To live in this world is to constantly face tension between the seen and the unseen. Every day, we are surrounded by material needs, desires, and distractions — food to eat, bills to pay, goals to achieve, people to impress. Yet deep within, the Spirit calls us to something higher — a life guided by peace, faith, and eternal purpose. The question is not whether we live in the material world, but how we live within it without losing the spiritual essence of who we are.
God does not ask us to escape the world; He asks us to walk through it with wisdom. Jesus prayed, “I do not ask that You take them out of the world, but that You keep them from the evil one.” (John 17:15). The challenge of faith, then, is not separation but balance — learning to live spiritually while surrounded by material realities.
Everything physical was created to serve a spiritual purpose. The material world is not evil; it is a tool — a temporary environment where eternal lessons are learned. Work, relationships, possessions, and even challenges all serve as instruments for spiritual growth. Money, for instance, is not the enemy. It is neutral — its value depends on how it is used. In the hands of love, it feeds the hungry; in the hands of greed, it feeds pride. The material world tests the heart by offering choices: to serve self or to serve God, to cling or to give, to worship things or to use them as expressions of worship.
When we understand that every material thing has a spiritual purpose, life gains new meaning. Every job becomes a ministry, every possession a tool, every moment an opportunity to reflect heaven’s values.
Jesus lived fully in the material world, yet He was never owned by it. He ate, walked, wept, worked, and rested like any other man, but His heart was always fixed on the Father. He had no permanent home, not because He despised comfort, but because He wanted to show that His true dwelling was in the will of God.
When offered the kingdoms of the world, He refused — not because power was wrong, but because worshiping material glory would have separated Him from His purpose. When He handled coins, broke bread, or healed the sick, He did so as a man rooted in Spirit, showing that divine purpose can exist in ordinary acts. To live spiritually in a material world is to follow this same example — to walk through daily life with an eternal mindset, using earthly things without becoming enslaved by them.
One of the greatest spiritual tests is how we handle wealth and material blessings. The Bible does not condemn owning things; it warns against being owned by them. Jesus said, “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:21). It is not wrong to build, buy, or plan — what is wrong is when the heart becomes tied to what can perish. The spirit must remain free, even when surrounded by abundance. True prosperity is when material things serve us, not when we serve them.
You can live in a big house and still be humble. You can have much and still give freely. God blesses His people so they can become channels, not containers. When we see our resources as temporary tools for eternal impact, greed loses its grip and generosity grows.
In a spiritual life, even work is sacred. Many people separate “spiritual life” from “daily life,” but to God, there is no divide. The same Spirit who meets us in prayer also walks with us in the workplace, classroom, or home. When done with integrity, work becomes an altar. The simplest task — cooking, cleaning, building, or teaching — can be an act of worship when done with love and excellence. Paul said, “Whatever you do, do it heartily, as unto the Lord.” (Colossians 3:23).
This mindset transforms the ordinary into holy ground. The office becomes a place to show patience, the market a place to display honesty, and every interaction an opportunity to reflect God’s kindness. Living spiritually in a material world means doing the practical things of life with a pure heart and godly purpose.
The battle between spirit and flesh often begins in the mind. The material world bombards us with messages that glorify appearance, pleasure, and possession. To live spiritually is to guard the gates of thought — to choose what enters and what stays. Paul wrote, “Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.” (Colossians 3:2). This does not mean ignoring reality; it means filtering it. The spiritual person thinks deeply, but also selectively. They watch, listen, and speak with awareness. They feed their soul with truth instead of vanity. Meditation on God’s Word, moments of silence, and gratitude are powerful tools for keeping the mind centered. A peaceful mind is a strong mind, and a strong mind is one anchored in Spirit.
Living spiritually also means seeing people not as means to an end, but as sacred souls. The material world often values relationships based on gain — what someone can offer or how they make us feel. The Spirit teaches otherwise: to love as God loves, without conditions or calculations. When we see others through spiritual eyes, we stop competing and start connecting. We forgive more easily, listen more deeply, and give more freely. Every relationship becomes an opportunity to express heaven’s nature on earth. Jesus summarized the spiritual life in two commands: love God fully and love others sincerely. Everything else flows from these two truths.
Time is one of life’s most precious materials. Unlike money, it cannot be saved or replaced. Living spiritually means treating time as a gift, using it to grow, serve, and glorify God. The Spirit teaches balance — to work diligently yet rest peacefully, to plan for tomorrow but live gratefully today. Moments spent in love, kindness, reflection, and gratitude are never wasted. When our schedule includes God, everything else finds order. When He is first, everything else fits its place.
The material world moves fast — always chasing the next thing. But the spiritual person learns to live calmly in a restless society. They know that peace is not the absence of noise but the presence of trust. Jesus slept in a storm because His peace came from within, not from circumstances. That same peace is possible for every believer who walks in the Spirit. To live spiritually is to be calm in chaos, generous in scarcity, and hopeful in uncertainty. It is to live in the world but not be swallowed by it.
To the world, spirituality may seem impractical. Yet, in truth, it is the only way to live meaningfully. When the Spirit governs our view, material things lose power over us. We begin to see everything — work, family, possessions, and even struggles — as opportunities to glorify God. The world says, “You are what you own.” The Spirit says, “You are whose you are.” The world says, “Climb higher.” The Spirit says, “Go deeper.” The world says, “Prove yourself.” The Spirit says, “Be still and know that I am God.”
Living spiritually in a material world is not about abandoning life’s responsibilities but about transforming them into worship. It is about seeing with two eyes — one on heaven, the other on earth — and keeping them in balance through faith. A spiritual person works, loves, builds, and gives, but never forgets that all these things are temporary vessels for eternal truth. The heart that walks this way lives free — in the world yet not of it, surrounded by things yet untouched by their weight.
