Episode 293: Do Not Love the World

In 1 John 2:15, the apostle writes: “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in him.” Love for the world pushes out love for God, and love for God pushes out love for the world.

What is this “world” that we are not to love? Verse 16 says it is characterized by three things: “lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes, and the pride of life.” The word for “life” does not refer to the state of being alive but rather to the things in the world that make life possible. For example, in 3:17 it is translated “goods.” “Anyone who has this world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him?”

Additional scriptures referenced include 1 John 2:17; Romans 3:10, 12; Luke 24:42-43; Proverbs 23:5, 20-21; Genesis 3:5-6; Matthew 4:1-11; Philippians 3:10; Hebrews 12:2; Hebrews 4:15; Matthew 7:21; 1 Corinthians 6:9-10; Galatians 5:19-20; Romans 8:12-14; Galatians 2:20; 1 Corinthians 10:31; and Psalm 103:15-16.