Message begins around 32:00
Do Not Love the World
02/13/2021 - Dave Riddle
Key Passage: 1 John 2:15-17
Do not love the world
1 John 2:15a Do not love the world or the things that belong to the world.
James says it, Paul says it, John says it…
“Love” agapaō (ἀγαπάω) - unconditional love.
1 John 2:15b If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in him.
You can’t serve two masters.
There’s gotta be one Lord, Master, priority, affection of your life.
What are the aspects of the world that are most tempting to give my undivided attention to?
James 4:4 Adulterers! Don’t you know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? So whoever wants to be the world’s friend becomes God’s enemy.
We need to be very sensitive to the Holy Spirit to recognize when things of the world begin to displace our focus on God.
Revelation 2:4 - …you have abandoned your first love…
Everything that belongs to the world
1 John 2:16 For everything that belongs to the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride in one’s lifestyle—is not from the Father, but is from the world.
Not an exhaustive list
Flesh - Our base physical passions (Hedonism)
1 Peter 2:11
We are foreigners and strangers here on Earth. Temporary residents.
Our life is not solely about what happens between birth and death.
Eyes - The tendency to be captivated by the outward appearance of things. An inordinate desire for the finer things in life. (Materialism)
Proverbs 27:20 - Sheol and Abaddon are never satisfied, and people’s eyes are never satisfied. (CSB)
Human desires are like the world of the dead - there’s always room for more. (GNT)
Pride - the trust that we have in our own power, resources, abilities, insight. (Self-sufficiency)
Luke 14:11 - Those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.
Why don’t we care about those things?
1 John 2:17 the world with its lust is passing away, but the one who does God’s will remains forever.
Paul says the same thing in Romans 7:31
Jesus reframes our thinking in Mark 3:35
We need to do a heart check
What has your heart?
If it’s something other than God… it’s the wrong answer.
Mathew 6:21 - Your heart will always be where your treasure is.
