Thought for Friday, 11 November

 1 John 2:15-16 (New International Version) 

Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father, but from the world.

 

1 John is quite a short book in the New Testament with only five chapters, but there is such a lot contained within these words.  John is preaching the Gospel to these people with authority because as well as hearing what the Lord said and sharing it, he had the advantage of being one of the companions of Jesus.  He had actually witnessed all the wonderful things Jesus accomplished during his ministry in this world and heard at first hand, all the things He said.

 

Paul challenges us by suggesting we ask ourselves the question; ‘how can we be sure that we belong to Him?’  He goes on to tell us that if we say we belong to Him but do not obey His commandments, we are simply ‘kidding ourselves on’ (translated into West of Scotland speak).  For those that do obey the commandments, it proves that the Holy Spirit lives within them.

 

He reiterates the commandment given by Jesus that ‘we should love one another’ and goes on to say ‘anyone who hates a fellow Christian is ‘living in darkness and is blinded by that darkness’.  How can we possibly love our enemies if we can’t love those who are known to us?

 

In today’s verses, it concerns our love for the sparkly, glittery, shiny, exclusive and expensive things in the world that catch our eyes.  For some, these things can be acquired easily, for others it might mean taking on debt or really stretching current resources and for those who remain, they may never possess one of these luxury, or ‘lusted after’ items.

 

I recall an uncle of mine pushing the boat out many years ago for an expensive item which at that time, would be regarded as a luxury and my granny’s reaction was; ‘very nice but ye canny take it with you’.  My granny had a never-ending supply of wise words, and the previous example puts today’s passage into perspective.

 

John makes the important point later in the chapter that though these shallow desires pass away, the will of God—and those who do it—will live forever.  As Jesus himself says in Luke 9:25 ‘For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits his own soul’ in the process?

 

Prayer

Heavenly Father, we thank You for the important instructions in the first letter of John and the dangers of being influenced by the things of the world - the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the boastful pride of life. Keep our eyes looking to Jesus, our hearts pure and help us to put aside the things of this world so that we do not become ensnared by the lustful leanings and ungodly enticements of the world, the flesh, and the devil.  We pray that we may live our lives in loving obedience to Your Word and renounce all that is evil. In Jesus' name, we pray.                Amen