God or the World?

 

1/24/2021

1 John 2:15-17 "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 desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions - is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever."

The world, and what it offers, is fickle. Over the course of history, different things are put forth as necessities that are not. There are practical needs like food, water, shelter, and clothing, and psychological and emotional needs like safety, freedom, respect, connection, and love. These are all valuable, and those that have them are truly blessed. Then there are those things that society makes us believe we need, like wealth, power, fame, physical strength, beauty, continuing education (even at the sake of astronomical costs), an impressive home, designer clothes and shoes, lavish vacations, the very latest technology, and a host of other things. Many people go into massive debt to acquire these things that the worlds makes us believe we need. These desires that are so attractive, of course, are the way Satan keeps us self-centered and not God-centered. 

The only thing that any of us should truly desire is a relationship with God, for all else is fleeting and temporal. God is the only one who offers eternal connection and life. There is NOTHING this world can offer that can save my soul. No good work I can do, no amount of talent or fame, or nothing that I can buy that will connect me to Jesus; this is done only through submission and yielding to Him as the Lord of my life. The "world" would look upon this truth of submission as weakness, but it is only though this act that I can gain the strength that only can come from God. 

So I must ask myself: Is my connection to this world and the desires it creates in me drawing me away from my focus on God? Am I giving too much attention to the things that will pass away, or am I sharing with others the only thing that is abiding and eternal?