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Choosing Between Following the Lord and the World in Daily Life

The decision to follow the Lord rather than the world is presented in biblical texts as a fundamental choice with significant implications for daily life. This choice involves a commitment to God's ways, commandments, and values, contrasting with the patterns and desires of the world [3, 5].

The Old Testament frequently emphasizes this choice. Joshua challenged the Israelites, stating, "choose you this day whome yee will serue, whether the gods which your fathers serued... or the gods of the Amorites... but I and mine house will serue the Lord" [4]. This passage highlights the exclusivity of serving God, demanding a clear decision between divine and worldly allegiances. Similarly, Deuteronomy calls for choosing the Lord to walk in His ways and keep His precepts [3], linking this obedience to blessings and life [5].

The New Testament reinforces this theme, portraying Christian conduct as a life lived "unto the Lord" [2]. Paul writes in Romans 14:8, "For if we live, we live to the Lord. Or if we die, we die to the Lord. If therefore we live or die, we are the Lord’s" [2]. This suggests that every aspect of a believer's existence, whether in life or death, is dedicated to Christ [17]. This dedication means that believers are claimed by Christ, and through Christ, by God [14].

Following the Lord entails specific behaviors and attitudes. It involves believing God, fearing Him, loving Him, and obeying His commands [7]. This commitment is described as "following God fully" and "serving God" [6]. It also means seeking the Kingdom of God, which involves adopting God's value system, pursuing His purpose, and submitting to His authority [18]. Such a life is characterized by living righteously, soberly, and godly [7].

Conversely, choosing the world or a divided service is depicted as problematic. The Bible warns against "halting between two opinions" or a "double-mindedness" [6]. Sinful acts, referred to as "vanity" in Proverbs, are associated with the world's ways [9]. All human beings are born with a sinful nature, and while the wicked indulge it, the godly strive against it [8]. Sin is understood as rebellion against God [11], and those who commit sin are described as being "of the devil" [10]. This is not a matter of birth but of imitation and corruption [10]. The apostle John states that if believers claim to have no sin, they make God a liar [13]. Paul argues that both Gentiles and Jews are universally under sin's power and cannot earn God's favor through their own actions [12].

The call to follow the Lord often involves sacrifice and discomfort. Jesus indicated that following Him is not easy and may require foregoing normal comforts [15]. Unlike the world's view of leadership as lording over others, Christ's followers are called to serve [16]. Despite the challenges, believers are encouraged to lead the life assigned to them by the Lord, to which God has called them [1]. This divine calling underscores the intentionality and purpose behind choosing to follow God in daily life.

