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. (ESV)
Someone said a long time ago, that “if the devil can’t make you bad, he’ll make you busy.” The world provides a lot of distractions.
This verse talks about three key areas, that even Jesus was tempted in (Matthew 4): pleasure, prestige and possessions. The King James Version would call these, “the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life.” Regardless of what terms you use, these three worldly distractions surround us every day.
Just look at television advertising. Every ad draws on at least one of these desires for pleasure, prestige or possessions. Many car commercials lead you to believe that the right automobile will give you all three simultaneously. But, if these three were truly satisfying, then we would be satisfied.
What is at the top of your list? Are you chasing after things that are “passing away” or things that are eternal? One day the “new” will wear off of worldly things, then you will be chasing something else. God wants to give you what “abides forever.” Chase after Him.
Copyright © 2009 Allen White
Scripture quotations taken from The Holy Bible: English Standard Version, copyright © 2001, Wheaton: Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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