I John 2:15 “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.”
I read in the early morning news how there have been larger crowds than ever before that have flocked to the entertainment at our local beaches; but, I also recently read that Church attendance of all denominations is declining. At the same time, crime and suffering is on an exponential increase. John tells us to “Love not the world”; this “Love” is that deep, drawing, and binding affection that a “born again” (John 3:1-8) Child of God has for God and for the things of God. The object of this “Love” is revealed by behavior; to “love the world” is to show greater affection for “the things that are in the world” than for God and for the things of God. Our Lord frames it as a master-servant relationship; telling us that, “No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.” (Matthew 6:24). James describes those who show more “Love” to “the world” than to God as “adulterers and adulteresses” and “the enemy of God” and tells us “that the friendship of the world is enmity with God” (James 4:4). Our Lord Created this “world” for His glory and for our benefit, our provision, our comfort, and our enjoyment. But, when men begin to show more “love” to “the world” than to our God, “the world” will soon lead to their ruin and utter failure – it surely seems that we are now on this horrible path. In spite of our imperfections, we’ve been so blessed for so long that folks just cannot believe it could happen to us; but many other great nations of this world have risen to world power and then fallen into total ruin. Only God has preserved us this long; however, as we turn from God, we should not expect Him to continue to bless us! Let us pray for one another, that our merciful and gracious Lord will again wonderfully stir up His “Love” within us and revive us again as a people faithful and “willing and obedient” (Isaiah 1:19) to Him!