may ache, and joy may end in sorrow.
  Show context · Read Proverbs 14 →
• Isaiah 55:2
  Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness.Why spend money on that which is not bread, and your labor on that which does not satisfy? Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good, and your soul will delight in the richest of foods.
  Show context · Read Isaiah 55 →

Strangers in the world

• 1 Peter 2:11
  Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;Beloved, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from the desires of the flesh, which war against your soul.
  Show context · Read 1 Peter 2 →
• Hebrews 11:13
  These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.All these people died in faith, without having received the things they were promised. However, they saw them and welcomed them from afar. And they acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth.
  Show context · Read Hebrews 11 →
• Philippians 3:19-20
  ¹⁹Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.)Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and their glory is in their shame. Their minds are set on earthly things. ²⁰For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:But our citizenship is in heaven, and we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ,
  Show context · Read Philippians 3 →
• Colossians 3:1-2
  ¹If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.Therefore, since you have been raised with Christ, strive for the things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. ²Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.
  Show context · Read Colossians 3 →
• John 17:15-16
  ¹⁵I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil.I am not asking that You take them out of the world, but that You keep them from the evil one. ¹⁶They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.
  Show context · Read John 17 →
• Hebrews 13:14
  For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come.For here we do not have a permanent city, but we are looking for the city that is to come.
  Show context · Read Hebrews 13 →

See also

• Greed
• Money
• Holiness
• Contentment
• Self-denial

Notes

1. Verses are quoted in the translation chosen in the Translation menu at the top of the page. See Translations for sources and copyright notices.
2. Each reference links to the full chapter so the verse can be read in context.