Don't Fall In Love With The World

I have a sticky note on my cork board in my room that reminds me, "Don't fall in love with the world." I was never taught this in Sunday school. I was never taught it at home. In all reality the world actually taught me the opposite, especially in America, with the American Dream and all. And I have been wondering where I learned it...why I felt these words were so important.

I was reading Tozer right now and he quoted a verse in 1 John. Here is what I found first, highlighted in four different colors (not even kidding about that one):

Do Not Love the World

"Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For everything in the world--the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does--comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever." (vs. 15-17)

Not loving the world is a simple idea at first, but the lives we are supposed to live based on these words are deep, very deep. It is hard to swim that far under water for long periods of time. But if I have learned anything from God, as He tested me and my desires, it is that this world and its stuff won't last too much longer, but your seeking God, knowing God, and loving God will.

Chasing your dreams is one thing. Chasing God's will is another. One is of the world. One is of God. Wanting a big house and the car and the big screen tv are one thing. Trusting God to provide you with what you need is another. There's the worldly way of life, loving the world. And there's a godly way of life, loving God.

Not falling in love with this world is definitely hard for us, but not impossible. Just don't be like me and not learn this until God makes you learn this with Him intervening in your life, like with disease and loss of worldly things. Don't wait for Him to take worldly things away for you to learn you don't need them. Give them up now. It could be the difference between passing away and lasting forever.