Scripture – “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.”
1 John 2:15-17 NIV
Observation – Most of the following is from Tony Evan’s Bible Commentary: If we love this world we’ll be deceived by it and live and act in a way that dishonors God. The lust of the flesh seeks to fulfill legitimate desires through illegitimate ways; eating is good, gluttony is sin, sex is good within marriage – sex outside of marriage is immoral. The lust of the eyes is covetousness – wanting what others possess, this is idolatry and will lead people down a path that robs them of joy and causes them to be restless and bitter instead of grateful and at peace. The pride of life results in people saying, “look at me and what I have and what I’ve done” instead of being grateful to the God that gave you life and your abilities. This world will be destroyed but God and his love live forever.
Application – Audit your life, how are you doing? Do you love this world more than you love Jesus, do you love your sin more than you love Jesus, do you love what others possess more than you love Jesus? Does your satisfaction, sense of self worth come from what others say and think about you or are your eyes fixed on Jesus? If you are captivated by this world confess your sins and repent. Ask Jesus to help you.
Prayer – Lord, you have created a beautiful world with lots of things for us to enjoy. I pray that we look at all this gifts in the proper perspective and stay focused on you, the creator and giver of all good gifts. I pray that you would create in us a disdain for things not from you. Amen.
What are you doing? Do it better 