What exactly is the world? How do we love the world? What must we do when we find out that we are actually loving the world rather than God? All these dilemma are addressed in this article. I pray it’s a blessing to you.
Introduction
Text: 1 John 2:15-17 (KJV) Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. 17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.
God brought us unto Himself through His love for us. We are told in Scripture that it is through this love that He made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in sins (Ephesians 2:4-6). Having received us unto Himself, God desires that our hearts beat toward Him. He wants us to love Him first, love Him in the middle, and love Him last.
The opposite of loving God is loving the world. In our text, we’re made to understand that we cannot love God and love the world at the same time. We are either loving God or we are loving the world. But what exactly is the world? How do we love the world? What must we do when we find out that we are actually loving the world rather than God? All these dilemma and many more are addressed in this article. I pray it’s a blessing to you.
Having received us unto Himself, God desires that our hearts beat toward Him. He wants us to love Him first, love Him in the middle, and love Him last.
The World and its “Things”
The word world is often misused in the Bible probably because of how certain words are translated. For instance, there are two Greek words with different meanings translated into the word “world” the Bible. But as far as our text for today is concern, the world here refers to the satanic system of operation and all things earthly involved.
Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world… 1 John 2:15
The world does not refer to the people or the inhabitants of the Earth. Neither does it refer to any of the good things that God has given to us on this planet. But it is all about the way things work in the ungodly system of this Age, or period in time. So how do we know when we are loving the world? We need to first find out what the world consists.
The Things that are in the World
For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. 1 John 2:16
All that is in the world, that is, all that constitute the world in the context of our passage, are those things which those who live for this life earnestly seek.
1. The Lust of the Flesh
This refers to all those things that our sinful flesh craves. The word “lust” here is not just about libidinous passions, but refers to a broader idea of generally craving for things from which the people of this world often seek satisfaction. They are willing to satisfy this lust at all cost, even if they have to hurt or steal from others to do so.
While we seek to gratify the flesh or provide for the needs thereof, we must realize that we cannot please God at the same time. The Bible says that the flesh wars against the Spirit and vice versa, they are contrary to each other (Galatians 5:17). This is why we are warned against fulfilling the desire of the flesh. Because we will be working against the Spirit in doing so.
So rather than seeking satisfaction in the flesh, we direct our attention and craving to Christ. For in Him we find all the comfort and satisfaction we need.
While we seek to gratify the flesh or provide for the needs thereof, we must realize that we cannot please God at the same time.
2. The Lust of the Eyes
This refers to all the things that are designed to gratify our sight. The things that we all sometimes want to see or have around us. But before we forbid all good things, I must clarify that this does not mean that we cannot admire anything that we see and like. After all, God made many beautiful things around us for our satisfaction.
But the problem is the vanity of making earthly things the reason why live. Although they may sometimes make us feel good, when we seek these things without connection with God or any consideration for eternal values, we shift our desire away from God. This is a no-go area for the believers in Christ.
It is extremely important for the believers to always remember that regardless of what they possess or lack in this life, they have been made complete in Christ. The knowledge of this helps us overcome many temptations in this life. We are truly complete in Him.
Colossians 2:9-10 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. 10 And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:
It is extremely important for the believers to always remember that regardless of what they possess or lack in this life, they have been made complete in Christ.
3. The Pride of Life
This is the ultimate repercussion of seeking the things above. It leads to ostentation or boasting. Boasting in this sense is giving yourself credit (or showing off) for your accomplishments. And for the believers, all boasting must be in Christ and not in ourselves nor our accomplishments.
This is one of the reasons why many of the over-achievers of this world cannot receive the gospel. Because it leaves them with no grounds for boasting. But remember, all boasting not in Christ draws to us the attention meant for God. That is a kind of idolatry! You really do not want to be in that place of praise.
The World Passes Away
1 John 2:17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.
All that this life offers will only be temporary. Nothing gained in this world, especially outside of Christ will have any eternal implication. The satisfaction, happiness, pleasures, and the abundance of things will all end. In many occasions, they may even vanish before the death of the owner thereof. And if you’re strong and smart enough to keep them till you die, what do they profit you after you die?
Colossians 3:1-2 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. 2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.
2 Corinthians 4:18 While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.
The Love of the Father
If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 1 John 2:15
Loving God is what we are saved to do. To love the Father, to live for and glorify Him. God truly cares about what we love. All that the believers do must be driven by their love for God. And whenever our love for others or anything comes in conflict with our love God, we must choose to love God.
Jesus Christ reminds His listeners what the greatest of all commandment is. Listen to the exchange between Him and one of the scribes:
Mark 12:28-31 And one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, and perceiving that he had answered them well, asked him, Which is the first commandment of all? 29 And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord: 30 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. 31 And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.
We must love God with the totality of our being. With “all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength”. This means that everything from our thoughts, words, to our deeds, must be to the glory of God. Even in our secular life, we are still living for God, or at least we are told to.
Colossians 3:17 And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.
1 Corinthians 10:31 Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.
We show that we love God by the way we live. We must therefore live for Him or unto Him. Jesus says if you love me, keep my commandments. One of the things we cannot do in the name of the Lord Jesus is to love the world and the things that are in the world.
He that Doeth the Will of God
Doing the will of God is loving Him rather than the world. The world will pass away, and all the satisfaction it promises. But some things will remain, and those are the things done or gained in Christ and those who do the will of God. We are told that they abide “forever.” While the riches of this world fade away, our blessings in Christ, the treasures that we store for ourselves in heaven, will abide for our enjoyment in eternity.
This ought to make us reconsider our priority in this life and live for God rather than for the desires of the flesh.
2 Corinthians 4:18 While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.
Our lives here must have eternal perspective. We must remind ourselves that this current life is only temporal and be careful how we invest in it. Worldly satisfaction has no place in eternity, but our services to Christ and the sacrifices we make now will earn us eternal rewards. This should be what we live for, and not the world and all that it promises.
We must remind ourselves that this current life is only temporal and be careful how we invest in it.
Thank you for reading!
