Which World Are You Loving?

"Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them." — 1 John 2:15

What does it mean to "love the world"?

We have secularized how we serve God. I want you to see this. You will understand this from the context. There are three Greek words that refer to the world.

The first refers to the dirt—the actual physical dirt, the sunrise, the sunset, the mountains and oceans. God created this world and called it good. There's nothing wrong with appreciating creation.

The second refers to people. God so loved the world—the people—that He gave His only Son. We are supposed to love people. Jesus died for them.

The third refers to the world system with its values. This is the context of 1 John Chapter 2. Do you love the world system?

What is that world system? The Scripture spells it out clearly. There is a characteristic that flows through the world system. It is being sucked into the value system of the present world.

The Scripture is very clear that this value system says, "Look at me, look what I have, look at who I am." The Bible says, "This is not of God, it is of the flesh."

The lust of the flesh—wanting what feels good regardless of what's right. The lust of the eyes—wanting what looks appealing regardless of what it costs. The pride of life—wanting status and recognition regardless of who gets hurt.

These three things drive the world system. And Scripture says they do not come from the Father.

So when Scripture says "do not love the world," it's not telling you to hate God's creation or avoid people. It's warning you not to get sucked into a value system that opposes everything God stands for.

Are you being shaped by the world's values? Are you chasing what the culture chases? Are you measuring success the way the world measures it?

The world and its desires are passing away. But whoever does the will of God lives forever.
Which world are you loving?