We have so much in Christ, why would we want anything else? A life lived for Christ brings the greatest of all blessings. It gives our life meaning and satisfaction. Yet the fact is, so many people, even Christians, live their lives for everything but Christ. We are always tempted by other things.
John knew this, so he gave us a warning. That warning is found in 1st John 2:15. It says, “Do not love the world or the things of the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.” Do you see the point of that verse? In general, a true believer should love God and love the brethren. An unbeliever will love the world and the things of the world.
But what is the world? What is it we are not supposed to love? Let’s do a word study. The word for world in Greek is kosmos, or cosmos in English. Carl Sagan used to use the word regularly to describe the universe. But it was used first in Greek culture to mean an ornament, like a necklace. That’s why we also get the English word, cosmetic, from it (No, I’m not going to preach against jewelry, don’t worry).
But as time went on and language changed, the kosmos came to be used for the globe of the world – the ornament of God, they might say. And finally, it came to be used for the world of men. More specifically, with moral overtones, it came to mean the world of men in rebellion against God, which is why the word is normally used in Scripture to describe the world system controlled and dominated by Satan whose values, goals, morals, pleasures and pastimes are all anti-God.
Well, which of these definitions does John have in mind when he tells us not to love the world? They are all used in Scripture. For instance, when talking about Jesus, John 1:10 says, “He was in the world (the physical world) and the world was made through Him (again the physical world), and the world did not know Him (That’s the world of men).” There’s not much help so far.
Can it mean the physical world? Is that what we’re not supposed to love? Of course not, because 1st Timothy 6:17 assures us that God “gives us richly all things to enjoy.” Therefore, it can’t mean the earth, its raw materials, or the beauty of nature around us. We are to enjoy this world and protect it. God gave it to us.
What about the world of men? It can’t mean that either. John 3:16 tells us, “For God so loved the world (Meaning the people of the world) He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” Are we to hate that world? Oh, no! We are supposed to evangelize that world. That’s the world God sent His Son to die for. It is precious to Him.
So than John’s warning must be against the evil world system controlled by Satan. It’s logical. If we love God, we must love what God loves and hate what God hates. Love and hate go hand in hand. We can understand that. If we love our children, we will hate the things that might harm them. We will hate the influence of drugs and alcohol on culture, humanism, pre-marital sex, and on and on the list goes; and we will try and protect our children from them.
So it is natural for God to say in Psalm 97:10, “You that love the Lord, hate evil.” Or Romans 12:9, “Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil, cling to what is good.” The world that John is talking about is evil, and we are to hate it, not chase after it. We are not to love that world.
Let’s define the world John is talking about this way: The world is anything that causes us to lose our enjoyment of God’s love or our desire to do God’s will.
How does that apply to you? Think about it. Do you have an activity, a person, or a possession that gets in the way of your loving God? It could be a hobby, your career, or some pastime. That is the world John is talking about, so “do not love the world.” And does it distract you at all from serving God? Does it take up your time and energy? That’s the world, and “do not love the world.” Love God instead.
The world isn’t automatically something bad in itself. There may be nothing inherently wrong with your pastime, for instance. Fishing is great, but if you do it every Sunday morning instead of going to church, then it becomes the world. It is the world inasmuch as it distracts you from God, or becomes something you value more than God. “Do not love the world.” Love God.
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Amen Pastor. 100% good stuff. Hate the world.
ReplyDeleteBut more Importantly Love God as you State.
Philippians 3 through Colossians 3.
And because you Love God...and want to be closer to him..we wont want the things of this world...
Let Christ live through you. The closer you are to Christ, the more you will disdain the things of this world.
Philippians 3
Following Paul’s Example
15 All of us, then, who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. 16 Only let us live up to what we have already attained.
17 Join together in following my example, brothers and sisters, and just as you have us as a model, keep your eyes on those who live as we do. 18 For, as I have often told you before and now tell you again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. 19 Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is set on earthly things. 20 But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.
4 Therefore, my brothers and sisters, you whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way, dear friends!
4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.