Do Not Love the World

“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 lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.”
1 John 2:15-17.

Though we live in this world, we are not of this world. The Christian life is confined to a unique pattern unlike the worldly life. As Christians, our lives should spread the fragrance and the virtues of salvation. Things that seem to be normal for a worldly person can’t normal for a person who had experienced the joy of salvation.

When we talk about staying away from worldly things, it is not just about dissociating ourselves from things that are worldly, but about having a closer walk with the Creator. King David had such practice of walking closer with God. That is why King David is referred as a man after God’s own heart (Refer 1 Samuel 13:14 and Acts 13:22). To be identified with this quality and finding such a favour in the sight of the Lord, he had to surrender himself completely to the Lord.

David writes in Psalms 37:5, “Commit your way to the Lord, Trust also in Him, And He shall bring it to pass.” This entire Song of David explains how the Lord helps and saves those who commit their ways to the Lord. It also reflects the qualities of the person who commits himself to the Lord. The first verse of the song says that one should not fret or envy evildoers. When we see a worldly person flourish, we must not get frustrated and envy their riches by comparing our lives with them.

That is why he says in Psalms 37:7, “Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him; Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, Because of the man who brings wicked schemes to pass.” Worrying and being upset with the prosperity of the wicked is foolishness. We must always remember that our life has a purpose and is not aligned with the pattern of this world. If we make a decision based on our worldly desires, the end will be pathetic.

David had all the riches and power yet he proclaims that his hope is in the Lord. When the Amalekites took the women and children captive, King David waited and asked God what he should do next. God answered him and He got back what he has lost. 1 Samuel 30:6 says, “Now David was greatly distressed, for the people spoke of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and his daughters. But David strengthened himself in the Lord his God.”

The World finds strength in its own wicked and crooked ways, but a man or woman who purposes to commit themselves to God should wait and find strength in Him. Psalm 37:40 says, “And the Lord shall help them and deliver them; He shall deliver them from the wicked, And save them, Because they trust in Him.” As we surrender ourselves to the Lord and put our trust in Him, we will have a great hope that He will surely deliver us irrespective of the situation. This hope will never put us to shame.

As we start this new month, let us not be worried or carried away with the outward appearances and the deceptions of this world. Rather, let us commit our ways to the Lord and continue to run the race with the unwavering hope that He is there for us always.