I John Chapter 2 Pt. 5 Love The Things Of God, Not The Things Of This World.

The apostle John was guided by God's Spirit to finish chapter 2 with some words of warning for the church. We will use one post to look at each warning.

The first warning concerns how we live for God and our relationship to the world at large.

The second warning concerns sound doctrine in contrast to early heresies that sprang up. 

A much needed warning: Love not the world!

1 John 2:15-17  Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16)  For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. 17)  And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

Under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, John gave a strong exhortation regarding the world and how Christians should live. 

The word "love" means to be overly pleased and well contented with the what the world (culture) offers. 

Remember that an idol in modern society is often very different from having statutes of various "gods" that  might be bowed down to and worshiped.

An idol is anything or anyone that we love and seek after, more than we love and seek God. 

It is in this sense that believers in Christ are warned not to love the world. 

Don't use your time, energy and resources to pursue the things of this world, because they appeal to our fleshly lusts. 

We can end up spending too much time, energy and resources buying things that satisfy our flesh, or that make us proud. 

Take notice how much marketing is based upon purchasing a certain brand, a certain consumer product, because it makes you proud.

Pride always goes before a fall (See Proverbs 16:18). Pride is one of the things in our heart that can defile us (See Mark 7:22). 

If we become filled up with pride, we fall into the condemnation of the devil (See 1 Timothy 3:6).

Don't cherish the pleasures of this life more than the pleasure and blessing of being a child of the living God. 

John goes on to warn us that if we love the world more than we love God, then the love of the Father is not in us. 

This means that the Spirit of God has given us another Christian litmus test, a way that we can check our hearts to see where we are. 

If we love the world more than we love God, then our profession of faith is probably not genuine. 

Finally, the apostle reminds believers that all the pride and lust driven things of the world, will pass away. 

James 4:4  Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God. 

The apostle James communicates the same truth as John, and he is very blunt in doing so. 

Friendship with the world, or loving the world more than loving God, makes one an enemy of God. 

The simple meaning of James is do not be a friend of the world. Do not seek the things down here because they bring no lasting hope or pleasure.

All our cherished possessions are going to be consumed by fire (See 2 Peter 3:7-12).

The world hated Jesus and will hate Christians. 

John 15:18-19  If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. 19)  If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. 

Looking back at Jesus' teaching as recorded by John, our Lord Jesus tells us why the world hates Christians. It is because the world hated Jesus. 

As Christ preached and taught, he was showing the pure light of God's word upon those who sinned against God. The world hates having its sin exposed. 

The kingdom of darkness will always react when the Light of God's Word shines upon it. 

If we were conformed to this world, then we would not experience resistance to sharing the gospel, and we would not be hated for preaching against sin. 

Since a Christian's heart has been regenerated by the Spirit of God, we are called out of sin's darkness, into His marvelous light (See 1 Peter 2:9).

Therefore, the world hates us. 

The truth John tells us about not loving the world, is also a topic addressed by the other apostles. 

We will look at a few of these, to help us build a God centric view of work, wealth, contentment and worship. 

The world presses in on us, but we must renew our minds. 

Romans 12:1-2  I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 2)  And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. 

God knows that we must provide for our food, clothing and shelter. He gives us skills, abilities, and various aptitudes to earn a living.

Christians live in a sin cursed world. We must provide for our basic needs and for our families. 

However, while we work and earn a living in this world, let us remember to present our body as a living sacrifice to God. 

Yes, vocational work can become an act of worship and an expression of thanksgiving to our Father. 

Doing mundane but necessary chores around the house can be an act of worship.

Paul is teaching us that we use our skills and abilities to earn a living as God expects us to. 

The world views work as a way to enrich self, to get ahead, and earn more money in order to buy more things.

The Christian is not called to that kind of a vocational attitude. 

Therefore we receive warning from the God's Spirit about the daily danger of being conformed to the world's likeness. 

What help does God give the Christian, so that we are not squeezed into the world's mold? He gives us His own Spirit living in us and He gives us His wonderful word. 

The ministry of the Spirit of God with the Word of God in the heart of man, renews our minds and transforms us into the image of Christ, not the image of the culture. 

Have our affection set upward as we live this present life. 

Colossians 3:1-2  If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. 2)  Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.

Christians are raised to walk in newness of life, through faith in Jesus Christ. Since we are risen with Christ, we must earnestly seek those things of God which are above, where Jesus Christ is enthroned in glory. 

Seek to know and treasure the glorious things of God, with all due diligence and effort. 

It takes concerted effort on our part, to set our mind and heart on the eternal things that are unseen. 

The "seen" things are always around us, and they readily engage our physical senses, but the unseen things of God must be sought after.

We will be blessed as we set our affection on heavenly things. 

Godliness with contentment is God's will for Christians. 

1 Timothy 6:6-10  But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7)  For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. 8)  And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. 9)  But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. 10)  For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. 

The apostle Paul helps us grasp why we should not love the world nor the things of the world. 

One of the greatest lessons a Christian can learn is this one. Godliness with contentment is great gain. 

Let us praise God for His promised provision of food, clothing and shelter. 

Why do we try to own more material things? We cannot carry them with us when we die. All that we leave behind will belong to someone else. 

Those who seek more wealth and more material possessions will be trapped in temptations and lusts that destroy them. 

One only has to examine current prominent business scandals, to see how people are destroyed by their love of money. 

Store up heavenly treasure not earthly pleasures. 

Matthew 6:19-24  Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: 20)  But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: 21)  For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. 22)  The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light. 23)  But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness! 24)  No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. 

The Lord Jesus Christ also spoke about wealth. He tells us not to lay up a large store of wealth and possessions in this life. They may be stolen or break down. 

Instead, lay up heavenly treasures that are safe and secure. 

Jesus shows us what is most important is what our heart is fixed on. We cannot serve wealth (love of money) and serve God. We must choose whom we will serve. 

What is heavenly treasure? It is simply making God the priority for how we use our time, energy and resources. 

Thoughts to Ponder...

May the Spirit of God grant us understanding of these truths. 

May He give us strength to live them out, so that we honor God with our time, energy and substance.

May the Spirit of God instill the mind of Christ in us, regarding loving the world or loving God. 

Bob