The basic difference between “the world” and the gospel is that one is about having and one is about giving. The prophet Ezekiel criticizes the people because the are only about getting. “By your wisdom and your intelligence
you have made riches for yourself” and because of that said “I am god,” I have made myself what I am. That way leads to ruin. In the gospel by contrast Jesus says: “everyone who has given up … for the sake of my name will receive a hundred times more, and will inherit eternal life.” The gospel challenge to us is to give up not merely our possessions but our way of doing things, our opinions, our attitudes and conform ourselves more closely to those of Jesus.