Monday Manna - The World

Welcome to Monday Manna. The purpose of this meme is to get together and get to know Christ more through His Word. On the first and third Monday of each month, anyone who wishes can post their thoughts on a verse I introduced at my blog the Thursday before. It doesn't have to be a long post -- just a few thoughts, a picture you feel helps express it, a poem, a short story, a devotional.

Anyone is welcome to participate. Just post to your blog and link up at the bottom of this post in the Mr. Linky gadget.

This Monday's verse is found in the New Testament book of 1 John, which I have found just FULL of pearls of wisdom and deep thought. And here's one of them :)

Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 1 John 2:15

My thoughts are below. (excuse my ramblings--not thinking terribly straight today)

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Boy, is this ever a tough one. And convicting.

Sure, there are plenty of things in this world that make my stomach turn, my skin crawl, or even just don't get me very excited. Things I'd gladly do without.

war
strife
pollution
soap operas
slavery
lies
immorality
prejudice
Dr. Pepper

These thing I do NOT love. If John had just said "do not love the icky things of the world," I woulda been on easy street. Pleasing the Lord in this way would have been no problem. I probably could have done it on my own.

And that, in itself, is a clue to the faultiness of this logic. For we can do NOTHING for God on our own. It is only with the power of His Spirit that we can please the Lord.

Anyhow, the world as expressed in this verse is exactly what it says: everything on this planet. And some of these things are easy to love.

Nature
A great book
A heartwarming/exciting/fill-in-the-blank movie
Good food
Money in the bank
A nice car
A shiny laptop
Smiles
Laughter
Thin Mints

So, I'm not allowed to love these things? Yikes. These can be good things, can't they? What is wrong with them?

Actually, not much--as long as we don't put too much of a focus on them. If I love, say, my car, enough that it changes my focus, it's a problem. If I see it as something "I" have, it's a problem. But, if I look at all these things I love through God's eyes, and His sovereignty and provision, I am loving the Provider, and not the objects themselves.

For anything I put ahead of God (even thin mints) is an idol - a false God. And God doesn't allow split loyalties. Our love for Him must be supreme.

If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

Couldn't have said it better myself.

Thanks for reading! Be sure to link up below with your own thoughts on this verse, and read the other folks' contributions as well. I guarantee you will be blessed!