1 John 2:15-17 "The Pull of the World"

Read 1 John 2:15-17.

"Do not love the world or anything in the world." NIV

If we are to love God and walk with Him in His light and if we are to follow His commands from a heart focused on His love and surrender to Him, then we cannot love the world. John lists the things "of the world": 

"the cravings of the sinful man": These cravings would include desires that would satisfy the flesh but which do not honor God -- adultery, drunkenness, drugs, gluttony, rape, incest, rioting, etc. These actions are against God's laws and do not bring Him honor. 

"the lust of his eyes": This would include lusting after another sexually, coveting objects or position, all envy. Anything that would draw us away from God and focus our attention on craving personal gain that we don't have.

"the boasting of what he has and does": Rather self-explanatory -- pride. Placing your self-worth in your own accomplishments and possessions rather in the fact that you are a child of God and making sure everyone knows what you have and have done.

All three points -- the things of the world -- center on selfishness. It's all about me. Oh, when following this path, how close we come to mirroring Lucifer when we wanted to be equal with God. If it's all about me, then I am my own god and the "love of the Father is not in" me.

But this stuff here - the temporary pleasures - all lead to the same path eventually: pain and destruction, either in this life or the next. But if we keep our focus on God and His will, we will live FOREVER with Him. The choice to me seems simple. 

Precious Lord, help me to never forget the clear path you have laid out and why. Protect me, Holy Spirit, from the lusts of the world that pull on me. I desire nothing else but to serve You and You alone. Open the eyes of those who have not made that choice and use me to lead them to You.

Further Thoughts:

1. What is the pull of the world? Why is the enemy so successful -- even among professing Christians?
   
2. Would a consciousness of Satan's involvement behind the lusts of the world make them repulsive to those who continually succumb to its pull? How do we help others see the evil behind the desire without appearing judgmental and condemning?
   
3. Look up other passages on the Lusts of the World.