Fruitful Living
The Christians relationship to the world
Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. – 1 John2:15-16
INTRODUCTION
The term “world”, often refers to the vast world system that exists independent of God (that is when we go out of our way without regard for God) and basically opposed to Him. It is how things in the world have operated ever since the first humans gave in to Satan’s temptation, disobeyed God and brought the curse of sin upon all of creation.
As a result of defying God, humankind gave up the authority over creation that God had originally delegated to them. Satan then seized control and began to dominate human endeavours (ideas and efforts) with his evil purposes.
This means that the “world” in its present condition is characterized not only by wicked immoral and selfish lifestyles, but also by a spirit of rebellion and indifference (apathy, unresponsiveness, lack of concern) toward God and His revelation. This attitude is characteristic of all humans and human endeavours that are not submitted to Christ’s leadership and authority.
Consequently, Satan uses the world’s ideas of morality, its philosophies and its social customs to oppose God, His people, His Word and His standards. Most of these issues and areas of life are not evil in and of themselves, yet Satan will work through any or all of them to promote taking lives, as with abortion, or educational systems may be used to nurture in students an ungodly and humanistic philosophy.
Or more subtly, the clothing industry can be greatly used to promote general habits of dress that would definitely bring shame and offense to those who live according to the standards given by God for His people. Christians must be aware that behind all human endeavours, apart from God, there is a spirit of power that moves against God and His Word in varying degrees.
Finally the “world” also includes all unbiblical religious systems and organizations that use the name of Christ or His family of believers, yet teach and encourage lifestyles contrary to God’s true church standards of holiness that are given in His Word.
IMPORTANT THINGS TO NOTE ABOUT THE “WORLD”
- Satan is the god of the present world system; he controls it, along with a host of evil spirits who work their destruction under his limited authority.
- Satan has long had a foothold in the world’s political, cultural, economic and religious systems that are inherently hostile toward God and His people. These systems and those who are part of them refuse to submit to God’s truth, which exposes their evil.
- The world and the true church (all genuine followers of Christ) are two distinct groups of people. The world is under Satan’s authority and control; the church belongs exclusively to God. For this reason, true believers must separate themselves from the ungodliness and corruption of the world.
- In the world, God’s people are aliens and strangers, simply passing through on the way to their true home with God.
They do not belong to the world, but are called out from it. As a result, they no longer conform to the world’s pattern. Instead, they despise the world’s evil, die to the world (become unresponsive to its influences) and are liberated from the world. Through a relationship with Christ, God’s people overcome the world and its evil.
Loving the world is a form of spiritual adultery and unfaithfulness that defiles our relationship with God and leads to spiritual destruction. It is impossible to love the world and God the Father at the same time. To love the world means to be closely related to and associated with its beliefs, behaviours and customs. It means being devoted to or accepting of its values, interests, practices and pleasures. It involves taking pleasure in or enjoying what is common in the world, but is offensive to God. While we are to hate the corrupt ways of the world, we also are to demonstrate God’s compassion for people who are spiritually lost, caught up in the world’s evil and blinded by Satan’s deception. - Three aspects of the sinful world create open hostility to God and promote defiance against His Word:
“The cravings of sinful man”: this includes spiritually impure and immoral desires and the pursuit of sinful pleasures and sensual gratification (satisfaction in selfish and ungodly ways)
“The lust of the eyes”: this refers to coveting (desiring what belongs to someone else) or lusting for things that are appealing to the eye but forbidden by God or outside of His perfect plan. This includes the desire to read, listen to or watch things that offer immoral pleasure and promote ungodly ideas. In the present modern age, this includes being entertained by watching pornography, violence, ungodly conduct, nudity or immoral behaviour portrayed on a wide range of media).
“The boasting of what he has and does”: This refers to an attitude of subtle pride and arrogance that often comes with wealth, material blessings, positions of power, personal achievements, honours or other apparent successes. This can lead to a feeling of self-sufficiency that does not recognize God as Lord or His Word as the final authority. This attitude of the human spirit seeks to exalt, honour and promote oneself in life. It is the opposite of submission to God and His Word, and it defies the spirit of humility demonstrated by Jesus and required of His true followers. - Christ’s followers must not be in close companionship with those who participate in the world’s evil system and corruption. Christians must be spiritual salt and light to the world, reflecting God’s character and love so that those who are lost in the spiritual darkness of the world can see the hope that is found only through a relationship with Christ.
- From the world, a true Christian will experience trouble, hatred, persecution and suffering. By various forms of temptations, enticements and attractions of the world, Satan makes a determined effort to destroy the life of God in the Christian and to ruin his or her relationship with Christ.
- The world system is temporary and will eventually be destroyed by God. Even now, it is in the process of passing away.
CONCLUSION
By contrast, God values self-control, a spirit of generosity, and a commitment to humble service. It is possible to give the impression of avoiding worldly pleasures while still harboring worldly attitudes in one’s heart. It is also possible, like Jesus, to love sinners and spend time with them while maintaining a commitment to the values of God’s Kingdom. What values are most important to us? Do our actions reflect the world’s values or God’s values?
Stay blessed!
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Fruitful Living
Has man lost the essence of his creation? A reflective call to rediscover our divine purpose (Part 1)
Introduction: Rediscoveringour purpose
Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds. We praise Him, seek His help and forgiveness, and ask for His mercy. May the peace and blessings of Allah be upon our noble Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), his family, his companions, and all those who follow his guidance until the Day of Judgment.
In today’s increasingly materialistic and turbulent world, a profound question echoes louder than ever: Has man lost the essence of his creation? It is a question that compels every thinking soul to pause and reflect deeply.
In the midst of scientific breakthroughs, booming technology, and economic pursuits, we must ask ourselves: are we fulfilling the sacred purpose for which we were created? Are we still living as stewards of Allah on earth, or have we strayed from our divine assignment?
