What does a world system mean? We have to live, and function in this world don’t we?

1 John 2:15-17 New International Version (NIV)
15 Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. 16 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 the world. 17 The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.

1 Peter 2:11-12 The Message (MSG)
11-12 Friends, this world is not your home, so don’t make yourselves cozy in it. Don’t indulge your ego at the expense of your soul. Live an exemplary life among the natives so that your actions will refute their prejudices. Then they’ll be won over to God’s side and be there to join in the celebration when he arrives.

As I told you in the last blog, after Cain murdered his brother Abel, he went away from his source of provision. He embarked upon making his own way in life and through his descendants established a system that made self-reliance their cornerstone. Self became their god and focal point. Humankind now demanded the authority over everything God had supplied them with previously.

A world system views happiness as climbing the ladder to the top, leaving everyone else below them. The world says, “God helps those who help themselves, and “If at first, you don’t succeed try, try, again.” Worldly proponents cheer you on to achieve recognition, wealth, power, and “things.” Everything that comes from the world may look desirable, but is shallow, temporary, and unsatisfying to your inner being; the soul and spirit of a person. Self-indulgence leaves you with an empty beast inside that clamors for more and more, and more, without fulfillment.

On the flip-side, God’s system has to do with relationship. Upon accepting Christ, a transformation takes place. If you are willing, God becomes your center of strength and power. He navigates you through the maze of hypocrisy, deception and the adverse circumstances of life. The responsibility becomes His for your success as a child of God. Filling the empty void in your spirit with peace, love, and joy is Jesus’ version of success.

The choice is yours of which system you want to follow. I’ve tried a life centered on myself, with nothing but a temporary excitement of achievement. Then the struggle begins again. Now I have peace, joy, and blessing through every trial because God is my center and has the control.