How To Live In This World

Subject: How To Live In This World

Scripture Reading: Romans 12:2

You heard about the business lady who, between flights at an airport bought a small package of cookies. She then sat down in the busy snack shop to glance over the newspaper.

As she read her paper she became aware of a rustling noise. Peeking above the newspaper she was shocked to see a well dressed gentleman sitting across from her helping himself to her cookies.

Half-angry and Half-embarrassed she reached over and gently slid the package closer to her as she took one out and began to munch on it.

A minute or so passed before she heard some more rustling. The man had gotten another cookie! By now there was only one left in the package.

Though flabbergasted, she didn’t want to cause a scene so she said nothing and did nothing.

Finally as if to and insult to injury the man broke the remaining cookie in to two pieces and pushed one piece across the table toward her with a frown, gulped down his half and left without even saying thank you.

She sat there dumbfounded.

Some time later when her flight was announced the women reached into her handbag to get her ticket To her shock there in her purse was her package of unopened cookies. And somewhere in that same airport was another traveler still trying to figure out that strange woman who could be so forward and insensitive.

Do I need to remind you that things are not always as they appear.

You would think that because we live in such an advanced and civilized culture that all of us would be kind and courteous people.

How often we think that as Americans we are all full of righteous zeal, respect for authority, uncompromising integrity, and a humble submissive spirit.

As much as we may wish that to be true, all you have to do is rub shoulders with the world for a few hours each week and you soon wake up to the fact that it is an inaccurate assumption.

This 21st century is certainly a different America than our ancestors fought and died for.

America has become a melting pot of Me-firsts.

Believe it or not ours is a very selfish generation and we have all been there from time to time.

Just this week, I left my wife and Karra off at a store and ran over quick to Price Chopper to pick out a roast for Sunday.

In fact it was Friday afternoon and the store was already crowded.

I had one thing on my mind as I came to the meat case, and that was to get back to the other store as quick as I could.

Now let me tell you something about meat cases on Fridays. When you go to look the meat over, you never park your shopping cart out of the way.

No, you push it in front of you and then you stand there and decided which piece you want so you are blocking 5 or 6 feet of the case as you decide.

I saw a small opening, and as soon as I did, I dove in, almost knocking an older lady over in my rush. I picked up what I wanted after I looked each one over and headed out.

I wish I could stand here and tell you that I looked at that older lady and apologized, But in my mind, all I though about was getting back to the other store.

It wasn’t until later that night in my office as I was studying and praying that God brought it to my attention.

I shared that with you to remind you that all of us get caught up in the me-first, selfish attitude from time to time.

Now listen, that doesn’t make it right or give us an excuse.

In fact I want to help us address the question How to live in the world and give you some practical helps.

If we are ever going to make an impact on our culture, we can not let ourselves become conformed to it.

Paul tells us in Romans 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind,

To avoid being squeezed into it’s mold. we must live different than our culture.

But how can we do that in this dog eat dog society? Let me share some things from the Bible that will help us to live in this world as Christ would have us live.

I. It All Begins With Knowing Christ Personally.

There is no way for me to live like I should in this world without first having a personal relationship with Christ.

You see, without Christ living in us, we are just like the rest of the world.