The Hidden Force Making Change So Hard
Wisdom Scripture
Daniel 1:20 (NIV)
“In every matter of wisdom and understanding about which the king questioned them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters in his whole kingdom.”
Wisdom Quote
Prudent character, Proverbs emphasizes, must be formed in an ethos that is both communal and cosmic. Wisdom teaches subsequent generations that life flourishes in a harmony of societal and creation orders. When this order breaks down due to the folly of waywardness—when the adulteress is pursued rather than Woman Wisdom—the consequences are deadly. Success might still be found instrumentally in small parts of life because of the way God’s creation works, but life on the whole will be lost.
— O’Donovan, cited in Dictionary for Theological Interpretation of the Bible (2005)
The Power of Alertness
A simple explanation for why changing your character is so difficult might be laziness, apathy, or weakness. But Scripture points to something far larger: powerful forces working against your growth.
One of those forces is what the Bible calls “the world.”
In the New Testament, world can refer to cultural forces opposed to God. Today, “worldly” describes the materialistic, pleasure-driven messages that bombard us every day—especially through media and advertising. These messages whisper false promises:
If it feels good, do it.
You only live once—go for it.
Buy this truck/car/cruise, and you’ll finally be happy.
But the Bible unmasks what lies behind those enticements:
“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 John 2:16
The world seduces us through:
The lust of the eyes — envy, jealousy, craving what others have
The pride of life — achievement, applause, status, winning at any cost
When you resist these temptations, you protect your spiritual life and stay focused on character growth.
A crucial safeguard is renewing your mind through God’s Word.
Immersing yourself in Scripture fills you with God’s wisdom and realigns your desires with the Spirit’s will.
“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind…”
— Romans 12:2
Becoming alert to the forces working against your desire for growth is essential. Not only must you guard against the world’s allure, but you must also recognize the power of your own sinful desires—what Scripture calls “the flesh.”
