When Love is Wrong!

Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 1 John 2:15

At first glance, it seems strange to think that God would not want us to love the things of this world. However,   we need to understand the context of this passage. We know that scripture tells us that the god of this world is the devil, Satan himself (2 Corinthians 4:4) . John details in 1 John 2:16 precisely what Satan’s world system  promotes: the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the boastful pride of life. When you stop and think  about it, every sin can be summed up in those three evils.

When you came to saving faith in Jesus Christ, you were transformed from a slave to sin to a slave of righteousness. You are no longer a citizen of the kingdom of darkness. You became a citizen of the kingdom of God, Jesus became your King, and you became an ambassador for your King in this world.  The things of the world that God hates, we should hate.

As followers of Christ, we need to evaluate our walk in this world. What occupies your energy, time, money,    and your love. If your first answer is anything other than  Jesus Christ, you might love the world and the things of the world more than you love God. If this is the case, you will do well to heed the warning of John, “Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him”.

Your shepherd,

Pastor Mark