“If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.” (1 John 2:15).
Worldliness is not so much a matter of activity as of attitude. It is possible for a Christian to stay away from questionable amusements and doubtful places and still love the world, for worldliness is a matter of the heart. To the extent that a Christian loves the world system and the things in it, he does not love the Father.
Worldliness not only affects your response to the love of God; it also affects your response to the will of God. “The world passeth away . . . but he that doeth the will of God abideth forever” (2:17).
Doing the will of God is a joy for those living in the love of God. “If ye love Me, keep My commandments.” But when a believer loses his enjoyment of the Father’s love, he finds it hard to obey the Father’s will.
When you put these two factors together, you have a practical definition of worldliness: anything in a Christian’s life that causes him to lose his enjoyment of the Father’s love or his desire to do the Father’s will is worldly and must be avoided. Responding to the Father’s love (your personal devotional life), and doing the Father’s will (your daily conduct) — these are two tests of worldliness.
Be Real - 1 John, by Warren W. Wiersbe, p.68-69
Jesus. Gethsamane. Was He in sin for not wanting to go to the cross?
ReplyDeleteWhy would it be sin? In his humanity he didn't want to go, but he also wanted to obey the Father.
ReplyDeleteI never thought i was loving the world as a faithful church goer and giver, singing His songs and not even wanting to see and hear secular tv shows and movies. But in time He shows that that is just like praying in public or healing the sick, but still not having Jesus first place in the heart. I pray He melt and remove this old heart, as it is so displeasing to Him i am even afraid to come now.
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