Stop Loving the World.
Not long ago, I read a short book by William Greenhill titled Stop Loving the World. The entire book focuses on three verses (1 John 2:15-17). Here’s what they say:
15 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. 16 For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride in one’s possessions—is not from the Father, but is from the world. 17 And the world with its lust is passing away, but the one who does the will of God remains forever. (1 John 2:15-17)
Notice. There’s only one command in these verses, and it’s found in vs. 15 — “Do not love the world.” In these verses, the Apostle John makes it clear that a love of the world is incompatible with our love for God. In other words, you can’t love the world and God at the same time. If you love the world, it will drive out your love for God, and if you love God, it will drive out your love of the world.
If that’s true, how can we know when a love of the world has crept into our hearts? How can you and I know if we sinfully love the world?
Well, in his book, William Greenhill provides seven reflection questions to help us consider whether or not there are areas in our lives where we love the world.
Truthfully, it’s a convicting list of questions.
Reflection Questions from Stop Loving The World.
Am I more focused on material success and possessions than on my spiritual well-being?
Do my daily responsibilities and activities leave little or no room for my spiritual practices?
Am I satisfied with minimal effort when it comes to nurturing my soul?
What brings me the most joy and satisfaction in life?
Do I use unethical methods to achieve material success?
Do I value worldly knowledge, skills, and achievements more than spiritual wisdom and virtues?
Do I feel more upset about the loss of outward material things than I do about the loss of spiritual things?
Maybe as you reflect on those questions, you sense the Spirit poking at sin in your life. The reason is that all of us, in one way or another, feel the pull of the world. Greenhill wrote:
Water is not more prone to run downward, nor the fire to climb upwards, than our hearts are to chase after earthly things. This is common to all men, a universal sickness and disease in all. (William Greenhill)
In other words, no one on the planet is inoculated from the sinful tendency to love the world. We all experience it. Whether you’ve been following Jesus for two weeks or twenty years, the gravitational pull of the world on your heart is a temptation you must resist.
So, what should we do?
How should we respond?
The Expulsive Power of a Greater Affection.
Well, Thomas Chalmers, a Scottish minister in the 1800s, wrote a book called The Expulsive Power of a Greater Affection. Personally, it is one of the most helpful books I’ve ever read on fighting sin. It’s a short book (only 80 pages) but a powerful book that completely changed the way I think about following Jesus.
In the book, Chalmers writes that there are two ways you and I can try to dislodge a sinful desire from our hearts. The first way is by exposing the foolishness of what we’re doing—by trying to convince ourselves that it’s a bad idea, by promising never to do it again.
In other words, one method for not loving the world is sheer willpower, telling yourself over and over how bad the sin in your life is, becoming more disciplined, trying harder next time, and gaining more accountability in your life.
Isn’t that how so many of us try to fight sin?
Isn’t that how so many of us try to fight love for the world?
We think, “If I could just get up earlier and read my Bible a bit more (Or whatever the “try-harder” thing is for you), that’ll do the trick.”
But there’s another way.
The other way is by pursuing a greater desire. In other words, the best way to dislodge a distorted love or desire from our hearts is to find a greater love — a greater desire — to take its place. Chalmers says it this way:
We must find a second desire with a charm powerful enough to dispose the first desire of its influence. (Thomas Chalmers)
Listen. Christianity is not about the eradication of your desires. It’s about the fulfillment of your desires in the only person who can truly meet them and satisfy them beyond anything you could ever ask for or imagine. You were made by God, for God, and you will never be truly happy unless you’re connected to God.
AUTHOR’S NOTE: I’d love to connect if you have any questions, comments, or additional thoughts. If you were helped by something you read, please share it with your sphere of influence. Thanks!
>> stay connected. 👇