"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."
Our time on the earth is very short. I think that this reality would be felt more strongly by those facing persecution (even death) for their faith. Knowing our end and the earthly trouble that is before us, we should take a note from the founders and avoid entangling alliances.
During our short time on the earth there are many things that can distract us. And if we allow them, they can keep us from having the right focus. Family, sadness, joy, possessions, and business can all keep us from service to the Lord. The trouble that can come from these things can become so distracting that we loose sight of the Lord.
For some people, the answer is to avoid these things all together. But the verses don't command this. Instead the verses tell us to be as though we didn't have such things. I do not think that this means that we ignore our responsibilities but that we put them in their proper place (a place or insignificance relative to the Lord).
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