God does not ask us to escape the world; He asks us to walk through it with wisdom. Jesus prayed, “I do not ask that You take them out of the world, but that You keep them from the evil one.” (John 17:15). The challenge of faith, then, is not separation but balance — learning to live spiritually while surrounded by material realities.
Everything physical was created to serve a spiritual purpose. The material world is not evil; it is a tool — a temporary environment where eternal lessons are learned. Work, relationships, possessions, and even challenges all serve as instruments for spiritual growth. Money, for instance, is not the enemy. It is neutral — its value depends on how it is used. In the hands of love, it feeds the hungry; in the hands of greed, it feeds pride. The material world tests the heart by offering choices: to serve self or to serve God, to cling or to give, to worship things or to use them as expressions of worship.
When we understand that every material thing has a spiritual purpose, life gains new meaning. Every job becomes a ministry, every possession a tool, every moment an opportunity to reflect heaven’s values.
Jesus lived fully in the material world, yet He was never owned by it. He ate, walked, wept, worked, and rested like any other man, but His heart was always fixed on the Father. He had no permanent home, not because He despised comfort, but because He wanted to show that His true dwelling was in the will of God.
When offered the kingdoms of the world, He refused — not because power was wrong, but because worshiping material glory would have separated Him from His purpose. When He handled coins, broke bread, or healed the sick, He did so as a man rooted in Spirit, showing that divine purpose can exist in ordinary acts. To live spiritually in a material world is to follow this same example — to walk through daily life with an eternal mindset, using earthly things without becoming enslaved by them.
One of the greatest spiritual tests is how we handle wealth and material blessings. The Bible does not condemn owning things; it warns against being owned by them. Jesus said, “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:21). It is not wrong to build, buy, or plan — what is wrong is when the heart becomes tied to what can perish. The spirit must remain free, even when surrounded by abundance. True prosperity is when material things serve us, not when we serve them.
You can live in a big house and still be humble. You can have much and still give freely. God blesses His people so they can become channels, not containers. When we see our resources as temporary tools for eternal impact, greed loses its grip and generosity grows.
In a spiritual life, even work is sacred. Many people separate “spiritual life” from “daily life,” but to God, there is no divide. The same Spirit who meets us in prayer also walks with us in the workplace, classroom, or home. When done with integrity, work becomes an altar. The simplest task — cooking, cleaning, building, or teaching — can be an act of worship when done with love and excellence. Paul said, “Whatever you do, do it heartily, as unto the Lord.” (Colossians 3:23).
This mindset transforms the ordinary into holy ground. The office becomes a place to show patience, the market a place to display honesty, and every interaction an opportunity to reflect God’s kindness. Living spiritually in a material world means doing the practical things of life with a pure heart and godly purpose.
The battle between spirit and flesh often begins in the mind. The material world bombards us with messages that glorify appearance, pleasure, and possession. To live spiritually is to guard the gates of thought — to choose what enters and what stays. Paul wrote, “Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.” (Colossians 3:2). This does not mean ignoring reality; it means filtering it. The spiritual person thinks deeply, but also selectively. They watch, listen, and speak with awareness. They feed their soul with truth instead of vanity. Meditation on God’s Word, moments of silence, and gratitude are powerful tools for keeping the mind centered. A peaceful mind is a strong mind, and a strong mind is one anchored in Spirit.
Living spiritually also means seeing people not as means to an end, but as sacred souls. The material world often values relationships based on gain — what someone can offer or how they make us feel. The Spirit teaches otherwise: to love as God loves, without conditions or calculations. When we see others through spiritual eyes, we stop competing and start connecting. We forgive more easily, listen more deeply, and give more freely. Every relationship becomes an opportunity to express heaven’s nature on earth. Jesus summarized the spiritual life in two commands: love God fully and love others sincerely. Everything else flows from these two truths.
Time is one of life’s most precious materials. Unlike money, it cannot be saved or replaced. Living spiritually means treating time as a gift, using it to grow, serve, and glorify God. The Spirit teaches balance — to work diligently yet rest peacefully, to plan for tomorrow but live gratefully today. Moments spent in love, kindness, reflection, and gratitude are never wasted. When our schedule includes God, everything else finds order. When He is first, everything else fits its place.
The material world moves fast — always chasing the next thing. But the spiritual person learns to live calmly in a restless society. They know that peace is not the absence of noise but the presence of trust. Jesus slept in a storm because His peace came from within, not from circumstances. That same peace is possible for every believer who walks in the Spirit. To live spiritually is to be calm in chaos, generous in scarcity, and hopeful in uncertainty. It is to live in the world but not be swallowed by it.
To the world, spirituality may seem impractical. Yet, in truth, it is the only way to live meaningfully. When the Spirit governs our view, material things lose power over us. We begin to see everything — work, family, possessions, and even struggles — as opportunities to glorify God. The world says, “You are what you own.” The Spirit says, “You are whose you are.” The world says, “Climb higher.” The Spirit says, “Go deeper.” The world says, “Prove yourself.” The Spirit says, “Be still and know that I am God.”
Living spiritually in a material world is not about abandoning life’s responsibilities but about transforming them into worship. It is about seeing with two eyes — one on heaven, the other on earth — and keeping them in balance through faith. A spiritual person works, loves, builds, and gives, but never forgets that all these things are temporary vessels for eternal truth. The heart that walks this way lives free — in the world yet not of it, surrounded by things yet untouched by their weight.
The material world will always change, but the Spirit remains steady. To live spiritually in it is to walk with peace in your steps, love in your heart, and heaven in your perspective. For such a person, life on earth becomes a preview of heaven — a life where the Spirit shines through the ordinary, and every breath becomes a silent prayer: “Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.”