Sources

  1. I Corinthians “I Corinthians 7:17 (BSB) — Regardless, each one should lead the life that the Lord has assigned to him and to which God has called him. This is what I prescribe in all the churches.”
  2. Romans “For if we live, we live to the Lord. Or if we die, we die to the Lord. If therefore we live or die, we are the Lord’s. -- Romans 14:8”
  3. Deuteronomy “Deuteronomy 26:17 (DRC) — Thou hast chosen the Lord this day to be thy God, and to walk in his ways and keep his ceremonies, and precepts, and judgments, and obey his command.”
  4. Joshua “Joshua 24:15 (Geneva1599) — And if it seeme euill vnto you to serue the Lord, choose you this day whome yee will serue, whether the gods which your fathers serued (that were beyond the flood) or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwel: but I and mine house will serue the Lord.”
  5. Deuteronomy “Deuteronomy 30:16 (BSB) — For I am commanding you today to love the LORD your God, to walk in His ways, and to keep His commandments, statutes, and ordinances, so that you may live and increase, and the LORD your God may bless you in the land that you are entering to possess.”
  6. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Decision — Necessary to the service of God -- Lu 9:62. Exhortations to -- Jos 24:14,15. Exhibited in Seeking God with the heart. -- 2Ch 15:12. Keeping the commandments of God. -- Ne 10:29. Being on the Lord's side. -- Ex 32:26. Following God fully. -- Nu 14:24; 32:12; Jos 14:8. Serving God. -- Isa 56:6. Loving God perfectly. -- De 6:5. Blessedness of. -- Jos 1:7. Opposed to A divided service. -- Mt 6:24. Double-mindedness. -- Jas 1:8. Halting between two opinions. -- 1Ki 18:21. Turning to the right or left. -- De 5:32. Not setting the heart aright. -- Ps 78:8,37. Exe”
  7. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Conduct, Christian — Believing God -- Mr 11:22; Joh 14:11,12. Fearing God -- Ec 12:13; 1Pe 2:17. Loving God -- De 6:5; Mt 22:37. Following God -- Eph 5:1; 1Pe 1:15,16. Obeying God -- Lu 1:6; 1Jo 5:3. Rejoicing in God -- Ps 33:1; Hab 3:18. Believing in Christ -- Joh 6:29; 1Jo 3:23. Loving Christ -- Joh 21:15; 1Pe 1:7,8. Following the example of Christ -- Joh 13:15; 1Pe 2:21-24. Obeying Christ -- Joh 14:21; 15:14. Living To Christ. -- Ro 14:8; 2Co 5:15. To righteousness. -- Mic 6:8; Ro 6:18; 1Pe 2:24. Soberly, righteously, and godly. -- Tit 2:12. Walking Honestly. -- 1”
  8. Psalms (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Psalms 58:3: 58:3 All human beings are born sinners (see 51:5); however, whereas the wicked indulge their sinful nature, the godly fight against it (Rom 7:19-23; Jas 4:1-10).”
  9. Proverbs (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Proverbs 30:8: vanity--all sorts of sinful acts (Job 11:11; Isa 5:18).”
  10. 1 John (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 John 3:8: He that committeth sin is of the devil--in contrast to "He that doeth righteousness," Jo1 3:7. He is a son of the devil (Jo1 3:10; Joh 8:44). John does not, however, say, "born of the devil." as he does "born of God," for "the devil begets none, nor does he create any; but whoever imitates the devil becomes a child of the devil by imitating him, not by proper birth" [AUGUSTINE, Ten Homilies on the First Epistle of John, Homily 4.10]. From the devil there is not generation, but corruption [BENGEL]. sinneth from the beginning--from the time that any beg”
  11. Psalms (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Psalms 19:13: 19:13 An individual who commits deliberate sins does so with an insolent (86:14) or arrogant (119:21, 69) attitude. • The great sin is rebellion (see 32:1).”
  12. Romans (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Romans 1:18: 1:18–3:20 Paul delays exploring the theme of righteousness through faith (see 3:21) until after he first teaches about universal sinfulness. Gentiles (1:18-32) and Jews (2:1–3:8) are equally under sin’s power and cannot find favor with God by any action of their own (3:9-20). 1:18 God’s anger is not a spontaneous emotional outburst, but the holy God’s necessary response to sin. The Old Testament often depicts God’s anger (Exod 32:10-12; Num 11:1; Jer 21:3-7) and predicts a decisive outpouring of God’s wrath on human sin at the end of history. While Paul usually de”
  13. 1 John (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 John 1:10: Parallel to Jo1 1:8. we have not sinned--referring to the commission of actual sins, even after regeneration and conversion; whereas in Jo1 1:8, "we have no sin," refers to the present GUILT remaining (until cleansed) from the actual sins committed, and to the SIN of our corrupt old nature still adhering to us. The perfect "have . . . sinned" brings down the commission of sins to the present time, not merely sins committed before, but since, conversion. we make him a liar--a gradation; Jo1 1:6, "we lie"; Jo1 1:8, "we deceive ourselves"; worst of al”
  14. 1 Corinthians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on 1 Corinthians 3:23: 3:23 Just as they may now claim everything as their own, so Christ has claimed them for himself (see Rom 14:7-9), and in Christ they are ultimately claimed by God (see 1 Cor 6:19-20; 7:23).”
  15. Matthew (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Matthew 8:20: 8:20 Following Jesus is not easy; it involves more than intellectual mastery. Following Jesus entails being willing to forgo life’s normal comforts.”
  16. Mark (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Mark 10:42: 10:42-44 The unbelieving world (the rulers in this world) thinks that leadership means lording it over others. Just as Jesus’ role as Messiah and Son of God meant suffering and death (8:31; 9:31; 10:32-34, 45), being his follower involves serving others, not ruling over them (9:35; John 10:11).”
  17. Romans (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Romans 14:8: For whether we live, we live unto the Lord,.... As natural, so spiritual life is derived from the Lord, and believers live by faith upon him, and according to his will revealed in the word; find to his honour and glory; at least they desire so to do: and whether we die, we die unto the Lord; resigning up life unto him, whenever it is his pleasure; magnifying of him, as by life, so by death; dying to be with him, to be raised again by him, and live with him for evermore; in the faith and hope of this, the believer both lives and dies, and so glorifies Christ both in ”
  18. Luke (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Luke 12:31: 12:31 Seek the Kingdom of God: Adopt God’s value system, pursue his purpose in the world, and submit to his authority.”
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