The more you love the things of this world, the less you will delight in God. If the things of this world are more desirable to you than God’s Word, it’s time to reassess your commitment to Christ. When we come to Jesus, our old ways and desires pass away (2 Corinthians 5:17). We become a new creation with new desires and priorities. For most, this doesn’t happen overnight.
We are creatures of habit, and we will not shed our sinful nature until Christ glorifies us with Him in Heaven. This means as long as we are on earth, we will continue to struggle against temptation (Romans 7:18-20). But those who have repented for their sins and bow before Christ as Lord will see a definite change in their affections. More and more, Christ-followers will find themselves drawn to the things of Heaven over the things of this world (Colossians 3:1-2).
To desire God’s Word over any of the various forms of pleasure, entertainment, and relaxation offered by society will not be deemed acceptable by the culture. They will ridicule, persecute, and ostracize you for standing with the eternal God over the god of this age (2 Timothy 3:12). It will cost you friendships and relationships. As I’ve mentioned before, I don’t have a long list of friends because most who have been my friends in the past are too attached to the pleasures of life rather than the abiding joy of Christ. We have nothing in common any longer. I’m sad to say this goes for both those who don’t claim to know Jesus, and for those who do.
I’m not saying you can’t have interests or hobbies that aren’t found in Scripture. God gives each of us unique skills, talents, and personalities, and you should express them to their fullest extent—so long as they are used to bring glory to God (1 Corinthians 10:31). Can you find a way to glorify God with your habits, interests, or entertainment choices? If not, then it’s time to get some new habits, desires, and entertainment choices! We were created to worship and glorify God (1 Peter 2:9). That is the point of our lives. One day, the Lord will ask us to give an account of how well we did that (Romans 14:11-12). Are the things filling your time going to give you a worthy answer for Jesus on that day?
At some point, you are going to recognize that you’re running out of time. Death comes for us all, and more often than not, sooner than we ever expected (James 4:14). Putting anything off until tomorrow is a horrible plan because none of us knows if we will even have a tomorrow (Proverbs 27:1). If you want to change your life, you must do it today. Today is all we’re guaranteed to have.
Are you living for the things of this world or living to glorify God? Would you rather watch a movie or read God’s Word? Hang out with friends or share Christ with someone who doesn’t know Him? Does it tear you apart when you sin? Time is running out and we will all meet Jesus when that time is up. If you love Him, you will hate the things of this world (1 John 2:15). Don’t wait another hour to repent. Turn away from all this world offers and surrender your life to the Lordship of Jesus Christ (Luke 9:23-24). Make sure you don’t spend your life devoted to the things of this world. Every one of them will die with you. Only what you’ve done with Jesus will remain (Matthew 6:19-20).