Do Not Love the World

PRAYER PRACTICE

Out loud, pray for God to speak to you through your reading. Praise God for giving us His word. Ask the Spirit to help you read with faith, and to live out what you hear from God through the passage.

 

DAILY READING

1 John 2:15-17

 

DEVOTION / REFLECTION

Do Not Love the World

by Pr. Dave Mann

 

Should we love the world or not?  I find it very curious that we find seemingly contradictory statements written by the same author, John, concerning love of the world.

• 1 John 2:15 – Do not love the world or the things in the world.
• John 3:16 – For God so loved the world …

Why does the Word of God exhort us to go in two different directions?  No, it is not because there are two different words for “world” in the original Greek.  It’s the same word – kosmos – in both verses.  It is because there are different meanings for the same word.  This happens in English, in Greek, and in all languages.

 

In John 3:16, the word “world” refers to all the people in the world – people for whom Christ died, with whom he longs to spend eternity, for whom he is willing to suffer and die.

 

In 1 John 2:15, the word “world” refers to the broken system developed by sinful, selfish people who care only about themselves.  They are short-sighted and the worldly structure that has been developed over time hurts people. It sucks life out of people.  This “world” promises that it can give us whatever we need.  If we will only spend more money to buy more products, we will have joy and fulfillment.  If we can only earn more money, we will be able to achieve respect and honor.  But of course, this “world” cannot make good on its promises.  If you love this “world,” if you believe in the promises of this “world,” you will be sadly disappointed.

 

Some of us have succeeded in this world.  Some have done well in school.  Some have done well in sports.  Some have done well financially.  This is not bad or wrong.  But there is a risk in having succeeded by the world’s standards.  If you have worldly success, do not trust in the accolades.  The world system will pass away.  Where are those straight A grade cards?  Where are those sports trophies?  Probably in a box in your basement.  Where are the financial portfolios of those who lie in a grave?  Certainly not benefiting them now.

 

Place your trust in God alone.  Loving people as God does (John 3:16) is a way that you can invest in the life to come.  A relationship with Jesus Christ is the only thing that can benefit you forever.

 

Heavenly Father, I pray that you would inspire me to love the world in the sense that I would love people self-sacrificially.  I also pray that you would help me to distrust the worldly system which promises fulfillment to those who succeed in receiving the world’s awards.  Help me to love what you love and to invest where you invest.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.