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. — 1 John 2:15
It can become easy to love things in this world. Many people have started off well in life. They begin things that are not necessarily sinful in themselves, but soon, they become obsessed with them. Many good Christians have become obsessed with things such as money, possessions, and other things in this life.
I will never forget the stories I heard growing up where Christians might share with me how they became obsessed with things in this world, and it distracted them from a life serving God. They would share stories about how they were distracted in church or started skipping reading God’s word and praying, all in an effort to chase worldly gain.
There is not a sin in working for money or having things in this life. But God gives a warning of those things taking precedent in our lives over serving Him. They can become an idol to us, causing us to become distracted from living our lives for God. That is certainly loving things in the world, as this verse warns against.
God’s plan was never that we would become consumed by the world. Rather, it was that we would exist in this world to be a light for Him. Instead of being like the world, we are called to be different, sharing a light amid the darkness.
As you reflect today, is there anything standing in the way of God in your life? Are you living carefully in this world to prevent anything from pulling you away from God? There are so many distractions, but God is able to help us overcome those if we ask Him.
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