The sin of letting your ambition, your appetites and behavior conform you to earthly values. It is the lust of the eyes, the flesh and the pride of life (1 John 2:16). It is not a quaint way of describing our understanding or appreciation of the world.
Longing for the Cross
The world cannot give us peace & joy except by removing the Cross – but Christ gives us peace through his Cross. So we come to him in our trials & afflictions & the Cross brings sweet peace to us.