This article explores the Qur’anic foundation of man’s creation, the noble position he holds, and the deviation from this divine path in modern times. It further calls for a return to spiritual consciousness and outlines practical steps to help realign mankind with his intended purpose.
Man: Allah’s Vicegerent on Earth
The Qur’an states: “And when your Lord said to the angels, ‘Indeed, I will make upon the earth a vicegerent (Khalifah)…’” (Surah Al-Baqarah, 2:30).
This declaration marks the beginning of man’s honorable journey on earth. Mankind was created from clay, as recorded in Surah Al-Hijr:
“And We did certainly create man out of clay from an altered black mud. And the jinn We created before from scorching fire. And [mention] when your Lord said to the angels, ‘I will create a human being out of clay from an altered black mud.’ So when I have proportioned him and breathed into him of My [created] soul, then fall down to him in prostration.” (Surah Al-Hijr, 15:26-29).
This prostration of angels was not to worship Adam, but to recognize the honor Allah had bestowed upon man. It signified a spiritual hierarchy in which man, though of earthly origin, carries a divine trust and responsibility.
Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) emphasized this dignity. He taught that every human is born upon the natural disposition (fitrah) and bears the potential to fulfill their purpose as a servant of Allah and custodian of His creation.
The Purpose of Creation
Allah did not create man in vain. The Qur’an states clearly: “And I did not create the jinn and mankind except to worship Me.” (Surah Adh-Dhariyat, 51:56).
“And they were not commanded except to worship Allah, [being] sincere to Him in religion, inclining to truth, and to establish prayer and to give zakah. And that is the correct religion.” (Surah Al-Bayyinah, 98:5).
Another profound verse underscores that life was not created aimlessly:
“And We did not create the heaven and the earth and that between them aimlessly. That is the assumption of those who disbelieve, so woe to those who disbelieve from the Fire.”(Surah Sad, 38:27).
These verses convey that creation is intentional, meaningful, and divinely ordained. The essence of man’s creation lies in his recognition of Allah, his conscious submission to the Divine Will, and his dedication to a life of worship, service, and ethical living.
Worship in Islam is not confined to rituals alone but extends to every aspect of human existence—how we earn, govern, lead our families, engage with society, and preserve the environment. Every righteous deed done with sincerity for Allah’s pleasure becomes an act of worship.
Imam Al-Ghazali explains in Ihya Ulum al-Din that true worship stems from knowledge of Allah and a heart that submits lovingly to His will. Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyyah likewise stresses that man’s highest honor lies in fulfilling the purpose of servitude (`ubudiyyah) to Allah, which brings inner peace and divine elevation.
Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) demonstrated this perfect balance of worship and engagement in worldly affairs. He was a husband, a leader, a statesman, and a worshipper who said: “The most beloved deeds to Allah are the most consistent, even if they are few.”
(Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith 6464)
Living in harmony with this divine purpose not only brings personal fulfillment but also collective peace. Conversely, neglecting it results in moral confusion, injustice, and spiritual emptiness.
Therefore, recognizing and living by our purpose is not a luxury but a necessity. It is the key to real success in this life and salvation in the Hereafter.
By Imam Alhaji Saeed Abdulai, the Author
Fruitful Living
Trusting God with our anxieties (final)
Jesus not only instructs us not to worry — He explains why worrying is counterproductive to our well-being:
❖ Worry is blind. It refuses to learn from nature, history, or personal experience. Birds and flowers testify to God’s faithfulness. The history of Israel is filled with God’s miraculous provision — from Egypt to the Red Sea to the Promised Land (Deut. 8:14–15).
❖ Worry refuses to learn the lesson of life. Time and again, God has helped us bear the unbearable and overcome the insurmountable. He strengthens us even when we reach the breaking point — and keeps us from breaking.
❖ Worry is irreligious. It stems not from our external circumstances, but from a heart full of fear and distrust. Yet Scripture declares:“You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you.” — Isaiah 26:3 (NIV)
The antidote to worry: El shaddai
Proverbs 18:10 says, “The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.” One of the most comforting names of God is El Shaddai, which first appears in Genesis 17:1 and appears 218 times in the Bible.
❖ El means “Strong One.”
❖ Shaddai means “The Breasted One.”
Together, El Shaddai paints a picture of God as:
❖ Our Strong Nourisher
❖ Strength Giver
❖ Satisfier
❖ All-Bountiful Supplier
❖ Fulfiller of Needs
❖ The Life-Giver who brings dead things back to life
(e.g., Abraham and Sarah conceiving Isaac at 150 and 90 years respectively)
In knowing who God is, we find the courage to release our anxieties. If He is truly El Shaddai — strong, sufficient, and sustaining — then we are safe in His hands.
Practical steps to peace
In Philippians 4:6–7, we are given a divine prescription for peace:
1. Stop being anxious and fretful. Recognize the emotional and spiritual toll of worry.
2. Go to God in prayer about everything. Nothing is too big or small.
3. Pray for yourself. God is your Father — your relationship with Him is personal.
4. Thank Him as you pray. Gratitude builds faith and reminds us of His past faithfulness.
When we do this, God’s peace — not the world’s peace — will guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
“And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” — Philippians 4:7 (NIV)
CONCLUSION
We are living in uncertain times. Pressures abound and anxieties easily multiply. But as children of God, we are called to walk a different path — one of quiet confidence, steady trust, and daily surrender.
God’s Word is clear: worry doesn’t help — but trust in God brings peace. Let us shift our focus from fear to faith, from anxiety to adoration. Let us anchor our hearts in the unchanging character of El Shaddai — our Almighty God — and rest in His perfect care.
By Rev. Dr Joyce Aryee, the author
