Living In The Light

January 25, Love Not 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.
—1 John 2:15 LL 31.1

No person can be a follower of Christ and yet place his or her affections upon the things of the world. John in his first epistle writes: “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.” Our Redeemer, who met this temptation of Satan in its fullest power, is acquainted with mankind’s danger of yielding to the temptation to love the world. LL 31.2

Christ identified Himself with humanity by bearing the test upon this point and overcoming in our behalf. He has guarded with warnings those very points where Satan would best succeed in his temptations to human beings. He knew that Satan would gain the victory over humanity unless he was especially guarded upon the points of appetite and the love of worldly riches and honor. He says: “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” “No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.” LL 31.3

Here Christ has brought before us two masters, God and the world, and has plainly presented the fact that it is simply impossible for us to serve both. If our interest in, and love for, this world predominate, we shall not appreciate the things, which, above all others, are worthy of our attention. The love of the world will exclude the love of God and make our highest interests subordinate to worldly considerations. Thus God will not hold so exalted a place in our affections and devotions as do the things of the world. LL 31.4

Our works will show the exact extent to which earthly treasures have our affections. The greatest care, anxiety, and labor are devoted to worldly interests, while eternal considerations are made secondary.— Testimonies for the Church, vol. 3, pp. 477, 478. LL 31.5

Further Reflection: How do we tell the difference between the things in the world that we should love and those we should not? LL 31.6