[Biblemat] A) DO NOT LOVE THE WORLD

[J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com]

Brethren and Friends, Jim Sasser here.  A very good Friday morn-
ing to each and everyone.  May God bless you and yours.  Here
is an article from my files:

DO NOT LOVE THE WORLD

     The world around us proposes a great problem for the 
Christian.  There are so many temptations, allurements and
material riches.  Friendships with ungodly people can lead
children of God astray.  Visual enticements bombard discipl-
es from teh computer, television, video games, etc.  Sweet
sounding music with questionable or blatant evil lyrics corru-
pt our godly thinking as it flows through headphones from
I-pods or CD players.  The evil world surrounds and swallows
without a gulp many unsuspecting and naive people of God!

     Understanding these things about the world explains why
God would have John write this warning:  "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.  For all that is in the world
the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life - 
is not of the Father but is of the world.  And the world is pass-
ing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God
abides forever" (1 Jno. 2:15-17).

     An important key to this warning is the word "love."  The
word love in this text means "setting our affection upon" whatever thing is 
under discussion.  That which is under dis-
cussion is the "world."  The world represents material things
and the people that are all around us.  Two other words "lust"
and "pride" describe how we can love the world.  It is imperat-
ive that we understand how the love of the world can take us
away from the love we should have for God.  This warning is
addressing our minds and hearts, and how we can set our
minds and hearts on worldly things.

     There are two powers that oppose one another in this warning from God 
that says, "do not love the world" -- the
power of the world and its lusts are passing away, and the 
other power of doing the will of God which abides forever.

     The force of loving the world is depicted in three temptat-
ions: lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes, and the pride of life.
Knowing how these temptations attack reveals how we can
prevent ourselves from loving the world.  Our desires or lusts
become the most important needs we think we have, and we
will do everything possible to fulfill them.  My pride, which is
all about "me" and "my" importance, becomes first priority in
everything.

     We can overcome this love of the world by loving God and
keeping His Will.  When we put God first in our life, and make
pleasing Him a priority, then we will not love the world! --------
Ron Drumm.
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