Love for This World Can Only Provide a Temporary Fix
Do not love this world nor the things it offers you.
1 John 2:15a
These words from John made me wonder … what exactly is love for this world?
I did a quick internet search, and the AI answer said…
Love for this world refers to an attachment to its values, pleasures, and material possessions, which can lead one away from spiritual commitments and a relationship with God.
And…
The Life Application Notes define love for this world as a heart attitude characterized by these three attitudes:
- Craving for physical pleasure—preoccupation with gratifying physical desires.
- Craving for things we see—coveting and accumulating things … materialism.
- Pride in achievements and possessions—obsession with one’s status or importance.
Based on those definitions, I would summarize love for this world by saying…
Love for this world is making yourself your god.
John continued…
When you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you. For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world.
1 John 15b–16
It makes sense when we put it all together. You and I can’t love God and others as He commands when we are obsessed with our own power, position, possessions, and popularity.
Got Questions adds this point about Satan and loving the world…
Satan is the god of this world, and he has his own value system contrary to God’s.
From the moment Satan tempted Adam and Eve in the Garden, saying…
“God knows that your eyes will be opened as soon as you eat it, and you will be like God, knowing both good and evil.”
Genesis 3:5
Through every tempting word today, his goal is to get us to be selfishly focused on being god over our own lives.
But self-love that chases worldly cravings is just a temporary fix for a longing only God can satisfy now and eternally.
John concludes these verses like this…
This world is fading away, along with everything that people crave. But anyone who does what pleases God will live forever.
1 John 2:17
The only thing that will last into eternity is the love we share with God and the people in our lives. This world as we know it, and the enemy of our souls, will end. But through faith in Jesus and all that He has done for us, we will strive to love as our Father commands.
Having and sharing God’s love are the only things that will never fail and never end.
Let’s pray…
A Prayer for God’s Help
Not to Live for This World
Heavenly Father, thank you for the countless blessings You grant each day. I thank and praise You for allowing me to KNOW and LOVE You and Your Son, Jesus, through the Holy Spirit. Thank you for the gift of faith.
Even as I SEEK a closer walk with You, the enemy tempts me with worldly desires. He fills every information avenue with taunts of temporary pleasures. He waves unattained desires and dreams to move me to act outside of Your will. Please forgive me.
Father, please help me focus on LOVE. Help me respond to Your perfect love by loving You and the people around me well. You are so gracious and generous with Your love. It is the only thing that never fails and will never end.
You gave Jesus to forgive all who surrender in faith, and make it possible for us to value as precious Your eternal gifts over the world’s temporary temptations.
You made us to live in this world and share Your love, without having a love for this world that is self-centered and selfish. Please help me. Teach me Your ways and give me a heart that overflows with Your everlasting love forever, and ever, and always. Amen.
Here are some quotes and verses to help and encourage us…
“If we find ourselves with a desire that nothing in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that we were made for another world.” ~ C. S. Lewis
“Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.
Matthew 6:19–21
“Wise people build their lives around what is eternal and squeeze in what is temporary. Not the other way around.” ~ John Ortberg
You will keep in perfect peace
Isaiah 26:3
all who trust in You,
all whose thoughts are fixed on You!
“You cannot really have the world and hold on to it. It is all too temporary, and the more you try to hold on to it, the more it actually holds you. By contrast, the more you hold on to the true and the good, the more you are free to really live.” ~ Ravi Zacharias
It’s an awesome blessing to know God’s eternal promises.
May we resist the enemy when he tempts us to waste our days on love for this world. We have the best blessing of all … LOVE that lasts forever and always.
Let the morning bring me word of Your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in You. Show me the way I should go, for to You I entrust my life.
Psalm 143:8
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Amen! Loved this today, Deb!
I am actually hating the world more every day! I love, loving my God and thinking of His glorious return! May we all give Him the praise and the glory that only He deserves! Have a great week storing up treasures in Heaven! Lov you dear friend! And friends (Sue)!
Kathy,
I do love you my sweet friend and I keep you so very close in my prayers and thoughts each day. I pray for your healing and for strength from the Lord for you.
Love,
Sue
Thank you, Kathy! Our God is so very gracious and good. Blessings HUGS!
We may be in the world, but we always need to remember that we are not of it. Thanks for these wise words today, Deb. Blessings!
Amen, Martha! It takes the Spirit to give us strength and focus to live in the world without letting it take control. Blessings and HUGS!
Everything you said today is beautifully said! God is love and those of us who love God want to love the way He does. Jesus always had time to stop and talk and show love to others. I know I want to love that way. It is so difficult today to see and to understand how much hate and violence is going on in this world!!
This post gives us lots to ponder and to pray about. Thank you for the love in Christ that you share with all of us!! What a gift you have!!
Thank you, Sue. I’m praying for long term vision in a short term focused world. May God be with you and bless you, dear friend!