Zambia Hunt

We live in a world that constantly competes for our attention, our affections, and our allegiance. Every day, we are being shaped—either by the values of this world or by the truth of God’s Word.

The Apostle John writes in 1 John 2:15–17: “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.”

To understand this command, we must define what John means by “the world.” In this context, the world refers to the community of sinful humanity that lives in rebellion against God.

One reason we are not to love the world is that we cannot ultimately love both God and the world at the same time. Our hearts will be shaped by one or the other. God calls us to submission, surrender, and obedience. The world scoffs at these values and urges us to throw off authority and live for ourselves. The world and God are opposed to one another.

Another reason we are not to love the world is that it is temporary—it is “passing away.” God has created us in Christ Jesus to live for what will last for all eternity—“whoever does the will of God abides forever” (v. 17).

So here is the challenge for this coming week: choose to love the Lord with all your heart, soul, and mind. Give Him first place in your priorities and in the decisions you make. This is God’s will for all of us.

This raises an important question: how does the world operate, and why is this exhortation so important?

The world has its own priorities (Col. 2:8), values (Eph. 2:2), and patterns (1 Cor. 7:31). It is under the influence of Satan, who is called the “god of this world” (John 12:31; 2 Cor. 4:4). Those who have not yet come to Christ are described as being under “the prince of the power of the air… the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience” (Eph. 2:2).

The Christian is continually tempted to fall in love with the world—to conform to its priorities, values, and patterns. It appeals to the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life (v. 16). When Christians give in to these temptations, they become worldly.

A child of God does not become worldly overnight. Worldliness is a process. It often begins with friendship with the world (James 4:4), then leads to being stained by the world (James 1:27), and eventually results in conformity to the world (Rom. 12:2). When this happens, it becomes increasingly difficult to distinguish between the life of a Christian and that of the world.

Falling in love with the world has serious consequences in the life of a believer:

1. We may forsake God and His work (Col. 4:14; Phm. 1:24; 2 Tim. 4:10), for if we love the world, the love of the Father is not in us (v. 15).
2. We place ourselves in opposition to God (James 4:4).
3. We fall into sins that corrupt and enslave us (2 Pet. 1:4; 1 John 2:16).
4. We become more susceptible to deception and false teaching (1 John 4:1; 2 John 7). Worldliness creates fertile ground for error.

So, child of God, does love for the Heavenly Father truly govern your life, or are you in love with the world and what it offers?

The world is passing away, along with its desires—but whoever does the will of God abides forever.

If you find that your love for God has grown cold, confess it as sin and return to Him. He is gracious and merciful, and He will receive you with open arms. Choose what will last for eternity.