Don’t Love the World

“Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him” (1 John 2:15).

Love of the world is inherently evil: the world is described as “this present evil world” (Galatians 1:4). The apostle John tells us that this evil has three forms: “the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life” (1 John 2:16).

It was the lust of the flesh that set Balaam on the path to his destruction. The lust of the eyes is what led Achan astray, as he looked and was dazzled by the sight of silver, gold, and the Shinarite robe, and he fell under the terrifying judgment of God.

The pride of life is what filled Haman's heart with greed and the desire for exaltation, and the result was that the tables turned against him, and he was crucified on the same cross that he had prepared for Mordecai. In short, we say: The love of the world is everything that distances our hearts from God, and establishes in them something other than Christ, and its result is one, which is immediate misery.

The love of the world is enmity with God: There is a clear contrast mentioned in the Epistle of James, as the Apostle James says: "For the love of the world is enmity with God. Therefore whoever desires to be a friend of the world has become an enemy of God" (James 4:4). Therefore Abraham was called "the friend of God" (James 2:23; 2 Chr. 20:7; Is. 41). Although divine revelation does not tell us explicitly when God gave him this beautiful title, there is evidence to indicate this time.

This happened after Abraham refused to take from the hand of the king of Sodom the possessions that he wanted to give him. This made God say to him:

"Fear not, Abram; I am your shield; your reward is very great" (Gen. 15:1). The king of Sodom represents the world. Just as Abraham did not want to mingle with him or take anything from him, so the believer must protect himself from the world, which does not enrich him until it compels him - without realizing it - to sacrifice his glorious principles and, if possible, to deny Christ his Redeemer.

By Marsh