3. (a) What questions present themselves in view of the conflict between the philosophy of this world and the Bible? (b) How does Paul set matters straight on living just for selfish pleasures?

³ In the face of all this, the Bible says: “A man of faithful acts will get many blessings.” (Prov. 28:20) Is this really true? Is the Bible realistic in setting forth high moral standards to govern the conduct of man? If one does one’s best to measure up to these, will it actually benefit one? Moreover, when death comes, can one confidently hope for a better life afterward because of one’s faithful acts? If man were merely a product of evolution, answering to no one except the society of which he was a part as to how he conducted himself, then criticism of the Bible’s standards and promises would have some weight. That is the point that the apostle Paul is making in writing to Christians at Corinth: “If the dead are not to be raised up, ‘let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we are to die.’” Paul quickly follows up reference to this purely selfish concept with the warning: “Do not be misled. Bad associations spoil useful habits. Wake up to soberness in a righteous way and do not practice sin, for some are without knowledge of God. I am speaking to move you to shame.”​—1 Cor. 15:32-34.

4. (a) What was the philosophy of the Epicureans? (b) How did Abraham and other faithful men show they did not have this attitude toward life and the future?

⁴ While in Greece, Paul came up against this philosophy of the Epicureans, who believed that one should live in such a way as to get the greatest amount of pleasure out of life, yet doing so with some moderation in order to avoid the suffering that comes with overindulgence. They did not concern themselves with the future except to keep on enjoying pleasure until death. But that is not how faithful men like Abraham felt about it. Of these, Paul wrote: “In faith all these died, although they did not get the fulfillment of the promises, but they saw them afar off and welcomed them and publicly declared that they were strangers and temporary residents in the land.” They did not lose faith and get involved in the corrupt practices around them. In God’s memory they are very much alive and soon God will resurrect them to real life on a paradise earth under his Kingdom rule.​—Heb. 11:13; Matt. 22:31, 32; John 6:39, 40.

7. How can the thinking and attitudes of this world subtly begin to influence a Christian? Of what should we continually remind ourselves?

⁷ To make sure we are not misled or caught as if in a snare, we have to ask ourselves searching questions to test out our deeper motives, our secret desires, our hidden affections. For what are we living? It is one thing to say we are living with a view to life in God’s new order, but it is another thing to be actually living in harmony with God’s requirements every day. Christians cannot let the subtle Epicurean philosophy of this world deceive them and, before they know it, begin to live for the pleasures of today, for fear that tomorrow they might die. Or, having doubts about making it into the New Order, they may start to savor the pleasures of this world, not wanting to miss out on them altogether. We have to ask ourselves continually: For what are we living? The pleasures of this world or “the real life” in God’s new order?​—1 Tim. 6:17-19.