“Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them.” 1 John 2:15
After telling us why he is writing to us, Peter now gets to the deeper teachings. He hits it hard and fast, with no doubts as to what he is saying. He tells you to not love the world at all.
At first this may sound difficult to understand, if you remember when Jesus stated that God loved the world so much that He sent His Son to die for the world. If God loved the world so much, why can’t we love the world?
God’s loving the world is loving the people in the world, not the things of the world. Here John is telling us to not love the things and ways of this world.
It is very easy to get caught up in the things of this world. Look around you, everywhere there are advertisements telling you of everything you “need” to go and get right now. You always need to have the newest and the best of everything.
This goes against God’s principle of being content with what you have and give to those in need. God wants us to give more than get. Jesus gave His life, what can you give?
The world teaches that you are to look out for yourself and forget about everyone else. How far can you go? How high can you climb the corporate ladder? How much can you make? How famous can you be?
God teaches that you are to be a servant first. Jesus came to serve, not be served. You are to work at meeting the needs of others and let God take care of your needs.
John goes to the point of saying that if you love the world you do not love the Father, God. He does not say that you love Him less, but states you do not love Him at all. This is very harsh, but true.
Do not allow yourself to be filled with love for the things and ways of this world. This world and everything in it and it’s ways will pass away some day. God and His ways are the only thing that will last. Seek God to have Him break the hold the world may have on you. Seek God and His kingdom first and all of your needs will be met.
You are to love the people in this world. Share Jesus with them out of love for them. Serve them and help meet their needs. This will show them Jesus. This is what Jesus did.
I pray that today God will help you to have true love for Him; that God will break the hold the world has on you; that God help you to see how the things of this world are only temporary; that God will help you to know the value of seeking Him first; and that God will use you to spread His Gospel of Salvation.
Loved this! May we all choose to love people and not the things of the world. It is easy to put our focus on the things of the world rather than the people of the world. Jesus called us to love God and love others. May we all try to do those two things today. Be blessed and find a way to bless someone else today.
Amen Shelly. May you be blessed today also.