Using The World

by G. Jarvie | Category: Using The World | Jul 1963

"Those that use the world, as not using it to the full (1 Corinthians 7.81, R.V.M.)

Among the many precious things that David said, are his words in 1 Chronicles 29.15, "We are strangers before Thee, and sojourners, as all our fathers were: our days on the earth are as a shadow, and there is no abiding." We also are sojourners ; our citizenship is in heaven. It is good for us to know our right place here, and the right use of earthly things. It is not wise for the Christian to lay up as many good things for himself and as many comforts as he can get, for earthly things can anchor the mind to earth. The Lord said, "Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon the earth, ... for where thy treasure is, there will thy heart be also" (Matthew 6. 19-21).

The world has much to offer us for bodily comforts if we have money to spend, and there is a great temptation to get the best of everything. Paul's words in 1 Corinthians 7.31, are a help to us here. We may use the world, but not to the full. We should be temperate in our use of those earthly things which are available to us, and that for two reasons.

Firstly, it is difficult, and nearly impossible to set our minds on things above if we are surrounded with the best of earthly things, for earthly treasures can fix the mind to earth.

Secondly, what is spent on unnecessary things could very well be used to send out the word of God to some of the needy millions of earth. Treasure used in this way is treasure laid up in heaven (Matthew 6.20).

It is interesting to contrast the lives of David and his son Solomon. Both of them were men who amassed great fortunes during their lives. Solomon had so much gold, that silver was counted of little value; "as stones" (1 Kings 10.27). The chief contrast in them, however, is not how much they possessed, but in how they used it. David set apart all his treasure for the house of his God, and his example was followed by the people. What joy there was at that time in Israel! Read the words of 1 Chronicles 29. David used the world, but not to the full.

Probably Solomon's treasure far exceeded David's, but much of it was used for himself. Read the sad words of Ecclesiastes 2. Solomon used the world to the full. "Whatsoever mine eyes desired: I kept not from them," he wrote. His example was largely imitated by his people, and so we read, "Judah and Israel were many, as the sand which is by the sea in multitude, eating and drinking and making merry" (1 Kings 4.20). They were using the world to the full! How different their merriment was from the joy in David's day, when the congregation "did eat and drink before the LORD on that day with great gladness" (1 Chronicles 29.22).

Oh! let us guard against the seductive pleasures of this world, not only from its cinemas with their uncleanness, and those things that are manifestly wrong, but even from its ease and comforts, and things of art, all of which may lull us to sleep, and make us forget the eternal realities to which we have been called. We marvel at the wisdom of Abraham, who dwelt in a tent, because he looked for the city which hath the foundations, whose builder and maker is God (Hebrews 11.10). There is no doubt that Abraham was wealthy enough to have built himself a very large house, and to have furnished it lavishly, according to the standard of his times, but he was too farsighted for that. The eternal glories were gleaming afar for Abraham. He used the world, but not to the full, not for himself.

We are passing through this world, but, as those who wait the coming of their Lord, let us not use it to the full. Whatever substance the Lord may give us let us put it to an eternal use, remembering that all things come of Him, and we are strangers and sojourners before Him.

G. Jarvie | Jul 1963
Using The World