The Doorpost: More attention to God’s good things

For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things.
Philippians 3:18-19

Two verses before this passage, Paul tells the Philippians to continue living by what they had attained. Apparently some believers had failed to do this. How serious did Paul believe this was? He said they were now living as enemies of the cross of Christ! How could this happen?

In 1 Corinthians 7:29-31, Paul says,

This is what I mean, brothers: the appointed time has grown very short. From now on, let those who have wives live as though they had none, and those who mourn as though they were not mourning, and those who rejoice as though they were not rejoicing, and those who buy as though they had no goods, and those who deal with the world as though they had no dealings with it. For the present form of this world is passing away.

The fact that we live in this world makes it necessary for us to have relationships and deal with material things. In fact, these are good things that God has given us. But there is always the danger that we will become so focused on enjoying the things of the world that we don’t give any attention to doing the things He wants us to do to prepare for heaven. If we give more and more of our attention to the good things God gives us, and less and less to God Himself, our appetite can become our god. The good things in life can result in our living as enemies of the cross of Christ.