Loving the World
- Jeff Kent
- May 18
- 2 min read
Living in the world but not being of the world (John 17:14-18) is a very “sticky” business because we need to interact so much with the world to make our way on a daily basis. Food, clothing, shelter, money, vehicle, healthy body, job, education, etc. Even though God blesses us with these things, they are all part of the world structure with which we must interact to do life.
John warns the Christian that any of these can become a dangerous snare since the world and the things of the world appeal to the passions which exist in our flesh. He is saying that anything in the world has the potential for drawing our love away from God and the things above (Colossians 3:1-2) so that our love for that aspect of the world supercedes our love for God. John says if that happens to any person then God’s love is not in them.
Let’s take work as an example. A person has a need to work and make a living. But one’s needing to work can deteriorate into a distorted lust in which one’s job becomes the fulfillment of one’s life and the answer to one’s problems. A person may work to avoid difficult situations at home - going to work early and staying late provides escape from troubles with one’s spouse and children. A person may prefer his job to working for the Lord as he likes the recognition he gets at the work place more than he does the praise of God. Someone may see work as a way to get that larger house, sporty car or bass boat so work becomes a way to satisfy boastful pride and desire for pleasure. Another sees work as a way to build one’s bank account and retirement nest egg, so work becomes security.
In an individual’s mind, the world can take on the appearance of being the satisfaction for every legitimate desire and need. And when that happens, God is dethroned in the person’s heart, and some part of the world becomes his god. It is noteworthy, as we consider John’s words here that the Bible never warns us about atheism. Hmmm? The Holy Spirit never has a concern that mankind will not worship. His concern is that human beings will worship anything!!
“Do not love the world nor the things in the world...”
><> Jeff
Comments