Do Not Love The World Or Anything In The World
Don't Settle For The Temporary
1JOHN 2:15-16
“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. For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world.
”I John 2:15-16 NKJV
https://www.bible.com/114/1jn.2.15-16.nkj
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Worldliness is not limited to external behaviour, the people we associate with, places we go, and the things and activities we involve in and enjoy.
It is also internal because it begins in the heart and is characterised by three attitudes.
Craving physical pleasures-preoccupation with gratifying physical desires; craving the things we see-coveting and accumulating things, bowing to the god of materialism, and pride-pride in our achievements, opinions, possessions, status, and importance.
This is the three areas where the serpent tempted Eve (Genesis 3:6), and the devil tried to tempt Jesus in the wilderness (MATHEW 4:1-11).
By contrast, God values self-control, generosity, and a humble serving attitude.
It is in these three areas where we believers shall be tested.
Some people give the impression that worldly pleasures are not too important to them while still harbouring worldly attitudes in their heart.
Furthermore, the heart being a part of the flesh is determined to please the flesh at any cost, and if allowed, will drag us into all kinds of wickedness to achieve the pleasures of the flesh, for “The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked; Who can know it?”
Jeremiah 17:9 NKJV
It’s not that God wants us to be poor or not have nice things, or a nice lifestyle, “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich
(II Corinthians 8:9 NKJV).
But wealth, status, and material things and even the people close to us like spouses, children, or leaders, must not become too important to us; we must not allow those things to become our god.
“If anyone teaches otherwise and does not consent to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which accords with godliness, he is proud, knowing nothing, but is obsessed with disputes and arguments over words, from which come envy, strife, reviling, evil suspicions, useless wranglings of men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. From such withdraw yourself. Now godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.”
I Timothy 6:3-10 NKJV
My brethren, the things of this world are temporary as is the pleasures they bring.
Therefore, ““Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
Matthew 6:19-21 NKJV
The truth is, God has made a way for us by sending His Holy Spirit to help us in our walk with God (JOHN 14:15-18).
But we believers must make our choices, to walk in the temporary of the flesh, or in the eternal of the Holy Spirit.
Their is but two choices, to walk in the darkness of this world, or to walk in the light of Jesus Christ.
“I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.”
Galatians 5:16-26 NKJV
All glory to God forever and ever! Amen.
