1 John 2:15-17
Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.
Devotion
John now turns from a description of the church to a description of the world, and to instruction about the church’s attitude toward it. What is the world that John is referring to here? Sometimes John simply means “the universe” or “life on earth,” but usually he is referring to “the life of human society as organized under the power of evil” (Dodd). In these verses, the command not to love the world is rooted on two arguments: “First, the incompatibility of love for the world and love for the Father and secondly, the transience of the world as contrasted with the eternity of those who do God’s will” (John Stott).
Let’s face it. The world we live in is filled with greed, selfish ambition, worldly pleasures, deceit and lying, and danger. We are living in a world that is in rebellion against God. We live in this world system, but we are not to be a part of this world system. We cannot love this world system of evil and God at the same time. John is not saying that we must not love the physical world or the people in it. “For God so loved the world…” What he is saying is that we must not love the forces of evil that are in active rebellion against God.
In his commentary on 1 John, J.V. McGee writes, “you may run with the devil’s crowd all week long and run with the Lord’s crowd on Sunday, but it is obvious that the love of the Father is not in you.” There is a real conflict that goes on in the heart of the believer as long as he/she is in the world with the old nature. The old nature is drawn to this world in which we live; it’s intwined with the program of this world system.
In verse sixteen, John writes about the things in this world that we need to be aware of: the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life. These temptations are in stark contrast to the fruit of the Spirit mentioned in Galatians chapter five. These are the three appeals that the word makes to us today. When the desires of our sinful nature become our goals in life, it leads to the most distorted view of life that is possible. These temptations are from the world, and they bring death. We are told not to love these things because God does not love them.
In verse seventeen, John gives us the reason we are not to love this world. All of these desires and pleasures are temporary. The pleasure they bring is not lasting, unlike the joy we experience as a child of God that is eternal.
Questions to Ponder
Do you love (value) this world system more than you love (value) the kingdom of God? Do you derive great pleasure from being in an intimate relationship with God? Are you trying to live life with one foot in the world and one foot in the kingdom of God? How has God spoken to you through this passage of Scripture today?
Prayer Points
- Worship the Lord as Everlasting God, Upholder all things, Ancient of days, the Almighty, and our Faithful Good Shepherd.
- Confess any lusts of the flesh or eyes or pride. Ask the Lord to help you cast down anything that sets itself up against the knowledge of Christ Jesus.
- Pray for an accountability partner, family member, or close friend who you can share struggles with and who will call you upward in love and grace.
- Ask the Lord for a deeper love for Him and His kingdom. Commit the day to Him.
Suggested Prayer
Oh, Father in heaven, You are perfect, wonderful, kind, and so very patient! I praise You for being the Almighty, Eternal God, Wonderful Counselor, and Faithful Friend. I pray today for myself and Your Church, Oak Pointe. I ask that You would cause our hearts to be overwhelmed with Your love, peace, patience, joy, goodness, and holiness. Remind us afresh of our identity in You. Cause our will to become Your will as You lead us today. Keep us on the straight path. Help us to depend upon You and listen to Your voice as You speak and counsel us throughout the day. Lead us out of temptation and deliver us from evil. I pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.