I John: A Lifestyle that Transforms

¹⁵ Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. ¹⁶ 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. ¹⁷ The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.

Introduction

Welcome back to our study “A Lifestyle that Transforms” from I John.  John teaches us how to live a genuinely biblical lifestyle that honors God.  Now, we will

consider I John 2:15-17 and our third lifestyle choice: “You must do the will of God and not love the world.” John encourages us to fulfill the will of God and, if you do so, this lifestyle will transform your self-image, your family, your church, your co-workers and all relationships that you encounter daily.

John has just taught us that we must walk in the Light and not in darkness.  He wrote that our actions that show love for God and for our brothers are the proof of where we are walking.  In our passage today, John addresses our motivation; what we actually love shows who we are serving.  What we choose to love is our lifestyle choice.  John directs us strongly to love God and, by doing so, to choose a lifestyle that transforms.

Do Not Love the World

John starts this passage with a command: Do not love the world or anything in the world.  This lifestyle choice is not negotiable for a follower of Jesus Christ.  John’s teaching reminds us of the words of Jesus when the Lord said, “’Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.  But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.  For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are good, your whole body will be full of light.  But if your eyes are bad, your whole body will be full of darkness.  If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness! No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money’” (Matthew 6:19-24).

The Outcome of the World and Those Who Love It

John teaches us why we should not love the world.  The first reason why we should not love the world is that loving the world means that we do not have the love of the Father in us.  In our last time together we read that God is light and in Him there is no darkness.  You will either love the light where God is present or you will love the darkness where God is absent.  You cannot live in both worlds because God is present only in the light.  How can you say that you love God if you choose to live outside of the light of His presence?

Jesus said that we cannot “serve two masters.  Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other.”  All of us have sinned and fallen short of God’s glory and thus, we live in darkness.  But, when we see the light of God’s love we have a choice to live a lifestyle that transforms in the light or to continue to stumble in the chaos of darkness.  Those who think that they can love God and yet love the world are self-deceived and fooling no one but themselves.

The second reason that we should not love the world is that the things of the world do not come from God.  The things of this world are the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life.  Some have said that these three majors areas of sin are the love of money, sex, and power.  None of these thoughts, behaviors, or desired outcomes originate from God.  When you love the things of this world you become self-focused and do not consider others.  You become self-centered and do not help others.  You become self-sufficient and think that you do not need others.  You become self-motivated and do not seek to benefit others.  When you love the things of this world you love things and use people instead of loving people and using things.  When you love the things of this world you define yourself by your possessions, your accomplishments, and by the opinions others hold of you.  There is no room for the presence of Divine Love in your heart when you are focused on the things of this world.  As Jesus said, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

The third reason that we should not love the world is that the things of the world pass away.  You may feel pleasure or satisfaction from feeding your lust of the flesh, the lust of your eyes, and the pride of your heart.  But, these feelings are temporary and fickle.  You must feed them constantly or you will be overwhelmed by the huge void of true love that your heart is actually seeking.  The things of this world cannot bring life but fast track you on the path to death.

The One Who Does the Will of God Lives Forever

Thankfully, you have another option!  John teaches us that you can choose a lifestyle that transforms!  I find it interesting that John does not contrast the love of the world with the love of God.   Instead, he wrote that the one who “does the will of God lives forever.”  Loving God is more than just speaking the words, “I love God.”  Loving God is a lifestyle that transforms the way you think, act, and react.  Loving God transforms you into a new creation!  When you love God you are freed to love the Creator and not the creation.  You are freed to live a life dedicated to bring Him honor and glory.

Instead of being self-focused you are Christ-focused; you want to glorify Jesus. Instead of being self-centered you are Christ-centered; you live daily for Jesus.  Instead of being self-sufficient you are Christ-sufficient; you walk by faith in Jesus.  Instead of being self-motivated you are Christ-motivated; you seek to be a good and faithful servant.  Instead of loving things and using people you love Jesus and you serve others.  Instead of being defined by the things of this world you are defined by who you are in Christ.

The reward of doing the will of God is being in His presence daily and knowing that you will be in His presence for eternity.  The apostle Paul addressed this same issue and wrote:

^“For, as I have often told you before and now tell you again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ.  Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is set on earthly things.  But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ,  who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body” (Philippians 3:18-21).

Application

John challenged us today to keep our focus on Jesus.  The things of this world tempt our flesh, our eyes, and our pride.  We must not sacrifice our relationship with the Lord for something that leads to death.  Instead, when we do the will of our Heavenly Father, we will be blessed today and for eternity.  This is a lifestyle that transforms!  Let’s pray.

Prayer

Dear Jesus, please help me to avoid the temptation to love the things of this world.  Please strengthen my faith so that I can do what you have called me to do.  I ask that what I say, what I think, and what I do will honor you.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

For You to Consider

1. Why is it impossible for a believer to love the world and to love the Lord?
2. What are your top three priorities and how do they reflect your love for the Lord?
3. What are the rewards for not loving the world?
4. What areas of your life do you need to bring under the control of Jesus Christ?
5. How should you respond when you are tempted by the things of this world?