The present form of this world is passing away.

1 Corinthians 7:29-31, 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.

Paul’s view of the world is that it is temporary and that his view was toward an eternal purpose. He held the things of this world loosely realizing that no matter how long he lived he would be gone a lot longer! Do we have his perspective, to see the passing things of this world in terms of eternal value?

Give us an eternal perspective in our dealings with the world to bring glory to Your name, O Lord!

ESV Lectionary