Love Not The World
1 John 2
15 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.
A rich man bought an island so he could get back to the beauty of nature and solitude. Friends convinced him to build a golf course so he’d have something to do - then a hotel to house the guests who came to play golf - then a shopping mall for the wives of the golfers - then a hospital to care for emergencies - then a police station to take care of the crime that developed.
Soon, he could no longer see the natural beauty of the island or the ocean, nor could he hear the sounds of nature or the crashing of the ocean waves. He had put too many things in the way.
That’s the way it is with us and God - we have so many other things in the way, we have lost our communion with God. That’s why we should "love not the world".
The love of the world will choke out the awareness of the presence of God.
Psalms 46:10 Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.
Remember when Elijah experienced the presence of God?
1 Kings 19:11 And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the LORD. And, behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the LORD; but the LORD was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the LORD was not in the earthquake:
1 Kings 19:12 And after the earthquake a fire; but the LORD was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice.
It was not in the loudness, but in the quietness where Elijah found God.
The love of the world will choke out your love for God.
Jesus said:
Matthew 6:24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
And He spoke of that which chokes out the Word of God -
Matthew 13:7 And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them:
Matthew 13:22 He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.
You have to make a choice - God or the world - Spiritual life or Physical life.
Joshua challenged the people of Israel:
Joshua 24:15 And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.
Elijah challenged them:
1 Kings 18:21 And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the LORD be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word.
It is time to decide where you stand. No one is impressed with a faith that straddles fences. Especially not God!
You must choose what treasures you are seeking.
Matthew 6:19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:
Matthew 6:20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:
Matthew 6:21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
The things of this world are not necessarily evil - not all of them - but they are distracting. They will steal your attention, your time, and your energy from God.
Paul wisely said:
1 Corinthians 6:12 All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.
That’s where the problem is - when things rule us. And they so often do, if we would admit it.
That’s why fasting is good. You deny the flesh its gratification and train the spirit.
You must choose what value system you will live by.
God does not judge the way man does.
1 Chronicles 28:9 . . . for the LORD searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts: if thou seek him, he will be found of thee; but if thou forsake him, he will cast thee off for ever.
Isaiah 55:8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.
Isaiah 55:9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.
We must base our lives on true values - heavenly values - God’s values.
We are told so often not to be menpleasers, but God-pleasers.
We are cautioned to measures not by man’s standards, but by God’s.
Modern theology measures men by other men. All things are relative. But God is a God of absolutes. We’d better get our values right. We’d better base them on God’s Word.
Matthew 7:24 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:
We have been delivered from the dominion of this world.
We have been set free. Why be in bondage again to the things of the world?
Galatians 5:1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.
Don’t let the devil sidetrack you by the love of the world. Don’t let him drag you back into his trap once you have been set free. The world is full of many wonderful things. But those things will keep you from the better things of heaven if they can,
The love of the world is enmity with God. Enmity is animosity - hatred. The love of the world will drag you away from God. But the love of God will drag you away from the world.
Remember what happened with the children of Israel in the wilderness? They remembered the luxuries of Egypt and wanted to go back - but how quickly they had forgotten the bondage and torment of that place.
How the devil wants us to see the fun things he offers without seeing the price we pay for them.
Choose you this day…
Jesus said:
Luke 14:33 So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.